Kate Monk's Onomastikon

(Dictionary of Names)

Ossian

James Macpherson (1736-96) claimed that the Ossianic poems were translations from the work of Ossian, son of the legendary Irish hero, Finn Mac Cool. The Emperor Napoleon was a keen admirer of the poems. He was godfather to several of the children of his marshall Jean Baptiste Bernadotte who became King of Norway and Sweden, giving them Ossianic names which became common in Scandinavia as a result.

Male

Oscar Irish os 'deer' + cara 'friend' (grandson of Finn)

Ossian diminutive form of os 'deer'

Oisín

Osheen

Female

Fiona Celtic fionn - 'white/fair' (pen name of romantic novelist William Sharp - Fiona Macleod)

Feona Fina Fionna

Malvina Gaelic maol-mhin 'smooth brow'

Malva Malvane Malvi
Malwine    

Morven Gaelic placename a Mhor bhairne 'at the big gap'. (Fingal's kingdom)

Morvern

Selma Ossian's castle

Zelma

This collection of names was compiled by Kate Monk and is ©1997, Kate Monk.

Copies may be made for personal use only.

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