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ArchivesRe: Sansa
in reply to a message by SugarPlumFairy
Thanks! I have done more research and I actually don't think the author used any non-Western names on purpose and that the fact that Arya and Asha are also non-western is a coincidence. He released his first book in 1996 and even though this site existed (I believe) it hardly included any foreign names and this was true for most of internet sources back then.
I agree that not all of his names come for medieval names, but I do think that all of his names are based on more common English names (many English names have Hebrew and Greek roots):
Circe - is well-known in English speaking countries and has Greek roots as do many common English names (e.g. Alexander)
Auberon - was used by Shakespeare
Lyanna - pretty sure that this isn't supposed to sound modern but that it is supposed to be a twist on the common Leanne. Just like other names he used are variants of well-known English/classic names (e.g. Eddard instead of Edward, Robb instead of Robert, Cersei instead of Circe)
Brienne - Briana is an old name used in the popular "The Faerie Queene", I think this is just a twist. Brianna was also crazy common in the 90s but Briana in itself is an old, classic name.
Asha - Ashley was popular for men ever since popularity statistics exist (late 1800s) and probably before and crazy popular for girls in the 80s and 90s. Aisling (ASH-ling) was also an extremely popular name in the UK and Ireland in the 80s and 90s. I think Asha is just a twist.
Daenerys - her nickname is Dany so my guess is that it was a twist on the very popular Danielle/Daniella, maybe influenced by a Welsh name (many Welsh names end in -ys.
Tyrion - close to Tyrone, probably a twist.
I think the author created Arya because it sounds harsh as a contrast to Sansa. I think the author said so in an interview. He pronounces it AHR-ya which sounds quite harsh indeed.
So yes, after doing some research I believe that all of his names were based on English names and popular sounds (some with Greek etc. roots). So I do believe that Sansa comes from a medieval name and I couldn't find any confirmation that it is Sanskrit either (there is a Sanskrit word "samsa" but pronounced sam-sha and I think that is merely a coincidence, I don't think the author studied Sanskrit and it would have been hard to just stumble across that word that doesn't sound like Sansa at all).
Please rate my list: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/6232
I agree that not all of his names come for medieval names, but I do think that all of his names are based on more common English names (many English names have Hebrew and Greek roots):
Circe - is well-known in English speaking countries and has Greek roots as do many common English names (e.g. Alexander)
Auberon - was used by Shakespeare
Lyanna - pretty sure that this isn't supposed to sound modern but that it is supposed to be a twist on the common Leanne. Just like other names he used are variants of well-known English/classic names (e.g. Eddard instead of Edward, Robb instead of Robert, Cersei instead of Circe)
Brienne - Briana is an old name used in the popular "The Faerie Queene", I think this is just a twist. Brianna was also crazy common in the 90s but Briana in itself is an old, classic name.
Asha - Ashley was popular for men ever since popularity statistics exist (late 1800s) and probably before and crazy popular for girls in the 80s and 90s. Aisling (ASH-ling) was also an extremely popular name in the UK and Ireland in the 80s and 90s. I think Asha is just a twist.
Daenerys - her nickname is Dany so my guess is that it was a twist on the very popular Danielle/Daniella, maybe influenced by a Welsh name (many Welsh names end in -ys.
Tyrion - close to Tyrone, probably a twist.
I think the author created Arya because it sounds harsh as a contrast to Sansa. I think the author said so in an interview. He pronounces it AHR-ya which sounds quite harsh indeed.
So yes, after doing some research I believe that all of his names were based on English names and popular sounds (some with Greek etc. roots). So I do believe that Sansa comes from a medieval name and I couldn't find any confirmation that it is Sanskrit either (there is a Sanskrit word "samsa" but pronounced sam-sha and I think that is merely a coincidence, I don't think the author studied Sanskrit and it would have been hard to just stumble across that word that doesn't sound like Sansa at all).
Please rate my list: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/6232
This message was edited 5/5/2021, 5:46 AM
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