He’s got history aplenty and could fit right in with single-syllable boys’ choices like Finn and Cole.

Thanks to Bewildertrix for suggesting Tadhg as Name of the Day.

Like many an Irish appellation, Tadhg can make your eyes cross and tongue tie up in knots.  Caoimhe and Aoife, Eoin and Diarmaid are all appealing choices, but the unfamiliar will not automatically say KEE va, EE fa, OH in and DEER mid.

Tadhg’s sound is actually quite straightforward.  He sounds like the first syllable of tiger – tieg.  County Kerry-born Tadhg Kennelly is among the best known bearers of the name.  He currently plays for the Australia Football League’s Sydney Swans.  As I listened to sports announcers discuss Kennelly’s feats, I couldn’t help think that any accent other than my bland American one lent Tadgh a bit more presence.

Speaking of challenges, you might hear Tadhg pronounced tayg or teeg, too.  Some of the confusion comes from various Anglicized versions of the name.  There’s Tighe, but also Teague – and while Tighe seems straightforward, Teague doesn’t seem like the same name – or to indicate the same vowel sounds.  (In an earlier era, Irish Tadhgs in the US became often became known as Tim.)

While Tadhg, Tighe and Teague are all no-shows in the US Top 1000, after some searching, I did find a YouTube video where a very much American mom introduces her son, Tadhg Thomas.

In Ireland, Tadhg is a Top 100 choice.  He appears in Irish myth as Tadg mac Nuadat, grandfather to Finn MacCool.  Several kings of Connacht wore the name from the ninth century through the eleventh.

While Tadhg fell out of use amongst the royalty, he can still be found in the historical record.   In the late 1500s/early 1600s, writer Tadhg Og Ó Cianáin chronicled political events.

Tadhg was a fitting name for a writer.  It means poet, and some have suggested that the meaning is broader – perhaps more akin to philosopher.

Like many an Irish appellation, the diminutive form is Tadhgán and you’ll come across surnames based on both versions.  This muddies the pronunciation more, because Tadhgán has inspired a fairly popular given name in the US – Teagan.

Today, Teagan is in use for both genders and seems poised to keep climbing.  In 2008, he ranked #657 on the boys’ side and #321 for girls.  While some parents might settle on Teagan as a nod to their Irish heritage, it seems likely to appeal to parents embracing modern names like Jayden or Peyton.

While Tadhg might require you to repeat “sounds like tiger, without the -er” more times that you imagine, he has some serious advantages:

• He fits with the emerging preference for single-syllable boys names;
• The pronunciation isn’t difficult – once you know;
• Unlike some short names, like Jay, that feel more like diminutives than formal given names, Tadhg sounds complete.

So if you’re seeking an authentic Irish heritage choice, and don’t mind spelling out your son’s name again (and again), this could make for an interesting option.

Today’s choice has appealing Irish roots and some old school Hollywood cred.

Thanks to Kelly for suggesting Rory as Name of the Day.

Like Ashley and Kelly and plenty of other masculine monikers, some might think Rory fit for a girl.  And indeed plenty of girls have worn Rory, starting with the daughter of Hollywood icon Errol Flynn.  (Her sisters were called Deirdre and Arnella; her brother was Sean.)  Bobby Kennedy’s youngest daughter – now a documentary filmmaker – is another Rory.  It also works as a nickname for feminissa choices like Aurora and Lorelei.  There’s a strong case that Rory could go to the girls.

But so far that isn’t so.  The name has charted in the US Top 1000 for girls just twice, in 2003 and 2008.  That adds up to around 500 newborn girl Rorys, compared to ten times as many boy Rorys in the census data.

Given the reporting technique, female Rorys are probably underreported.  Nonetheless, Rory is well established as a boys’  name.  In fact, he’s charted in the US Top 1000 every year since 1947.

Rory peaked at #280 in 1959.  It was the heyday of Rory Calhoun’s career.  Born Francis, the juvenile delinquent turned a pretty face into a steady career on camera, often playing cowboys.  News of his past incarcerations eventually leaked to the media – and bolstered his bad boy image.  There was nothing feminine about Calhoun, and he still lends a rough’n'tumble, Western vibe to the name.

And why not?  The original Rory was a legendary High King of Ireland, Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair.  His given name traces back to ruadh – red.  It’s the kind of historical link that lends a name strength.

Speaking of royalty, Bill and Melinda Gates used the name Rory for their only son.  (Their daughters are Jennifer and Phoebe.)

There’s also Rory O’Moore, the well-born leader of the Irish Rebellion of 1641, standing up to the powerful King Charles I of England with little more than guts and determination on his side.  There’s a bridge named after him in Dublin.

Other notable bearers of the name include:

• Rory Culkin, brother to fellow actors Macaulay and Kieran, best known for his role in the thriller Signs;
• There’s also CSI: Miami alum Rory Cochrane, – he played Speed – more recently seen on 24;
• South African golfer Rory Sabbatini and former NBA star Rory Sparrow lend the name a sporting edge.  Sparrow also makes Rory more gentlemanly – he used his earnings to fund programs for underprivileged kids and was featured, along with seven other community-minded pro athletes – on a Sports Illustrated for his efforts;
• Rory Stewart is on the faculty at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, heads a major British foundation and is recognized as a global expert on human rights issues;
• On a very different note, in the late 1950s and early 60s, Rory Storm fronted the Liverpool band the Hurricanes.  It’s the group’s first drummer that makes the Hurricanes memorable – his name was Ringo Starr.

Overall, I think Rory wears well on a boy.  Sure, you might meet a girl called Rory.  But the same is true of many names.  With his cowboy edge, he could stand in for Wyatt.  And his Irish heritage makes him a possible alternative to Riley.

“I know what I want,

and I know that I need it right now…”

Hoy es un día de inflexión, un día de cambio, un día que puede marcar el inicio de una era… aunque en realidad ya ha habido unos cuantos días de éstos últimamente y al final nada ha cambiado…

Hoy es el día en que por fín he entendido esa maléfica técnica llamada RMN, y por fín he aprendido a usar un programa decente para interpretar espectros, en lugar del cutre “Nuts“…

Hoy es el día en que mis superiores han visto que un biólogo no puede andar haciendo reacciones sólo, no porque les vayan salir patas, o en su caso, pseudópodos, sino porque simplemente “las leyes de la química son como una amante esquiva“…

Pero sobre todo hoy es el día en que mi destino ha quedado sellado, hoy por fín se ha fijado la fecha de mi nueva vida…

Y a pesar de todo lo acontecido, lo único que recuerdo es que hoy es el día en que no me he cruzado con ella…

“I got it all, yes it’s true…

so, why don’t I get you?…”

With Finn racing up the charts, can this equally Irish appellation be far behind?

Thanks to Corinne for suggesting our Name of the Day: Flynn.

Determining the exact popularity of Finn is tricky.  There’s Finn (#368 in 2008, or about 832 Finns).  But there’s also Finnegan (another 370 newborns), the Kennedy-esque Finbar, Finley (264 boys plus twice as many girls) and the sort-of-kind-of-could-lead-to-Finn choice, Griffin (given to over 1400 boys).  Throw in starbaby Phinnaeus and re-spellings like Finnaeus, and if you haven’t met one yet, you soon will.

On the other hand, determining Flynn’s popularity is simple.  He’s never ranked in the US Top 1000.

Both choices are Irish.  Flynn is linked to the surname Ó Flainn or Ó Floinn, traditionally bestowed on descendants of Flann Sinna – a ninth century High King of Ireland.

You might still find a Flann or three in Ireland.  Flann O’Brien was the penname of a popular 20th century writer.  His contemporary, Flann O’Riain, drew political cartoons and advanced the use of the Irish language.  In the US, you might meet a Flannery, but Flann is probably too close to dessert for an American parent to consider.

Flann, Flannery and Flynn are all attributed to an Irish Gaelic word meaning red or ruddy, making them fitting choices for a little redheaded baby.  And while Flannery leans feminine, thanks to novelist Flannery O’Connor, Flynn feels brisk and masculine.

It’s a fairly common surname, worn by:

• Actor Neil Flynn plays the janitor on Scrubs.  He was also Lindsay Lohan’s anthropologist dad in Mean Girls;
• The cast of long-running British police drama The Bill included actor Daniel Flynn as Superintendent John Heaton for three seasons;
• In the 1960s, Joe Flynn played Captain Binghamton on McHale’s Navy.  He’s the one who would shout:  What is it, What, WHAT, WHAT?;
• In the 1930s, Edward Flynn was an American boxer – he scored an Olympic gold medal.  At about the same time, Eddie Flynn was an Irish soccer star;
• Researcher James R. Flynn identified the Flynn Effect – the tendency of IQ scores to rise over time;
• Trash metal gives us Robb Flynn, the guitarist for Machine Head;
• Vince Flynn pens thrillers, and has served as a story consultant to 24.

And then there’s Errol Flynn.  Born in Tasmania, the son of an academic, Flynn became one of Hollywood’s brightest stars in the 1930s.  He headlined swashbuckling adventures like The Adventures of Robin Hood.  Flynn’s characters always got the girl.

No wonder Flynn sounds active and exciting.

You’ll also find Flynn on the map.  And gamers might think of Tales of Vesperia’s noble Imperial Knight by the name.

If there’s any real drawback to Flynn, it is that he’s so rarely worn as a first name.  As Finn rises, your Flynn might find himself introducing himself as “Flynn.  With an L.  Rhymes with Lynn.”

But if you’re looking for a name that is short but complete, and masculine without sounding more like a GI Joe figure than a child, Flynn just might suit.

…seldom hurts anyone.

Ok, so I’ve succumbed to the seduction that is spreadshirt.com and made some product. Here are some of the shirts I made. I think they’re fun.

Conventional wisdom holds that once a masculine moniker is widely used for girls, it cannot be bestowed on a son.

Thanks to Laney McDonald for suggesting one choice that could prove that rule wrong.  Our Name of the Day is Kelly.

For girls, Kelly peaked at #10 in 1977, and spent 1968 through 1980 in the Top Twenty.  A lot of Kellys are having children of their own these days.  (During the 1970s, Kelli, Kellie, Keli and Kellee all charted in the Girls’ Top 1000, too.)

But the impeccably Irish name was once worn by far more men than women.  A sixth century saint wore the name, keeping it in use through the years.  In fact, Kelly for a boy was a Top 200 pick from the 50s through the 70s – just as it was gaining for girls.  He didn’t leave the US Top 1000 until 2002.  Variant version Kelley hasn’t ranked for boys since 1982.

Regardless of spelling or gender, all the Kellys trace their roots back to the Old Irish Ceallach.  Like many a given name, Ceallach inspired a surname, usually seen as Ó Ceallaigh.  The exact origins are debated:

• It could come from ceall – church;
• Others connect it to ceallach – war;
• Bright-headed is another traditional meaning, though that’s harder to trace;
• A few other sources link Kelly to the Welsh celli or Gaelic coille – grove.

Today, it’s a common surname.  During the twentieth century, kelly also became a shade of green.

Those who have worn it include:

• Actor and dancer (think Singin’ in the Rain) Gene Kelly;
• Hollywood royalty turned just-plain-royalty Grace Kelly;
• Not-quite-a-princess Autumn Kelly, married Peter Phillips – and became the granddaughter-in-law of England’s Queen Elizabeth II;
• The late Heath Ledger played Australian outlaw/folk hero Ned Kelly in a 2003 big screen adaptation;
• The original American Idol, Kelly Clarkson;
• Perky morning show co-host Kelly Ripa;
• We met Kelly Osbourne, daughter of aging rocker Ozzy, on reality TV;
• Pro surfer Kelly Slater works to reclaim the name for the boys, as do a handful of NFL, NHL and MLB notables;
• There’s also ER alum Kellie Martin;
• Along with Skipper, one of Barbie’s little sister dolls is called Kelly;

But most famous Kellys can be found on the small screen.  Aspiring actresses take note – if you’re offered a role as Kelly?  Take it.  There’s:

• Charlie’s Angels‘ Kelly Garrett;
• Married with Children’s Kelly Bundy;
• The Office’s Kelly Kapoor;
• Saved by the Bell’s Kelly Kapowski;
• 90210’s Kelly Taylor.

Today, Kelly comes in at #248 for girls and is unranked for boys.  While Kelly is still in use, she’s been eclipsed by Kaylie, Kinley and company – none of which sound especially fresh.

But somehow on a boy, Kelly seems interesting again.  Charmed alum Holly Marie Combs (she played Piper) chose it for her third son, Kelley James.  (He’s little brother to Finley Arthur and Riley Edward.)

It’s too soon to say if Kelly will cross back to the boys’ side – but on the long list of names that have been borrowed, he seems among the most likely contenders.

Looking for an Irish name for a daughter?  This choice from legend could be the perfect fit.

Thanks to Bek for suggesting Finola as Name of the Day.

You might recognize the elements that make up the Gaelic Fionnghuala.  Fionn means fair; ghuala means shoulders.  Finola is a common Anglicized version of the name.  Sure, you could insist on the authentic version, but this is one name where a little bit of phonetic transparency makes sense.  

Pronounced finn OH lah, she’s the right combination of feminine and quirky – sort of like a new Matilda.  

In Irish legend, she’s one of sea god Lir’s children.  Along with her three brothers, they suffered at the hands of a jealous stepmother.  Stepmama couldn’t bring herself to kill the quartet, but she did muster up enough magic to turn them into swans.  Hundreds of years passed, the four swans lived out their curse until a monk intervened.  Returned to human form, they still missed out on happily ever after.  The exact details vary – in most, the spell is broken, but their human forms are aged and they quickly die.  A few stories allow them enough time to be baptized – in the nine centuries they a-swimming, Ireland had become Christian, after all – while others are silent.

Variants of the name abound.  Fenella is another popular Anglicization, one that leads to nicknames Nell and Ella, and so might appeal.  There’s also Fionnuala and Finnguala.  Nuala, originally a diminutive, has become a common given name in Ireland in the 20th century.  She’s pronounced NOO lah.

Famous bearers of the names include:

• Probably the most familiar Finola is Finola Hughes, a soap opera staple and Daytime Emmy winner for her work on both General Hospital and All My Children.  She’s also the former host of Style’s makeover show How Do I Look? and appeared as Patty Halliwell, mother of the Charmed ones on television’s long-running story of sister witches Prue, Phoebe, Piper and Paige.
• In the 1960s, David Gentleman wrote a series of children’s books about the adventures of a girl called Fenella as she toured Europe;
• You’ll find Fenella Beach on the Isle of Man and a town in Ontario;
• Sir Walter Scott used the name in his novel Peveril of the Peak.  Fenella starts out as a deaf and dumb maidservant of sorts, but she actually turns out to be the daughter of another character in disguise;
• Fenella Fudge sounds like a Harry Potter character, but she’s actually heard on the BBC’s Radio 2;
• Andrew M. Greeley has penned a long series of mystery novels featuring sleuth Nuala McGrail;
• Irish journalist Nuala O’Faolain authored several New York Times bestsellers;
• Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman comic features a character named Nuala, a strong-willed faerie.

There are more, too, both fictional and real, throughout the UK and Australia.  But in the US, every form of this name is a true rarity.  None of them have ever made the US Top 1000.

And yet, all three could work in American English.  Nuala would suffer from the same pronunciation challenges of other Gaelic imports like Niamh, but Finola and Fenella are straightforward.  They’d make interesting Irish heritage choices for a daughter today.

He’s royal, historic and terribly obscure.  But he’s more dashing than Donald.

Thanks to Bevin for suggesting another one from her family tree.  Today’s Name of the Day is Donncha.

There are a raft of possible variants for the Gaelic Donncha, including Donnchadh, Donnchad, Donough and Donagh.  They all come from donn – brown and chadh – warrior.  None of them are terribly accessible to American English speakers – in fact, the most common translation of all is the eminently wearable Duncan.

Then again, Duncan might sound too trendy for parents seeking an authentic heritage choice.  While he only ranked #717 in 2008 – and has never climbed higher than the 300s – with so many two-syllable, ends-in-n names for boys in use, it’s no longer the most distinctive sound or rhythm.

Elisabeth at You Can’t Call It “It” spotted at least one Donncha in a British birth announcment.  And we all know that the Americans often follow the English, adopting their favorites a few years later.

Still, Donncha’s pronunciation is a possible headache.  While DUN uh is probably the most accurate version, it’s easy to imagine Donna coming out instead.  On a playground full of boys called Noah and Ezra, that might not be a disaster.

And there are plenty of distinguished Donnchas in the history books, including:

• At least two High Kings of Ireland, and a trio of other Irish rulers through the early eleventh century;
• Eight mormaers of Scotland – an early medieval title for a high ranking member of the aristocracy – as well as two kings;
• A handful of poets and historians;
• Even a saint – though the eighth-century priest is also referred to as Dunichad and was often Latinized as Donatus.

Today, if you happen to follow Irish rugby, the name might be familiar through the Cork Constitution Football Club.  The six-foot-six Donncha O’Callaghan plays lock for the team.  (And probably never worries about being mistaken for a girl.)

Would a modern parent choose Donncha for a son?  It’s hard to say.  One indicator is over at BabyCenter, where he’s barely a blip on their charts.  Likewise, Namipedia and Nameberry give Donncha the miss.  And while the nickname Don is worn with style by television characters Don Draper of Mad Men and Don Flack of CSI:NY, it is still far from fashionable.

Overall, Donncha is intriguing.  His history makes him a viable contender for an Irish heritage choice.  But he could be tricky to wear for a boy circa 2009, and isn’t nearly as likely to catch on as Duncan, Callum or Cormac.  Of course, that might suit some parents just fine.

He’s an ancient king of Ireland and a modern American novelist.

Thanks to Bevin for suggesting her brother’s moniker as Name of the Day: Cormac.

Cormac is Irish, and just like Aidan and Ryan, Connor and Brendan, his kelly green color gives him a lift.  His meaning, however, is open to debate.  I’ve found four:

• Tree trunk;
• Charioteer;
• Son of the raven, not unlike Corbin;
• Impure son – another possible translation for the Gaelic corb is defiled.

The raven link is perhaps the most appealing, but a parent would have to accept a certain amount of ambiguity with this choice.

What’s certain is that Cormac reads Irish, thanks to the third century High King of Ireland Cormac mac Airt.  While it is difficult to separate history from legend with the High Kings, Cormact was almost certainly a real person.  And a good real person, too – most accounts suggest that he was a wise ruler.

Cormac would’ve been king during the lifetime of Finn McCool, and so he’s often mentioned in Celtic myth.  The tales of his military campaigns may have some basis in fact; the stories of magic contributing to his success, probably not so much.  Some accounts also claim that he converted to Christianity late in life.  Given the difficult of dating his reign, that’s hard to prove.

Another Cormac appears in Celtic legend, this time an exiled prince from the Ulster Cycle.

A few other historical figures worn the name, including:

• Saint Cormac, a sixth century Irish abbot, lent his name to the village where he lived – Kilcormac.  You can still visit St. Cormac’s Well;
• Cormac mac Cuilennáin, an Irish bishop and scholar, once considered a saint;
• A twelfth century Bishop of Dunkeld in Scotland.

In an interesting twist, twentieth century writer Charles McCarthy chose the name for himself.  Today Cormac McCarthy is a well-known novelist – and he’s often considered a Southern novelist.  This gives Cormac a certain cowboy cool vibe – and perhaps opens him to use by families without Irish backgrounds, too.  Cormac could almost substitute for Wyatt.

Cormac also occupies that elusive space – familiar, but never ranked in the US Top 1000.  In Ireland, he’s charted in the Top 50 in recent years.  You might hear him in Scotland, Australia or Canada, too.  But in San Fransisco, Minneapolis or Miami?  Your Cormac will stand out in the crowd of Aidans.

With the masculine nickname Mac or the retro 80s Cory, Cormac is also far more flexible than many a two-syllable name.

It’s hard to find a name with more potential for a son than Cormac.

Once upon a time Aidan was an obscure Gaelic choice.  Today, parents are searching high and low for a similar-but-different choice for sons.

Thanks to Alicia for suggesting a contender.  Today’s Name of the Day is Tynan.

The 1970s were all about Brian.  Ryan eclipsed his cousin in the 80s and 90s.  As parents looked harder for an Irish appellation that wasn’t already shared by every mini-Murphy, some stumbled on Aidan.  You know the rest of that story.  Now parents are searching farther afield, considering gems like Ronan.

He’s authentically Irish – from the Gaelic Ó Teimhneáin, possibly related to an Old Irish word for dark – teimhean.  File Tynan squarely in the “last-names-first” category.  But Tynan’s appeal is partially thanks to his first syllable.

Ty, as in baseball legend Cobb (born Tyrus) and home improvement guru Pennington (born Gary Tygert), is a popular pick for boys these days, in many a form.  Ways to get to this two-letter nickname include:

• Tyler peaked at #5 in ‘94, but still ranked #27 last year;
• Plain ol’ Ty seems awfully brief, but ranked #247;
• Tyson sounds more appealing if you think Beckford instead of chicken – or the boxer – and came in at #249;
• Retro Tyrone ranked #654;
• A bunch of nouveau coinages are also in use, including Tyree at #724, Tyrell at #778, Tyrese at #881 and Tyshawn at #920.

So while Tynan has never charted in the US Top 1000, between his two-syllable, ends-in-n sound and popular nickname, he might not feel all that unusual.

There’s a tiny village in Northern Ireland called Tynan, but the Irish name - Tuíneán - suggests that the town and the surname don’t share roots.  Though the village is small, back in 1981, Tynan made the international news.  In January, members of the the Provisional Irish Republican Army broke into Tynan Abbey and killed two members of the aristocratic Stronge family.  As part of the attack, the Abbey was burnt to the ground.  While the events are fading into the past, it is always possible that someone will view your choice as political – especially if you’re Irish.

A few other associations include:

• Ronan Tynan, an Irish tenor (and former member of the Irish Tenors) known for singing God Bless America before New York Yankees’ games;
• Philadelphia is home to the nicely-named newscaster Cecily Tynan;
• Kenneth Tynan was a famous British theater critic, known for quips like “A critic is a man who knows the way but can’t drive the car” and scathing reviews;
• Katharine Tynan was a late nineteenth/early twentieth-century Irish poet and novelist.

Tynan is likely to appeal to parents eager for something just a little bit different.  He marries super-trendy Aidan with the equally popular Tyler.   That’s probably the same reason he’ll put off parents who are seeking something truly distinctive – Tynan might be just a tiny bit too familiar.  Still, he’s a true rarity, authentically Irish and an appealing formal name for Ty.

Aidan has gone supernova.  Connor is heard everywhere.  What’s a parent in search of an authentic Irish appellation to do?

Thanks to Bek for suggesting one fresh option.  Today’s Name of the Day is the dashing Doyle.

Doyle is indeed a surname, and he’s undeniably Irish.  He roots are with the Gaelic Dubhghall.  It translates roughly to dark stranger from dubh – black – and gall - stranger.  What’s interesting is that the dark strangers were actually Scandinavians.  Most histories suggest that Dubhghall would’ve been applied to the Danes, who were just a smidge less fair than the Norwegians – who were called the Fionnghall, or fair strangers.

Over the centuries, Dubhghall was reduced and Anglicized until it became Doyle – one of the most common surnames in Ireland today.  It may also have become a popular substitute for many an unrelated name, including MacDowell.

Doyle has all the friendly openness of other Gaelic choices like Aidan and Ronan, but also a certain cerebral appeal thanks to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creative force behind über-sleuth Sherlock Holmes.

Plenty of other real life Doyles can be found, in nearly any field of endeavour.  A sampling includes:

• Clyde Doyle, a California politician in the 40s and 50s;
  
• David Doyle, the actor who played Bosley on Charlie’s Angels;
  
• Poet Kirby Doyle, a contemporary of Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac;
• Actress Maria Doyle Kennedy, known as Katherine of Aragon on Showtime’s The Tudors.

There are also fictional Doyles galore, including:

• Roz Doyle, Frasier’s producer;
• Gene Hackman’s character in The French Connection, Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle;
• There’s been a Maggie Doyle on ER and on the Australian police drama Blue Heelers;
• Remember when Rick Schroder guest starred on 24?  His character was Mike Doyle;
• Another Doyle was Allen Francis Doyle, a part-demon character on Buffy-spinoff Angel.
  

Lest you think Doyle is only a surname, it is worth noting that Doyle was once regularly in use as a first name, charting as high as #195 back in 1931, and appearing every year between 1894 and 1981.

Overall, Doyle is undeniably appealing.  He’s a surname choice that seems unlikely to be stolen by the girls.  He’s as Irish as Aidan, but far more distinctive.  And while he’s not often heard as a first name, he’d be instantly familiar to all.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Today’s a day for a universal bonding between all people in that whether you’re Irish or not, today we all drink like we are!

Luna and I wish we had more to say tonight, but she’s still off being all professional as hell and me… well, I’m staying in tonight and drinking like a professional. But we haven’t forgotten about you, nooooo sir. Today I share with you not a great clip, but a topical and season one: “Faye Reagan – St. Patrick’s Parade in her pussy!” Now, doesn’t that sound like fun?

As you can see from the above screencap… Yes. Yes, it does. We hope you enjoy it and more importantly, we hope you have a fun, safe night, but mostly fun. And we’ll see you very soon.

In light of the economy, St. Patrick’s day, and the environment; I decided to give you a list of fashionable ways to go “Green”. Here’s a list of clothing and beauty products that will give you the same (if yet, better) results of other products, but won’t be a burden to the environment or your wallet. Just buying one eco-friendly product can make an impact on your community or the world.

1. Vintage Sunglasses

Cool second-hand style saves on materials and manufacturing.

2. Almay Pure Blends Eyeshadow

These paraben-free shadows pack hues that won’t fade by lunch.

3. Hand-Dyed Scarf

Natural fibers and dyes mean less chemical runoff in our fields and streams.

4. L’Oréal Paris EverPure Serum

Smooth on a sulfate-free formula that adds sheen to color-treated hair.

5. Organic Clothing

Organic cotton eliminates the use of pesticides.

6. Physicians’ Formula Mascara

100% percent pure rice protein coats lashes and boosts volume.

7. Recycled Denim Bag

Reusable shopping bag offers an eco-friendly, stylish solution.

8. Burt’s Bees Fabulously Fresh Body Wash

Lather up in the a.m. without any scary chemicals.

9. Fair-Trade Seed Bracelet

Made from renewable choco seeds to support a local Andean community.

10. Sally Hanson Natural Beauty Lip Gloss

Swipe on a gloss that’s infused with almond oil for superhydrating lips.

Source: Cosmopolitan Magazine

Image Source: Google Images

Unless you’ve been living under a rock – and if you have Internet access, I assume not – you’re quite aware of the festivities that this beautiful holiday brings. Green beer and debauchery seem to sit perfectly hand in hand with St. Patrick’s Day, a celebration of all things Irish and an excuse for many – not myself, however, as I’m legitimately of Irish descent - to pretend their family tree has a branch or two stemming from the best heritage known to mankind.

I’ve attended quite a few St. Patty’s celebrations in my day – that makes me sound old, but I’m not, I swear - and although 2009 brings a tamer year than the last several, I’m hoping to make the best of it. After all, I am rocking a brand new holiday tee* in addition to green shoes. Clearly I’m perfectly equipped for this evening’s festivities.

The Irish tee I’m rocking today.

I might’ve missed the fourth largest St. Patty’s parade in the country this past Saturday in Scranton - held annually and a pretty big deal - as well as Penn State’s version, “State Patty’s Day” – born out of the a Nittany Lion desire to celebrate despite missing the holiday each year due to Spring Break – but I’m hoping to make up for that this evening.

So drink a pint of Guinness whether you are Irish or not, wear your classiest green tee and have a great St. Patty’s Day everyone!

* I have a slight addiction to Irish attire. Last year I bought three tee-shirts and this year I bought another to add to my already abundant collection that includes at least one hoodie and the glittery, camoflauge pair of Roos adorning my feet this moment.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

After much thought, I’ve chosen the controversial – but very Irish - Riley for Name of the Day.

Like many Irish surnames, Riley is likable – upbeat, friendly and complete in just two syllables.  Today, Riley represents several trends:

• The move towards gender-neutral names;
• A greater willingness to promote surnames to the first spot – even if they aren’t found on your family tree;
• A tendency to adopt creative respellings, sometimes in an attempt to make a name “more feminine.”

As of 2007, the name ranked as follows:

• For girls, Riley charted at #52, with variant spellings Rylee (#130), Ryleigh (#300); and Rylie (#341) also popular.  Similar choices like Brylee (#652) and Briley (#874) might also owe something to the rise of Riley – but then again, there’s also Kylie and Miley.
• For boys, Riley ranked #109 in 2007.  Variant spelling Rylee came  in at #800.  Reilly – an equally valid spelling of the surname – ranked #916.  The possibly related Rylan (#256) and Ryland (#616) also charted. 

The variant spellings are new, but Riley has always been a Top 1000 pick for boys in the US.   And while conventional wisdom tells us that when parents begin to use a traditionally masculine moniker for their daughters, it falls out of favor for sons.  Not so – at least not in Riley’s case.

Riley first appeared in the girls’ Top 1000 in 1990.  At the time, Kelsey, Kelly and Lindsey were popular, so it is little wonder that some parents landed on Riley.

But here’s the surprise – Riley ranked #311 for boys in 1990 – and he gained in the rankings just as Riley rose for girls - the opposite of what happened in years past.

Riley traces back to a Gaelic given name - Raghailleach or Roghallach – which became the surname Ó Raghailligh.  History dead-ends there, without revealing a source.  Or Riley could be an Old English place name, probably meaning rye meadow.

But Riley does have a powerful contemporary meaning thanks to an American poet and the long-lived comedy The Life of Riley.  

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, James Whitcomb Riley penned happy domestic verse.  Described as “heart high” and often written in the dialect of his native Indiana, his poems were filled with lines like the ripest peach is highest on the tree.  In 1885, he wrote Little Orphant Annie, which became a comic strip, a Broadway musical and a cultural force.  (Though his Annie was a household servant – Daddy Warbucks came later.)

As for the comedy, the program evolved from radio in the 1940s, to the big screen in 1949 and television in the 1950s.  Instead of simple domesticity, Chester A. Riley was a dreamer and a bit of a blunderer – an assembly-line worker and the forerunner of characters like Ralph Kramden and Archie Bunker.  ”Living the life of Riley” suggests a cozy domestic tranquility that Chester’s family didn’t quite achieve.

BOSTON, MA – Customs officials have seized 14 kilos of shamrock seeds at Dulles Airport. The seeds would have grown 38 kilos of “Lucky Green” with a street value of $150,000.

Officials were tipped off by an odd looking old lady who smelled strongly of corned beef.  When approached by airport authorities she was revealed to be two Leprechauns, one standing on the other’s shoulders.  Upon questioning, the two agreed to give names and addresses for their contacts to police, but only in the form of a riddle.

A massive raid that coordinated the efforts of the NSA, ATF, FBI and INF was conducted in the early morning hours at the compound where the seeds were headed.  At a farm in rural Massachusetts, agents entered the complex surprising all the workers.  14 Leprechauns were arrested for smuggling, tax evasion, and possession of controlled lucky substances.  Several members of the gang escaped when their captors blinked, allowing them time to vanish.  Police are still searching for the missing Leprechauns.

Agents found several pots of gold, two hundred thousand in American bills, bank ledgers indicating multiple foreign accounts, and several fake passports hidden in the basement.

Black market shamrocks cost government 84 million dollars last year.  This bust before the Saint Patricks Day holiday will keep millions from experimenting with shamrocks; believing themselves to be Irish, calling in sick to work, making poor alcohol related decisions, or unnatural acts with cabbage.

Considering that I am Irish, it just wouldn’t feel right to let this day pass without uncovering some facts, and dispelling some fiction, about one of my favorite holidays…

About St. Patrick
- St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, is a widely known figure
- When he was sixteen years old, Patrick’s family estate in Britain was attacked by a group of Irish raiders. He was captured and taken to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity.
- After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped captivity.
- After escaping to Britain, Patrick began religious training.
- After being ordained as a priest, Patrick returned to Ireland to minister to Christians and to convert the Irish to Christianity.

About Snakes
There is a claim that St. Patrick banished snakes from Ireland. While it’s true that no snakes exist in Ireland today, it is also true that they never did. Ireland is an island that is surrounded by cold ocean waters…the climate is not suitable for snakes.

It is believed that the myth of St. Patrick driving the snakes from Ireland is literary symbolism. The snakes actually represent the pagan beliefs that existed before St. Patrick introduced Christianity to the island.

American Holiday
St. Patrick’s day was actually invented in America by Irish-Americans.

Wearing Green
Green is not only one of the colors represented in the Irish flag, but it also the color of Ireland (it’s known as he Emerald Isle). Wearing green shows your Patriotism!

A Pint
Guinness is the national beer of Ireland so it is, of course, enjoyed on St. Patrick’s day. According to Guinness, approximately 5.5 million pints of Guinness are consumed around the world on a typical day. On St. Patrick’s Day, that increases to 13 million pints!

Why are Four Leaf Clovers Lucky?
Each leaf of the clover has meaning: the first is for hope, the second is for faith, the third is for love and the fourth is for luck.

Kiss me, I’m Irish!
This references kissing The Blarney Stone. Kissing the stone brings you luck. If you can’t kiss the stone, kiss the next best thing – an Irish person!

Beannachtam na Feile Padraig! (Happy St. Patrick’s Day!)

Hoy es 17 de marzo. En principio parece un día más para todo el mundo, sin embargo, en Irlanda no es así. Hoy es Saint Patrick, o lo que es lo mismo, San Patricio, la fiesta nacional de la isla esmeralda. Desde hace días sólo encuentro en la calle banderas de Irlanda, gorros gigantes verdes, corbatas verdes, frases como “kiss me, I´m Irish” -bésame, soy irlandés- y miles de leprechauns (los famosos duendecillos pelirrojos vestidos de verde).

Apesar de que San Patricio comenzó a celebrarse en Irlanda, es en EEUU donde son más expectaculares los festejos que se celebran en torno al santo. De hecho, el río Chicago es teñido de verde en honor al patrón irlandés.

Este es el primer año que estoy en Irlanda en estas fechas y me encantaría vivir el día de San Patricio al cien por cien. No obsante, las exigencias laborales me impiden irme a tomar una buena pinta de Guinness (o de cualquier otra potente stout) hasta que no salga del tajo. En fin, espero poder contaros algo más mañana.

I love St. Patrick’s Day. I love parades and shamrock stickers and Irish soda bread. I love getting very drunk and being festive on the one day of the year that anyone can be Irish. That being said I do not enjoy getting very drunk off of green beer. Something about green beer feels unnatural to me, like my insides are being coated in that slime from Nickelodeon and frankly the novelty wore off after my first pub crawl when my tongue stayed green for days.

But what is St. Patrick’s Day without green beverages? Will I be forced to drink average colored beer if I nix the food coloring? Or worse yet, will I get my “Irish and Proud” t-shirt revoked?

Well I’ve got news for whoever wants to go up against this Irish lush – I will not be taken down without a fight! Not while there are plenty of other delicious green concoctions floating around, anyway. So don’t panic, I have some St. Patrick’s day drinks that are just as fun and twice as effective.

The classic Appletini (which I have renamed Apple O’Tini for the sake of St. Patrick’s Day)

1.5 oz of Smirnoff Green Apple Twist Vodka

1 oz DeKuyper Sour Apple Pucker Schnapps

Erin Go Margarita

1.5 oz of Tequila

.5 oz of Triple sec

1 oz Lime juice

Kiss Me I’m Irish (and drunk)

1 oz Midori Melon Liqueur

1 oz Whiskey sour mix

2 oz Sprite

Shamrock Shooter (aka Kamikazee Jello Shots)

1 (6 oz) Package of lime Jello

10 oz Citrus vodka

4 oz Blue Curacao

2 oz Lime Juice

Dissolve Jello in boiling water and add alcohol

Get Lucky Punch

2 (12 oz) cans frozen limeade concentrate

2 (12 oz) cans frozen lemonade concentrate

2 (2 liter) bottles lemon-lime flavored carbonated soda

1 (750 milliliter) bottle rum

2 quarts lime sherbet

St. Patrick’s Day is around the corner and we’re celebrating with Irish baby names! Irish names have a number of origins which are greatly influenced by the historical events that took place. Ireland was converted to Christianity by Saint Patrick and this explains why there has been a persistent preference for Christian, Hebrew and Aramaic names. The names of the 12 Apostles of Christ have always been very popular.

Examples: Patrick, Patricia, Paul, Andrew, Adam, Aaron

The Norse invasion in the Twelfth century and the Cromwellian colonisation in the seventeenth centuries brought still further variety to the first names that were chosen by parents of Irish children. May of the Anglo names that were introduced were originally of Germanic Saxon origin.

Examples: Robert, William, Richard, Gerard

The Gaelic revival that took place in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s saw a return to fashion of many of the native Gaelic names that are drawn from the myths, legends and folklore of the Gaelic culture.

Examples: Shane, Seamus, Ryan, Áine, Brian, Niall

In the latter half of the twentieth century and now, at the start of the twenty-first, the influence of media resources such as television and the internet has meant that names that were never used in Ireland a hundred years ago have now become very popular.

Examples: Kyle, Ethan, Dillon, Cameron, Reece

The top Irish baby names for boys and girls are:

Girls Top 10 Names	Boys Top 10 Names
Chloe	Conor
Aoife	Sean
Sarah	Jack
Ciara	James
Niamh	Adam
Emma	Michael
Rachel	David
Rebecca	Aaron
Lauren	Daniel
Megan	Dylan

Read more of the top baby names around the world!

He’s big in the UK and Australia, and is catching on in the US, too.

Thanks to Cat for suggesting Declan as Name of the Day.

About a year ago, I met a small boy called Declan.  As it happened, his father is direct from Ireland and opted for the traditional Gaelic spelling Deaglán instead of the Anglicized version.  I’ve not dared ask, but I suspect the parents have yet to realize just how very fashionable a choice they’ve made.

Declan has always been reasonably familiar in the UK.  As recently as 2004, he still ranked in the British Top 100.  In Australia, Declan remains a Top 100 pick today.

But in the US, he’s still rather novel.  Up until 1998, Declan had never ranked in the Top 1000, though a handful appear in census records over the years.  

With Brian, Ryan, Brendan and a host of other Irish appellations climbing the charts, little wonder some parents discovered Declan.  In 1998, he debuted at #710.  By 2007, he had climbed to #349.  Besides his Gaelic flair, he shares the two-syllable, ends-in-n construction so popular for boys’ names.  And the letter D is second only to J in terms of favorite letters for our sons. 

A handful of famous Declans have raised his profile, including:

• Elvis Costello was born Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus;
• BBC television presenter Declan Donnelly is best known as half of Ant and Dec.  Along with Anthony McPartlin, Dec has emceed everything from children’s television to reality competitions like Britain’s Got Talent;
• Declan McDonough is a character on ABC Family’s Kyle XY, bringing him to the attention of the next generation of parents;
• Speaking of youth, there’s pop singer Declan Galbraith.  He hails from Dublin, but he’s best known abroad;
• A handful of musicians, politicians and athletes, most either from Ireland or of Irish descent, also wear the name.

And then, of course, there’s Saint Declan.  He was at work in Ireland a few years prior to Saint Patrick.  He established a monastery in Ardmore and pilgrims still visit the ruins today.  

Apparently, when they were casting the role of Patron Saint of Ireland, a sizable group campaigned for him.  Unlike the Roman-born Patrick, Declan’s roots were impeccably kelly green.  Some even insist that he was born a prince of the Déisi, an ancient Gaelic tribe settled in the area.

The exact origins of his name are uncertain.  Some contend that dag means good and lan full, so Declan means “full of goodness.”  Maybe so, but I can’t confirm it.  Even more mysterious is the occasional reference to the meaning “man of prayer,” though that could link back to the saint.

Overall, Declan has much to recommend him.  He’s an authentic Irish heritage choice that’s heard just often enough to be familiar, making him a great alternative to Aidan, Ryan or Sean.

But if you’re searching for something truly unusual, be aware that Declan could follow other Irish favorites up the charts and easily land in the Top 200 – or higher.

Before there was Aidan, there was Brendan.

Thanks to Annelise for suggesting our Name of the Day.

When Mark Wahlberg and Rhea Durham named their third child Brendan, many commented that it was nice to see a celebrity sticking to a classic.  

That’s the funny thing about baby names – yesterday’s trendy favorite can become hopelessly dated or it can enter our lexicon of acceptable, enduring choices.

Brendan has transitioned gracefully.  It helps that his roots are impeccably Irish.  Legend has it that Saint Brendan the Navigator sailed across the Atlantic in the early 500s.  He and a ship of believers were seeking the Garden of Eden; some versions of the tale suggest the crew beat Columbus to North America, defeating a sea monster en route.

Odds are that Brendan’s voyage was a mix of folk tradition and religious parable, but his historical existence is unquestioned.  He’s one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland.  The dozen monks all studied at Clonard Abbey and can be verified in historical records.  In fact, a second Saint Brendan was among the twelve, Saint Brendan of Birr.

In sixth century Ireland, the men were probably called Bréanainn.  There are a handful of meanings out there, but most agree that it comes from a title – “prince.”  While I can’t trace the original source for the name, most agree that Brendan has a royal reputation.

Back in 1941, Brendan first appeared in the US Top 1000.  He rose steadily, peaking at #96 in 1999.  Along the way, he inspired many sound-alike names, including:

• Brandon debuted in the rankings in 1950 and quickly eclipsed the possibly-related Brendan.  After Beverly Hills 90210 hit the small screen in 1990 with Jason Priestly playing Brandon Walsh, the already popular name spent six years in the Top Ten;
• Variant spellings Brendon and Brenden, as well as Branden, have all charted in recent years;
• While it remains more common as a surname, Brennan is now attracting attention.  He first ranked in 1966 and had risen to #284 by 2007;
• Lastly, a mash-up of Brendan’s Br- and Aidan have generated Braidan, Braeden, Braydon and too many more to list.  Like Brennan, they may trace their roots back to an Irish surname – but are undeniably boosted by the popularity of similar picks.

While Brendan isn’t a classic like James or John, he does belong on the list of sensible choices for sons.  Brendan is falling slowly, ranking #204 in 2007.  (Brandon remains in the Top 50 and more Braedens are born every day.)  

Perhaps it is because he was never a chart-topper, or maybe it is because his history lends him some strength, but Brendan feels more like a 20th century classic than a fading favorite.

If you’re looking for an Irish choice that is slightly less traditional than Daniel, far less common than Aidan and yet still current, why not consider Brendan?  While the many similar choices could cause confusion, Brendan seems like the one most likely to endure as a strong choice for a son.

It is a reference to the Blarney Stone. Kissing the Blarney stone brings you good luck so if you can’t kiss the stone the next best chance of getting good luck is “kissing an Irish person.”

The Stone of Eloquence

For over 200 years, world statesmen, literary giants, and legends of the silver screen have joined the millions of pilgrims climbing the steps to kiss the Blarney Stone and gain the gift of eloquence. Its powers are unquestioned but its story still creates debate.

Some say it was Jacob’s Pillow, brought to Ireland by the prophet Jeremiah. Here it became the Lia Fail or ‘Fatal Stone’, used as an oracular throne of Irish kings – a kind of Harry Potter-like ‘sorting hat’ for kings. It was also said to be the deathbed pillow of St Columba on the island of Iona. Legend says it was then removed to mainland Scotland, where it served as the prophetic power of royal succession, the Stone of Destiny.

When Cormac MacCarthy, King of Munster, sent five thousand men to support Robert the Bruce in his defeat of the English at Bannockburn in 1314, a portion of the historic Stone was given by the Scots in gratitude – and returned to Ireland.

Others say it may be a stone brought back to Ireland from the Crusades – the ‘Stone of Ezel’ behind which David hid on Jonathan’s advice when he fled from his enemy, Saul. A few claim it was the stone that gushed water when struck by Moses.

Whatever the truth of its origin, we believe a witch saved from drowning revealed its power to the MacCarthys.