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What's In A Name? 9/19/2006 2:31:04 PM
Many times I have picked up a book and hadn’t a clue how to pronounce the hero or heroine’s name.
Below, I have provided a little help in pronouncing the characters in Lost in the Mist of Time. If anything, it’s just some fun to see how close you were to pronouncing them.
For added enjoyment, I provided the meaning or origin of each name.
Dougray (Doo-gree) - (Dougray is actually a French surname, but to separate it to give it a Celtic meaning: Doug-meaning dark, ray meaning kingly.
He is the lord of Dunhaven. On a whim he was knighted by the Tudor King for saving a trusted friend from certain death. He is Aislinn’s love interest.
Aislinn (Ash lin or Ash ling): vision, dream
She is a romance author. Her nickname is A.J. (Aislinn Jacqueline). She is Dougray’s love interest.
The people of Dunhaven refer to Aislinn as the:
Scathach (Scah hah) – the legendary warrior of Skye
Scathach taught both Scotland and Ireland the ways of martial art, combat and feats of strength. It is said that she was never bested by a man in a single combat.
Donagh (Done ah): brown-haired warrior
Father to Aislinn and Connor; husband to Francine
Aengus (Ang gus): outstanding, exceptional.
His nickname: Fierce Ax. Donagh’s brother and uncle to Aislinn and Connor.
Rhiannon (hri an on): moon goddess
Seamstress, Murrough’s love interest.
Murrough (Moor a hoo): man/hound of the sea
O’Donoghue (O Don o hue) - trusted friend to Dougray and love interest to Rhiannon
Padrig (Paw drig)- nobly born or simply the nickname to the patron saint of Ireland.
Rhiannon’s father/ blacksmith and cobbler
Neala: like a chief or woman champion
Wise woman with strong Druid beliefs
Abbot Kirwan: a personal name composed of ciar meaning dark and dubh meaning black.
He is the Abbot at Dunhaven
Father Fiach (Fee ach): meaning raven, a sacred bird of the Celts
O’Colmáin-meaning dove of the church. The name is given to priests, musicians and missionaries.
Priest at St. Michan’s Church/ cousin to Dougray and Miriam.
Teige (Teeg): bard
guards Aislinn/friend
Fingham (Finn ham): Finn meaning fair-haired
He is from the Butler clan- father of Ella/ holds Dougray responsible for his daughter’s death.
Ella: elf; beautiful fairy woman
A Butler, first wife to Dougray
Cahir (ka here): guard
physician at Dunhaven
Tremain (Tra mane): rock settlement
Illegitimate nephew to Fingham Butler and right-hand man
Fiona (fee o na): fair, beautiful-
Onetime mistress to Dougray
Grania (Graw nya): the loved one
She’s the daughter to Dubhdara. (You may know her as the Pirate Queen, Grace O’Malley)
As a child, Grania often sailed with her father on trading missions. So it wouldn’t have been odd that she would be with her father when he visited Dunhaven. She has a fascinating history if you wish to read up on her. (Remember her debut in Lost in the Mist of Time is purely a fabrication.)
Dubhdara (dhoov dar a): black oak
King of Connaught and Grania’s father.
Her father, Owen Dubhdara "Black Oak"
O'Malley was the elected chieftain of Umhall Uachtarach (Barony of Murrisk). He was an accomplished sailor, as was his father before him. The family traded with Scotland and Spain in their fleet of caravels and galleys. He was said to be handsome with his dark hair and startling blue eyes.
Connor (Con or): the name comes from Con or conairt meaning pack of hounds or lover of hounds.
He’s a photographer. Aislinn’s brother.
Francine (fran seen): Latin for free
She is Aislinn’s and Connor’s mother and Donagh’s wife.
Aislinn Hennessy
Hennessy: is from the Irish Ó’hAonghusa. It means a descendant of Aengus’. Aengus was an ancient Irish god of love.
Dougray Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick: Most names in Ireland beginning with “Fitz” are of Norman origin, but the Fitzpatrick is the only one that is Gaelic-Irish. It is from the Irish Mac Giolla Phádraig. It means son of a follower of St. Patrick
References:
Celtic Names For Children by Loreto Todd
The Best Baby Name Book in the Whole Wide World by Bruce Lansky
Both have fascinating facts about names.
Surnames: http://homepage.eircom.net/~heathschool/NAMES.htm
