World-Wide Wednesday: Manx Names

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The Isle of Man is an interesting little island situated between Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. English is spoken there but Manx Gaelic was traditionally spoken in the past. This Celtic language is closely related to the Irish language as well as Scottish Gaelic. However, Manx Gaelic is now considered endangered of dying out. It was thought to have died out in the 1970s but some are trying to revive it today.

Over the centuries, the Isle of Man has been under Welsh, English, Scottish and Viking rule but it now has its own democratic parliament. Culturally, it is influenced by Celtic and Nordic origins but it is viewed as a tourist location for the UK which gives it some British influences as well.

The Isle of Man has also had specific traditions when it comes to the birth and naming of a child. In the early 1900's, a man named W.W. Gill wrote a collection of "Manx Scrapbooks" that depicted Manx folkways after 1918 and before his death in 1964.  In his books, he notes the traditions surrounding a birth:

"When a child comes into the world, the first thing done (now in our own days) is, if it is a boy, to wrap it in a singlet or pair of flannel drawers of its fathers. If a girl, in a flannel petticoat of its mothers and so soon as it is put in the cradle, a Bible and a pair of flannel drawers are laid on the cradle, and the same on the mother's bed.

Neither mother nor child is ever let out of the house until the christening day, and then, before going out, a bit of vervain is sewed into the child's under-clothing and also into the mothers. A little bit of soot is also put on the child's person, and a bright steel sewing-needle quilted into some part of its clothes. 

Great care is taken that the name which the child is to receive is not made known to any person except those who have to know, until after the christening.

The future of the child depends in a great measure on whether the stranger who firsts sees it, after its father has got the first look, is a "lucky" person or not."

So it appears that the Manx put great emphasis on guarding the baby's first encounters with those outside the home and viewed it in an almost superstitious way. The baby's name was also guarded and not revealed until the baby was christened, so clearly religion was a large factor as well.

Another source, the Manx National Heritage, put together a collection of traditional names that were found within old books: Christian Names of the Isle of Man by William Cubbon in 1923, and Manx Personal Names by J.J. Kneen in 1937. The names that they listed are those considered traditional to the Manx people and acceptable for use on modern babies both on and off the Isle of Man. Here is a list of those traditional names and their meanings:

Boys: Aedan Aleyn, Aland Alister Andreays Asmund Austeyn Bertram, Bertrem Brendan Cairbe, Carbry Carmac, Cormac Colby Colum Colyn Conylt, Conal Cristen Dermot, Germot, Diarmid Dolyn, Dollin, Dolen Doncan, Donachan Doolish, Douglas Eamon Edard Eoin, Ean, Ewan, Yvon Faragher Fergus Finbar Finlo, Fynlo Fintan Flaxney Fynn Gavan, Gawain Gilno, Dilno Gilrea Godred, Gorry, Orry Hugh, Hugo Illiam Jamys, Hamish Jole Juan, Yuan Kerron, Kieran Laurys Marcus, Markys Martyn, martial Mayl Mian Nele, Niall Olaf, Olave Oshin Padeen Paric[k], Peric[k]                       Payl Peddyr Ramsey Robart Robyn Ronan Rory Sharry Sigurd Stoill Thomase

little fire famed ruler defending men a man [Andrew] gift of the gods venerable bright raven dark person virtuous love a charioteer place name a dove a whelp love belonging to Christ God reverencing variation of Donald [world ruler] brown warrior place name happy peace happy keeper well born supreme choice great dear one, super choice wave crest fair Scandinavian a little fair one not known fair a smith saint’s servant servant of the King God’s peace studious defending men beguiling Yule well born grey, dark crownd with laurel [Laurence] a hammer saint’s name like God [Michael] good [Matthew] champion of the gods little fawn little Patrick patrician, noble form of Paul a rock [Peter] place name form of Robert little Robert God ruler fame ruler God’s peace victorious one with a will a twin, form of Thomas

Girls: Aalid, Aelid Aalin Aaue Aileen, Eil[l]een, Elena Aimel Ainle Ailstreena Andreca Aufrica, Effrica, Aurick Bahey Blaa, Blae Brede, Breeshey, Bridget Caly Cara Carola Catreena, Catreeney Cissolt Creena Cristeena Doona Ealee, Ealish Ealisaid Eunys Feena Fenella, Fin[g]ola Fritha Grayse Greeba Iney, Ina Jinn, Joan, Joney, Joannia Johnet Jonee, Joney, Jony Lilee Lora Lula, Lulach Malane Manana Margaid Mariot, Marion, Moreen, Mariod Meave Moirrey, Voirrey Mona Moreen Mureal Nan, Nancy Nessa, Nessy Onnee Onnor, Onora, Nora Paaie Ranhilda Rein[a] Renny Roseen Sheela Sorcha Tosha Una Ursula Vorana Ysbal, Isbal

beauty beautiful Eva sunlight beloved angel feminine of Alister feminine of Andrew a maid from Africa flower flower shining [Bridget] female servant [saint’s] a songster noble spirited pure [Catherine] little Cecilia wise of Christ dark maiden noble god’s oath joy fair maiden fair shoulder peace grace place name a daughter grace feminine of John grace lily sufficient shining magnificent [Madeline] feminine of Mannanan a pearl little Mary a fairy queen bitter [Mary] the Isle of Man little Mary sea bright gracious secret grace [Annie] honourable Peggy God’s fight a queen a fern little rose form of Cecilia bright the first a lamb little wolf great form of Isabel

Of course there are other names beyond these traditional ones that are in use on the Isle of Man. Names that are popular in the UK are also seen on Manx babies due to a rich, cultural mixture of English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Norse influences on the island.

The most recent Top Baby Names list that I could find for the Isle of Man is for the year 2009. These are the most popular names of that year:

Boys: 1. Charlie                                    2. Thomas                2. Lucas 2. Joshua 2. Jack 2. Ethan 2. Alfie 3. Ryan 3. Joseph 3. James 3. Harry 3. Connor 3. Conor 3. Cameron 3. William

Girls: 1. Lilly 1. Lily 1. Lilee 2. Olivia 3. Emily 4. Phoebe 4. Isla 4. Isabella 4. Imogen 5. Holly 5. Lucy 5. Mia

As you can see, there seems to be more popular British names in use today than traditional Manx names. If anyone has access to a list of the Top Baby Names on the Isle of Man for the years 2012 or 2013, please share!

What do you think of the naming traditions of the Isle of Man? Which traditional name is your favorite?

[Note:] I only recently discovered that this island even exists so if I've gotten any information incorrect, please let me know! I consulted as many sources as I could find that pertained to babies and names for the island.