Freakonomics co-authors Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner deemed this choice a likely Top Name of 2015 – but so far, the name remains decidedly underused.
Thanks to Wrenn for suggesting Flannery as Name of the Day.
Flannery has much to recommend it. It’s another Irish surname, à la the white hot Riley and emerging choices like Finnegan and Finley. Like Harper, Flannery has serious literary cred, too. Factor in Flannery’s possible appeal for boys or girls, and it is easy to see why the Freaknomics authors placed their bets for Flannery to win, place or show.
And yet, Flannery has never ranked in the US Top 1000 for either gender. Expert analysis aside, I rather expect Flannery will remain something of an underused gem right through 2015 and beyond. More on that in a minute …
Just like many an Irish surname, Flannery is an Anglicized version of a Gaelic choice. Flannery comes from Ó Flannabhra, Ó Flannghaile or possibly both. Flann means red, and fits in with plenty of other descriptive surnames. The rest of the name is subject to debate. If Flannery comes from the first candidate, it means “red eyebrows;” from the second, “red valor.”
Speaking of red, Flann Sinna was a ninth century High King of Ireland. Some might imgaine Flann as an alternative to up-and-comer Finn, but he’s probably too close to the custard for serious consideration. This also robs the three-syllable Flannery of a possible nickname. While Finnegan and Finley shorten to Finn, Flannery would have to be used in the full, three-syllable version or risk sound like a dessert menu instead of a kid.
Perhaps that’s why Flannery was suggested as a contender for a girl’s name. From Dorothy to Kimberly to Emily, plenty of three-syllable, ends-in-y choices for daughters have been popular over the years. Similiar surname-inspired picks doing well for girls circa 2009 include Delaney and Emery. Flannery fits the trend perfectly.
She’d also be a logical sister to the literary Harper. Just like To Kill A Mockingbird’s Harper Lee was born Nelle Harper Lee, Flannery O’Connor’s given name was Mary. O’Connor penned two novels, but is best known for her Southern Gothic short stories.
Plenty of people wear it as a surname – The Office’s Kate Flannery, The Bold and the Beautiful’s Susan Flannery, a handful of athletes and academics, too.
There’s also a Pokémon character named Flannery – she’s a she, and she trains flame-type pocket monsters in manga and anime, hence the choice of her name.
If you were looking to name a son, one possible twist on Flannery is Flannan – the Flann element plus the -an diminutive so well known from Aidan, Ronan and plenty of other Irish appellations. Flynn is also related – though he’s awfully close to Finn.
You can find plenty of famous people wearing Flannery as a surname. Soap opera veteran Susan Flannery comes to mind, as does The Office’s Kate Flannery. A handful of athletes and academics, politicians and musicians share the name, too.
Overall, Flannery could work if you’re disappointed to learn that Delaney is actually a fairly common choice, Flannery emerges as an alternative. Because while I think the Freakonomics duo are quite clever, I’m not sure they’re quite in tune with baby naming.
Flannery O’Connor was also known as a Catholic Apologist. She is up for sainthood and is considered the patron saint against lupus (that is what she died from). I have a friend named Flannery, she was named for the author. I must admit, I do like Flannery because I am a fan of the author. I’d never use it, but its one of the very few surname names I like on a girl.
My son Frankie would have been Flannery if he’d been a girl. Flannery O’Connor is my favorite author and, Sebastiane, I do hope that someday she is canonized.
I love “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” Great short story. Great name!
Thanks for featuring Flannery! (I feel like such a NoTD hog lately!)
Flannery is my mother’s maiden name. I am definitely considering using it, just not sure about putting it up front. I love the “ery” sound at the end but I’m not sold on the “flan” part – definitely makes me think of the custard dessert. If anyone else has suggestions for nicknames I’d love to hear them.
I agree that Flannery fits with the Irish surname trend but I don’t see it soaring up the charts any time soon (at least not by 2015 – that is like, tomorrow!). I think the only reason is the lack of good nicknames. Finn is SO cute! Flann, not so much…
As for nicknames, how about Lan/a, Wrenn?
I actually don’t mind this one. Not that I’d ever use it myself, even if it had a connection for me, it does sound a bit too dessert-y.
But I like the sound and wouldn’t blanch if I ran into one. Be careful though, this is another one of those wasp-y types that if not paired carefully, can sound like a law firm!
Hmm…Lan/a could work – thanks Lola!
And warning about sounding like a law firm. It is still to be determined what last name any future offspring of mine would have…
My name is Flannery — I was named after the writer and I’m also a fourth Irish. Nicknames I have gone by include: Lala, La, Flan, FlanFlan, Flannanigans, and Anne.
All I think of when I hear this name is the character Flannery Culp in the novel ‘The Basic Eight’ by Daniel Handler. Though I love Mr Handler (if and when your children get into reading, Verity, I fully recommend ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’; don’t be put off by the film, they’re really very good) I would never name a child Flannery after such a book, since the character is… well, let’s just say, you wouldn’t want her as your daughter!
So no, no Flannery for me!
I love Flannery and think the nn Annie would work perfectly!
Saint Flannery – I didn’t know! How cool, and thanks, Sebastiane.
The law firm babies do vex me. “This is my son, Parker Nicholson Brown.” Or, “Yes, I’m a partner in the estates and trusts practice at Parker Nicholson Brown.” I don’t suppose anyone will ever think that your tow-headed cherub was named after a professional services firm, but why risk it?
And not “if and when,” Elizabeth – WHEN! I already tried to read Harry Potter to the 4 y.o., but a) they’re a tiny bit scary and b) he mostly wants to read our history of the Stanley Cup. Here’s hoping he branches out, or I’ll be the mom in the bookstore buying her 12 y.o. the biography of Wayne Gretzky.
Lana is cute. And I love the nn Annie, but it isn’t nearly as distinctive as Flannery. (I don’t know any Annies at the moment, though I do know a 3 y.o. Annabel.)
I do like both Flannery and Harper for girls. And Hadley. Must be the literary connections.
I love the name Flannery. It was on my short list 5 years ago when I was pregnant. I, too, was conflicted b/c of lack of nn and the largeness of the name. I thought it might be a lot to harness a baby with…
However, I am currently pregnant with twins and am considering it. I love the literary ties and Irish element (being half Irish!).
I also think that it would go well with Annabel (my 4 yr old). We are thinking of using the nickname Fanny (as in old English nickname, not rear).
Congrats on your babies on the way! Annabel and Flannery make for an interesting pair. Do you know the gender of maybe-Flannery’s twin?
Thank you for the well wishes. I currently have Jack William, 8, Annabel Margaret 4, and we have chosen not to find out the genders of our twins (much to the chagrin of family and friends).
I love Flannery Jane and am thinking Eleanor Ivy, if we have two girls…
For boys, we are considering Daniel, Declan and Gabriel, but are unsure in what combination at this point. Thinking possibly Gearen (pronounced Garren) and Gallagher for middle names.
Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.
Eleanor Ivy was one of two girl names we were sure were the final-two had my son been a girl… love it! Our other girl choice was Beatrix Fern. (We already have an Imogen Lily.)
Congratulations on the impending arrivals!
Thanks, JNE! I love the way Eleanor and Ivy sound together. I almost used it last time (Annabel Ivy) but chose to honor a grandparent with Margaret….
Beatrice/x is also on our list!
I love Eleanor Ivy and Flannery Jane! It’s funny … Flannery feels like the odd one out, as she’s the surname choice, but she sounds compatible with your kids’ names.
For boys … Gabriel Gearen appeals to me, but I love alliteration – my kids are CCW and AA. (And I’m an AA, too.) I love Declan, but I think I’d choose Daniel Gallagher over Declan Gallagher. Plus Jack, Gabe and Dan seems more compatible than Jack, Gabe and Declan … though if you’re going to use Gabriel, no nickname, then Gabriel and Declan go together better.
I like Eleanor Ivy and Daniel Gallagher for a boy/girl set.
Is Ivy an option in the first spot? It’s one of my favorites, though it is a little brief with Annabel and Eleanor.
I’ll agree that once a boys’ name has been worn by a female author, it gains credence as a girls’ name. Flannery and Harper feel like substantial, meaningful choices for daughters; whereas Harley, Carter, and Delaney (on girls) feel like bandwagon choices.
Flannery is a wonderful name. I love the author and so the name rings for me with depth and wonder.
As for Flannery O’Connor’s canonization. So far, she is only canonized in that her works have entered the American literary canon. Though the idea of her being a saint is truly captivating, I am afraid people would stop reading her.
I have an adorable 6 1/2 mo. old granddaughter named Flannery. Her mother (my daughter) has strong Irish roots and Flannery O’Connor is one of her dad’s favorite authors, so the name pleased each of them. I have loved the name since they first told me they’d chosen it. Some friends, however, were not supportive. One asked the name they’d chosen and, when told, asked incredulously, “Why?” It suits our baby just fine and we hope she’ll like the name. She has a one-syllable feminine middle name (just in case someone might think her name belongs to a boy).
PS: I must admit that I’m not enthused that a group (reputed to know such things) is predicting that Flannery will be one of the most popular names by 2015. I hope not. One of the things I like about it is its uniqueness.
Glenna, what a great choice for your daughter! And it was smart to give her a clearly feminine mn, too – I think one gender-ambiguous name per child is a good standard. (Quinn Avery, no. Tucker Ellen, yes.)
And I really think the predictions are WAY off-base. The authors might understand many trends, but they’ve oversimplified baby naming. I doubt there will be a wave of Flannerys following your darling daughter.
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Well, we had twin girls, and it’s funny that Flannery is the name of the day b/c just yesterday my husband and I were looking at our little red-haired darlings and said, “They could’ve been Flannery and Scarlett after all!” We decided against Flannery and Scarlett b/c we never dreamed daughters of ours would have red hair (my sons is light blonde and my daughter is golden), and we decided in the delivery room to honor my grandmother with family names of she and her twin sister! We now have, Jack William, Annabel (Annie), Mary Catherine (Molly) and Margaret Clare (Maggie). However, I sometimes wonder if we shouldn’t have stuck to our guns and gone Flannery and Scarlett….