Friday, January 27, 2017

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Finn

I know, I know: how have I not done Finn yet? It's trending in several countries across Europe, as well as in the US, Australia, & New Zealand, so if you don't know any Finns yet, you probably will soon. :)
It's a full name on its own in two different origins (Old Irish, "fair, white"; & Old Norse, originally "wanderer", now "Sámi/Lapp", and metaphorically "magician"), but there are several longer names that can also lend themselves to a Finn nickname.

  • Alfinn (AHL-finn, Norwegian)--"elf Sámi"
  • Arnfinn (ARN-fin, Norwegian)--"eagle Sámi". Another form is Anfinn (AHN-fin). 
  • Audfinn (OWD-fin, [archaic] Norwegian)--"wealth Sámi"
  • Bergfinn (BEHRG-fin, Norwegian)--"fortress Sámi"
  • Eldfinn (ELD-fin, [archaic] Norwegian)--"fire Sámi"
  • Elffin (EL-fin, Welsh [mythology])--poss. from Latin or Pictish "white". Also spelled Elphin
  • Finbar (FIN-bar, Irish)--"fair head"
  • Finlay (FIN-lee, Irish, Scottish, English)--"fair warrior". Also spelled Finley. [unisex in the U.S., but exclusively masculine elsewhere]
  • Finlo (FIN-loh, Manx)--"fair Lugh" [Irish god]
  • Finnegan (FIN-eh-gan, Irish [surname])--"little fair one"
  • Finnegas (FIN-eh-gas, Irish [mythology])--poss. "Finn the Seer". Also written as Finegas or Finneces.
  • Finnian (FIN-ee-an, Irish)--"fair, white". Other forms include Finnán (FIN-awn) and Finnén (FIN-ayn).
  • Finnleif (FIN-life, Norwegian)--"Sámi-heir". An older form is Finnleiv (FIN-live). 
  • Finnvid (FIN-vid, [somewhat archaic] Swedish)--"Sámi-tree". Other forms include Finnevid (FIN-eh-vid, also somewhat archaic Swedish), Finnved (FIN-ved, archaic Norwegian), and Finwith (FIN-vit, old Danish, old Swedish)
  • Finnulf (FIN-ulf, [archaic] Norwegian)--"Sámi wolf". Also spelled Finulf
  • Finnur (FIN-nur, Icelandic)--form of Finn (the Old Norse one, not the Irish ;) )
  • Finnvald (FIN-vahld, [archaic] Norwegian)--"Sámi-ruler"
  • Fintan (FIN-tan, Irish)--poss. "white bull" or "white fire"
  • Fiorenzo (fee-oh-REN-tsoh, Italian)--form of Florence
  • Franklin (FRANK-lin, English)--from Old English, "free man"
  • Geirfinn (GIRE-fin, Norwegian)--"spear Sámi"
  • Griffin (GRIF-fin, English)--anglicized form of Welsh Gruffudd, poss. "strong prince"; or from the mythological creature
  • Kolfinn (KOHL-fin, [slightly archaic] Norwegian)--"dark Sámi"
  • Norfinn (NOR-fin, [slightly archaic] Norwegian)--"north Sámi"
  • Philemon (fye-LEE-mon, fil-EE-mon, English; fee-LAY-mohn, [Biblical] Greek)--from ancient Greek, "affectionate, kind"
  • Philion (FIL-ee-on, FYE-lee-on, [Anglicized, ancient] Greek)--prob. "beloved". Also spelled Phileon
  • Phineas (FIN-ee-as, English)--from Hellenized Hebrew, meaning uncertain. Also spelled Phinehas
  • Phinias (FIN-ee-as, [Anglicized, ancient] Greek)--poss. "vulture", or a form of Phineas
  • Phinus (FIN-us, [Anglicized, ancient] Greek)--poss. "vulture"
  • Phintias (FIN-tee-as, [Anglicized, ancient] Greek)--poss. "dearest". Other forms include Phintas, Phinteas, and Phinton
  • Seraphin (SEHR-ah-fin, English; SEHR-ah-feen, German)--masculine of Seraphina. Spanish form is Serafín (seh-rah-FEEN). 
  • Tophinus (TOH-fin-us, [Anglicized, ancient] Greek)--poss. "tuff" [a volcanic rock]
  • Torfinn (TOR-fin, Norwegian)--"Thor-Sámi". Also spelled Thorfinn

2 comments:

  1. What about Ferdinand? Maybe a stretch but all the letters are there. Ferdinand has such a great meaning but it's held up I think but length and rhythm. Ferdinand called Fin. I like it!

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