Is he an underused masculine appellation or one that’s gone to the girls?

Thanks to Dearest for suggesting Taran as Name of the Day.

There’s a good case for Taran as an underused boys’ name, one that would fit right in with Orion.  In Celtic mythology, Taranis was the god of thunder.  He’s been equated to the Norse Thor and the Roman Jupiter – it’s a rough bunch.  Another related mythological figure wore the name Tuireann.  And, of course, the diminutive -an is seen in many an Irish appellation from up’n'comer Ronan to the overexposed Aidan.

Factor in ancient gods like the Hurrian Teshub, Hattian Taru and Hittite Tahrun – all associated with thunder – and there’s a case that this is a great choice for a boy’s name.

Beyond the gods, there’s also a seventh century King of the Picts called Taran.

But suggest Taran on a modern message board and he’ll almost surely be rejected as a girl’s name.

Blame it on Tyrone Power.  The Hollywood leading man named his second daughter Taryn in 1953, apparently as a feminine version of Tyrone.

And why not?  Karen was a Top Ten name in the 1950s, with Sharon not far behind.  And while Tara was decades away from her peak, Power was part of Hollywood when Gone With the Wind graced the silver screen.  Taryn first appeared in the US Top 1000 in 1955.  She peaked at #228 in 1985, during the era of Megan, Kristin and Lauren.

No wonder she sounds more than a smidge girly today.  Factor in orthopedic-surgeon-turned-shoe-magnate Taryn Rose, plus actress Taryn Manning (she plays Nola in Hustle & Flow) and you’re forgiven if you think Taran is unwearable by a boy.

Except.

This is 2009.  The era when Taylor, Reese, Baylee, Jordan and Peyton share the same playground, but not the same locker room.  While Taran has never cracked the US Top 1000, there are a few to be found, including:

• Fictional foundling-turned-king Taran in the Chronicles of Prydain, a young adult fantasy series penned  by Newberry Medal-winning Lloyd Alexander;
• Two of Alexander’s books became the 1985 Disney film The Black Cauldron.  The young hero’s name remains Taran.  While it was a bust at the box office, a remastered version is slated for release in June 2010;
• Actor Taran Killam was most recently seen as Jimmy on Scrubs;
• In the 1990s, Taran Noah Smith played youngest son Mark on ABC’s smash hit Home Improvement;
• Taran Adarsh is a film critic seen on India’s Zee TV.

Want further evidence that Taran would wear well on a boy?  Baby Name Guesser indicates that it is 3.812 times more likely for Taran to be a boy’s name.

(Of course their most masculine name list includes gems like Scruff and Tinky Winky.  I’m not certain what that measure means.)

If an NFL quarterback can be called Peyton and parents can cautiously re-claim names like Kelly and Ashley for their sons, Taran seems like fair game.

He’s cross-cultural, ancient and, for better and for worse, truly unisex.