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ArchivesRe: Caroline
in reply to a message by Andy ;—)
I'm of the opinion that meanings don't change when their forms are altered. Period. (Well, except when the altered form coincides with another derivations, such as Alannah coming from both Alana and a leanbh "o child".)
Therefore, Charles and Charlie both mean "man", and very few people would say that Charlie means "little man" simply because Charlie's a diminutive of Charles. Similarly, Caroline still means "man" imo, because it's just another direct form of Charles, albeit one specifically meant for females.
To me, feminisations and masculinisations change what sex a name is used, but not the meaning--otherwise Mackenzie could legitimately mean "daughter of the wise ruler" (or, rather, Kenneth), instead of the correct "son of" as indicated by the Mac- prefix. You get what I mean?
There's only one exception to this rule that I'm aware of: Nerys, which perhaps derives from ner "lord". This name is said to have had its meaning deliberately changed to "lady" when ner was feminised. It beats me why this was so, but I do accept it. And it doesn't stop me from discarding my above opinion. Nerys is an exception to the rule, and imo most rules need an exception from time to time.
Miranda
Therefore, Charles and Charlie both mean "man", and very few people would say that Charlie means "little man" simply because Charlie's a diminutive of Charles. Similarly, Caroline still means "man" imo, because it's just another direct form of Charles, albeit one specifically meant for females.
To me, feminisations and masculinisations change what sex a name is used, but not the meaning--otherwise Mackenzie could legitimately mean "daughter of the wise ruler" (or, rather, Kenneth), instead of the correct "son of" as indicated by the Mac- prefix. You get what I mean?
There's only one exception to this rule that I'm aware of: Nerys, which perhaps derives from ner "lord". This name is said to have had its meaning deliberately changed to "lady" when ner was feminised. It beats me why this was so, but I do accept it. And it doesn't stop me from discarding my above opinion. Nerys is an exception to the rule, and imo most rules need an exception from time to time.
Miranda
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Replies
Of course you are perfectly right: a man is a man and a woman is a woman. But I'm sure you have noticed that I am not reasoning from a strictly etymological angle. I'm just trying to imagine what it is like to bear a name meaning "man" (if Charles etc. does mean “man” at all) as a woman. So if someone called Caroline believes, that her name means “woman” (or as you say “little woman”), I would say, this is a legitimate adaptation – even though of course strictly spoken it is not correct.
Andy ;—)
Andy ;—)
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