Could this Irish surname be the next Bailey?
Thanks to April for suggesting one she’s considering for a daughter. Clancy is our Baby Name of the Day.
Clancy comes from an Irish surname, one that traveled a twisted path from his original form to his current state.
Flann Sinna became High King of Ireland in the late 800s, and he reigned for well over three decades. Flann meant red. A handful of names were inspired by Flann:
- Flynn, via the surname Ó Floinn;
- Flannery, from flann plus a word meaning valor;
- Flannchadh, which led to the surname Mac Fhlannchaidh, which was Anglicized as Clancy.
Most will recognize Clancy as Irish instantly thanks to the musical Clancy Brothers – Paddy, Tom, Bobby, and Liam. The quartet teamed up with fellow Irishman Tommy Makem, and recorded traditional Irish folk songs. After a 1961 performance on the Ed Sullivan Show, they scored a record deal, a Grammy nomination, and international superstardom. The group had their ups and downs, break-ups and reunions. All four of the brothers have passed away, but some of their children have musical careers of their own.
There are others who have worn Clancy in the first spot and as a surname, including:
- Fictional police chief Clancy Wiggum on The Simpsons;
- Best-selling author of spy thrillers, Tom Clancy;
- Actors Clancy Cooper and Clancy Brown. You might recognize Brown from his turn in The Shawshank Redemption – but your kids know him as the voice of Mr. Krabs on SpongeBob SquarePants;
- Early Jamaican reggae artist Clancy Eccles, best known as a member of The Dynamites. His son, Clancy Jr., is also a singer;
- The character Clancy in The Man from Snowy River – adapted for film and television – originated with an 1889 poem by Banjo Paterson in Australia’s The Bulletin, originally titled “Clancy of the Overflow” and apparently based on a real person with the surname Clancy;
- American football coaches Clancy Barone, currently with the Denver Broncos, and college coach Clancy Pendergast. Kendrick Clancy currently plays for the New Orleans Saints.
It’s tough to get a read on Clancy – he stretches from from the hyper-masculine worlds of the gridiron and espionage to the creative realms of music and theater.
Mostly, Clancy stands out as a kelly green Irish heritage pick. He still feels a tiny bit clunky, closer to Clarence than Connor. Still, Nancy tells us that 12 boys were given the name in 2009.
There’s another possibility. Clancy splits the difference between the retro Nancy and the more current Callie. Clancy could be a successor to Bailey and Riley – but for girls. Nancy tells us that 9 girls received the name in 2009.
Either way, there’s something upbeat and unexpected about Clancy. He would be refreshing in the middle spot, and undeniably Irish as a given name.
Wow – Clancy does not get much love.
I really like Nancy – it’s so far out of fashion that I find her fun. And, you know, Nancy Drew. So maybe that’s why Clancy seems like a capable, fun name that could wear well on a girl.
But then … I really don’t mind boys’ names on girls, at least some of the time. More on that in a future post.
Theoretically, I like girly names on boys so I shouldn’t mind boys names on girls but I do. It runs something like this in my head “well, if she’s pretty, it doesn’t matter, but what if she’s not?” On a guy, a girly name doesn’t seem more girly if he’s ugly or pretty. And since I know a handful of guys with ‘girly’ names, but no girls with guy names (except for the little sweetie across the street with my Last name as her first)!
I’d love to see a post on girly guy names and guy-ish girl names. Maybe the merits of both sorts? I’m going to have happy dreams tonight that Clancy strikes most as masculine. Makes me so—- happy! 😀
“If she’s pretty, it doesn’t matter, but if she’s not?”
SO TRUE. I have known a few unfortunate girls in the looks department with unisex names and it somehow seems to compound the issue. But for me, I would question girly names for boys as “What if he’s not cool enough to pull it off?”
Sad and unfair, but I think you’re right, Caroline.
I’ll have to think about that, Lola. There’s something else that I’m working on in a similar key …
Lola, I completely agree! I don’t generally like gender neutral names, but some (looking at you Shannon) I just LOVE on BOYS 🙂
Totally “boy” to me too.
I’m another who read this article and thought, “Clancy is undeniably masculine to my ears”. I realise that there were almost as many female Clancy’s born last year as males, but I personally would have a hard time cooing “Clancy” at a little pink bundle without feeling odd.
I have to agree with most of the previous comments, Clancy reads total boy to me. But because it rhymes with Nancy I don’t like it for a boy either. My MIL is a big Tom Clnacy fan so that’s my first and pretty much only association with Clancy.
Original surname + masculine/gender neutral = my two least favorite things in a girls name. Clancy gets a thumbs down from me.
Ick. Clancy is too masculine for a girl, but too feminine for a boy. Rhymes with Nancy, end of argument.
Also, Clancy reminds me of Chauncey. Plus, I went to school with a very nerdy Y@ncey.
Even if this was a beloved surname in my own family tree, I wouldn’t consider it.
I love Clancy on a boy but since I also love Percy more I won’t be using it.
I meant to post this with the rest: Panya, Yancy is a favorite of mine, I wouldn’t mind Yancy on a girl, it feels softer and more feminine than Clancy!
Count me in the “Clancy is a boy” camp too! Clarence, nn Clancy is my #2 name for a boy. I think Clancy is fabulous, strong, handsome & jazzy smooth. Clancy Brown is Awesome! Inspiring, even (since he’s my Clancy as a nickname for Clarence inspiration). So yeah, Clancy’s all boy to me.
Funny you say that. I went to school with a boy named Cl@rence Cl@ncy. He went by Cl@re.
Really? How cool, Lyndsay! I adore Clare on a boy, but no one else seems to. I figure a Clarence of mine can be Clare at home & Clancy out & about. Maybe too much?
I don’t think it’s too much at all! I love Clare on a boy. That Clare was the first one I ever knew (of either gender), and no one made fun of him for having a girls name or anything like that, so to me it totally works for a boy. Clarence Clare/Clancy would be a great choice for you!
Now Clare on a boy, I love! If Clio had been a boy, Clare might have been added into his name somewhere.
Oooh, I’m a fan of both Clarence and Clare on a boy! I’d love to be able to use Clarence as a nod to my grandfather (his middle name), but I think it would be rather difficult for a young boy to pull off at the moment.
When I hear Clancy I think first of Brown [who is an utterly fantastic actor; born Clarence J. Brown III], then of Wiggum. It’s one of those names that I think works well on a character, but not so much IRL. Sort of like Percy — they have the same feel to me.
I don’t think it works at all on a girl. It makes me think of Yancy.
I know a guy in his 20s named Clancy. I can not imagine it on a girl! Bailey has those two vowel-heavy syllables, but Clancy seems so much clankier. Still, if people can name their daughter Locklyn or Chaplin, then Clancy is fair game, I guess!