Want to help? I need a suggestion for a character's name.

[Phillycat]

This character is a dissolute Irish writer, drunk and owes everyone money. He is also rakishly handsome, with black hair and blue eyes, very charming with the ladies. His last name is Murphy. I need a first name that is legitimately Irish, but doesn't SCREAM leprauchans and Guinness. Thank you in advance!

[cwydro]

1. Ian ...?

Mike? Derek?

[Phillycat]

2. Ian strikes me as Scottish rather than Irish.

Michael is another character, so I can't use that.

Is Derek Irish?

[cwydro]

57. Those are just names

I associate with the British Isles...not specifically Irish I don't believe. Gareth is another one I've heard in England, Wales and Ireland.

[miss_american_pie]

3. Kevin

Brian, Colin, Quinn?

[Phillycat]

9. I thought about Quinn.

But "Quinn Murphy" sounded too fake, you know what I mean? Brian is typically American, as is Kevin, 'tho I know they are both Irish names.

Colin is a contender! I like it! Thanks.

[Dora]

4. Michael

[Phillycat]

14. I have a Michael character already. Thanks.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Cuchullainn.

:thumbsup:

[Phillycat]

15. Um.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

29. Can't get more Irish than that.

[Broken_Hero]

6. Conan...nt

[Phillycat]

Ha!

[jobycom]

7. Fred.

[Phillycat]

18. Irish...how?

[jobycom]

25. Not at all, that I know of. I just once heard Gene Wolf say

Never name a character Fred, so since then, I like naming characters Fred. I love Gene Wolf, I just hate rules. :)

[LynneSin]

8. Sean

You describe someone I know

[Phillycat]

19. Sean is a definite contender.

It's definitely Irish, but not fakey-seeming. Thanks.

[LynneSin]

28. Can you make the middle name asshole

um, ok, that's just a bitter pill I have to deal with the name Sean

[Phillycat]

34. Don't worry, the character is a total shithead.

[LynneSin]

42. Make him break the heart of a blonde lass heroine pul-lease

:D

[Phillycat]

49. He's going to steal stuff and be accused of murder.

Is that good enough?? *begs*

He does sleep around a lot, including a married woman.

[Whoa_Nelly]

10. Aiden

Allen

Liam

..and...ummm...Doesn't "Murphy" kind of scream Guinness? ...just wonderin'... :shrug:
http://www.ireland-information.com/heraldichall/irishsurnames.htm

[Phillycat]

22. I like Liam. Aiden is too soap-opery ('tho I love the name)

Allen isn't Irish enough. Liam is a definite contender. Thanks!

Murphy is like Smith over there, so yeah, it's typically Irish, but not over the top, I didn't think.

[jobycom]

11. Either Steny or Hoyer sound vaguely Irish-ish. nt

[Phillycat]

24. Are you just making names up now?

[jobycom]

31. LOL! Carry over from another thread

where people were trying to figure out what kind of name Steny Hoyer is.

[jobycom]

37. Adding more to this, Hoyer IS an Irish surname

http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.fc/qx/hoyer-family-crest.htm

Hoyer originally appeared in Gaelic as O hEochaidh or Mac Eochaidh.

Spelling variations include: Hoey, O'Hoey, Hoy, Hue, Kehoe, Keogh, MacKeogh and many more.

First found in Tipperary where they held a family seat from ancient times at Ballymackeogh, and were descended from the MacKeoghs who in turn were descended from their eponymous ancestor Eochaidh O'Kelly one of the ancient Kings of Ui Maine.

Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: James Hoey who settled in Charles Town, S.C. in 1772; followed by William Hoey in 1803; Charles, Dennis, John, Michael, Thomas and William Hoey, all settled in Philadelphia Pa. between 1840 and 1877.
------------

So maybe Steny is, too. :shrug:

[Call Me Wesley]

12. Samuel.

Samuel Beckett wrote Murphy. ;)

[Phillycat]

23. Oooh, I like Samuel.

Thanks!

[pdx_prog]

13. Blinn...

Seanan, Colman...

:hi:

[Phillycat]

30. A little too out there, but thanks.

[plcdude]

16. Patrick

[Phillycat]

33. Yes. But Patrick Murphy? It's almost, almost too much.

I can't decide. Besides, all the Patricks I know have been awesome guys, and this guy is going to be a real shit.

[buddhamama]

17. Colum or Donal

either one works with the last name Murphy.

[Phillycat]

35. Donal is good. I've never heard of Colum.

Donal is a contender. Thanks!

[Patiod]

20. Liam

Dennis is another one, or Declan.

You could use Fergie, but then people in Phila might think of Fergie from Fergie's Pub - not the rakishly handsome black-Irish guy you're describing.

[Phillycat]

40. I love Declan, especially since it's Elvis C's real name.

Liam is already a contender from above. Dennis is out from some seriously negative connotations in my own life.

Yes, also Fergie from Black Eyed Peas, who pees in her pants onstage:



Declan is in. Thanks!

[swag]

21. James

[Phillycat]

41. James is plain and doesn't sound character-y. That is a good thing!

James is a contender. Thanks!

[Zomby Woof]

26. Gabriel

One of the main characters in Joyce's 'The Dead'.

Its angelic suggestion should provide the right degree of contrast for your character's charming yet fallible ways.

[Phillycat]

45. Unfortunately, I already have a character (female) named Gabrielle.

The story is set in Italy. Great connotations, though. Thanks.

[Zomby Woof]

52. I'll throw in Gavin just in case

I guess I am sticking to the G's. :-)

[Phillycat]

54. Gavin is good! I like it better than Colin, actually.

Gavin is a contender. Thanks!

[sarge43]

77. Gavin is Scottish/Welsh, meaning White Hawk

It's a variation on Gawain.

[Phillycat]

79. I imagine Colin is Welsh as well. Or English. nt

[sarge43]

89. My big book of names has Colin

as a French/English variation on Nicholas.

[Zomby Woof]

95. My best friend's son is named Gavynn

Gavynn's mother is very proud of her Irish heritage, and that probably explains the different spelling. The other boy is named Aiden, and the girl is named Maleigha. :D

[Aristus]

27. Flannery.

n/t

[Phillycat]

50. I love it! But it's too character-y.

Flannery Murphy.

Thanks though!

[sarge43]

32. Liam, Declan (DECK-lan), Brendan, Aidan (AY-den)

Teague (teeg), Daegan (DAY-gan), Sean

[Phillycat]

53. Liam, Declan, and Sean are contenders.

The rest are too character-y, except maybe Brendan, which sounds too much like a trendy little-kid name to me. This guy needs to be in his late 30's.

[sarge43]

71. Liam or Declan

Liam is a variation on William, not so Irish. Declan is a saint's name from way back when, so just a touch of irony that a rowdy boy-o would be named after a saint, but then, they generally are.

[RetroLounge]

36. Bono

:shrug:

RL

[Phillycat]

51. LOL

Done!

[Tyrone Slothrop]

38. Declan

That's my fave Irish name.

And every Declan I've ever known has been quite a good drunk.

[Phillycat]

55. Declan is my number 1 contender so far.

Especially because I really like the Elvis Costello connection (his real name).

[LaraMN]

39. McRonald.

I'm sorry...I'm a pita.


:D

[Phillycat]

56. LOL!

:spank:

[pdx_prog]

43. Kyle, Ethan, Cameron, Killian...

[Phillycat]

58. Ethan is good. Is it Irish?

Kyle, Cameron, and Killian are all trendy baby names at the moment, so out unfortunately. Thanks!

[miss_american_pie]

63. Ethan is a Hebrew name

:hi:

[pdx_prog]

69. Hmmm....

It actually does have Hebrew origins...

Oh well, maybe his father was Hebrew...lol

[pdx_prog]

64. Ethan is a fine Irish name...:)

[anarch]

44. Colm

or:

Brendan

Owen

Daragh

Alan

Aiden

Gavin

Neil

...

I guess you can't really call your character "Cillian Murphy", although that might meet your criteria.

[Phillycat]

59. I know, he looks like Cillian Murphy in my mind! Only older

and less androgynous. But definitely that Black Irish coloring.

Gavin is a definite contender. Colm is awesome but I'm afraid to "weird" for American audiences.

[Patiod]

46. You don't want to go with the names in my Irish family

My one uncle was Percival Aloysius

[Phillycat]

60. Whoa!

If I invent an old man, tall, spindly, who wears spectacles and is mean to children, I'm going to name him that!

Although I'm sure your uncle was a lovely person. :D

[MissMillie]

47. Timothy... the perfect Irish name

don't ya think?

[Phillycat]

61. I love the name Timothy. But I think it's a "good guy" name, and

this guy is DEFINITELY not a "Good guy". All the Tim's I know have been great guys.

[MissMillie]

72. lol... my son is Timothy

he's a good guy too... well, a work in progress, but I'm sure he'll get to "good guy" eventually

[youthere]

48. Danny, Collin or Teague (sp?) nt

[Phillycat]

62. Colin is good. Danny is too "Danny Boy".

Colin is a contender. Thanks!

[u4ic]

67. It's Tiegh

[youthere]

93. Thanks!

:hi:

[u4ic]

65. Kieran n/t

[Phillycat]

74. Love it. But worried it is too character-y. Thanks!

[Sanity Claws]

66. Here are some genuine Irish names -- my uncles

Christopher but called Christy, Phillip but called Phily, Seamus, John, Tom, Paddy, Michael. Then there's my father: Matthew, whom everyone calls Matty.

[Phillycat]

75. Love Seamus, Paddy, and Matty (Matthew).

Seamus and Matty are definite contenders. Thanks!

[agentkgb]

117. Seamus sounds pretty Irish to me

I thought it didn't want to be too Irish?
Matthew's pretty widespread though.

[Sanity Claws]

68. Devon

or Devin. It's Gaelic for poet and might fit your character well.

Or since he's a writer, he could be named after a famous Irish writer, like George Bernard (Shaw), James (Joyce), John (Synge), Oscar (Wilde), etc.

[Phillycat]

78. Heh, no.

Some bad personal connotations for me there. BLERGH! But thanks. :)

[pdx_prog]

70. Evan....Evan Murphy

[Phillycat]

80. Ooh, Evan! I never even thought of that!

Evan is a top contender. Thanks!

[Montauk6]

73. Luther

[Phillycat]

82. I can't think of anyone except Vandross and Lex. Thanks though!

[Sanity Claws]

83. As someone who is Irish I say no.

I immediately think of Martin Luther, a Protestant. With a name like Murphy, the character is Irish Catholic and his mum would never have given him the name of a Protestant.

[Phillycat]

85. Ah, good thought!

You are exactly right, my guy was definitely raised Irish Catholic.

[SacredCow]

76. How about Declan?

on edit....

a pic of photographer Declan McCullagh

[Phillycat]

84. Declan is my top contender at the moment.

Another Declan:

[Gormy Cuss]

81. Declan n/t

[Phillycat]

87. Yep. Declan is looking like it. Thanks!

[Patiod]

90. I was thinking of Elvis when I recommended it

What's funny is that there used to be two theatrical lighting suppliers in Philadelphia - you either rented from McManus or from Declan.

[TK421]

86. Aidan? I know an Aidan, so that comes to mind

[CAcyclist]

88. Peter, Paul or Matthew

Any catholic saint name will do if you don't want it to sound too Irish. I'm sure you know, but if he was raised irish catholic one of his names has to be a saint's name, anyway.

[Montauk6]

91. Clyde

[Montauk6]

92. Clyde

[TheBaldyMan]

94. Cynthia - his parents always wanted a girl.

[u4ic]

96. What the hell

is in that Mersey water, anyway??

[elfrangel]

97. How about:

Dolan

Nevin - means servant to the saints, a nice oxymoron considering his character description

Liam

Tad

Alistair/Alastar

Cian

Reece

[Phillycat]

101. His name has been Cian the whole time I've been writing it.

But too many people have read it and said, "How do you pronounce it? Is this a real name?" etc, and I realized it was too jarring.

Out of your list, I like Liam. Thanks!

[elfrangel]

109. Variations of Cian

Kean, Keane, Kian


I believe it is pronounced KEE-an

[Shine]

98. How 'bout: Jaden, Flynn, Sean or Jasper?

:shrug:

[unsavedtrash]

99. Brady or Carrick? n/t

[kmla]

100. Seamus.

Pronounced 'Shame-us', of course.

[S n o w b a l l]

102. Padric? The Irish name for Patrick....n/t

[S n o w b a l l]

103. Ooops sorry....i overlooked the previous suggestion for this n/t

[u4ic]

104. There's also a Padraig

don't know if it's the same name as yours or not. (pronounced something like Pourig or Pouric)

[Zomby Woof]

105. That's an infamous DU name

:hide:

[Phillycat]

106. LOL

[Zomby Woof]

107. I am stopping this reply before I even start

:yoiks:

[Phillycat]

108. Heh.

I'd better edit my post.

[Zomby Woof]

112. Dang it

It was a great reply. I had this image of a Cuban-Irish police officer collecting protection money.

Of course, that kind of character would probably be more at home in a Tom Waits song, but what the hell...

[Phillycat]

114. ...

Well, ol' Paddy stopped by down at the bar last night
And the Cuban followed him to the bathroom
I was sweepin' up over by the cigarette machine
Thinkin' 'bout my baby
I didn't notice the gas can in Paddy's hand


...

etc. I think it's a good start! :D

[u4ic]

110. I forgot about him!

That was in my early days here.

[Zomby Woof]

111. Ah, the salad days!

When our trolls were creative. Were we ever so young? :hi:

[WannaBeGrumpy]

113. Arlen which is a derivative actually of "Ireland"

:hi:

[IntravenousDemilo]

115. Ronan Murphy rolls nicely off the tongue.

There's a Ronan Keating in the Irish boy-band "Boyzone". Total hunk, and reputed to have a massive, beercan-like dong (which would itself also roll nicely off the tongue).

[Phillycat]

116. *choke*

I...I don't know what to say to that.

[IntravenousDemilo]

119. No, no, don't choke! Control your gag reflex!

It's probably not that enormous when he's soft, unless he's a shower. But if your character's a ladies' man, it's a useful appendage.

Seriously, though, Ronan is a dead-sexy name, IMO, with a he-man quality redolent of ruddy cheeks and wandering over the peat bogs in big rubber boots on a stormy Thursday. I think it's also Irish Gaelic for "huge, beercan-like dong".

[Phillycat]

120. HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

I am dying over here. :rofl:

[Spider Jerusalem]

118. Donal?

Colm?

Ronan?

[Lethe]

121. Brian

"It is of Celtic, Irish and Gaelic origin, and its meaning is "high, noble." Could also mean "strength." Historical: Brian Boru (10th century) was a warrior who became high king of Ireland and one of its greatest national heroes. He liberated the country from the Danes in 1014."

[MrCoffee]

122. Paddy O'Furniture...

who's that passed out in the backyard?

Paddy O'Furniture


i'll be here all week, tip your waitresses!