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Name of the Day: Deirdre

December 3, 2008 By appellationmountain 8 Comments

Today’s choice is a mythological maiden whose name was discovered by parents in the 20th century.

Thanks to Photoquilty for suggesting our Name of the Day: Deirdre.

We’re not quite certain about Deirdre’s meaning, but her story is well known. In Irish legend, poor Deirdre was madly in love with one fellow, but forced to marry another. Apparently, her looks attracted the attentions of the King of Ulster, and once that happens, well … marrying for true love is not an option. The exact details vary, but in every version of her tale, she takes her own life.

Given her tragic ending, perhaps it’s no surprise that this name failed to catch on sooner. Instead, a trio of early 20th century playwrights stumbled on the story. Inspired, they penned:

  • Deirdre, written by George William Russell in 1902;
  • Deirdre, written by William Butler Yeats in 1907;
  • Deirdre of the Sorrows, started by John Millington Synge and completed after his death by Yeats. It was first performed in 1910.

She’s continued to appear in works of art, novels, songs and at least one more play since. The Irish navy even called one of their ships Deirdre.

We suspect that the name was coming into use prior to the 1910s. A handful of census records suggest that, especially in the UK, Deirdre was discovered by Victorian parents hunting for a romantic appellation drawn from legend. But most Deirdres can be dated to the period after she became a staple of the stage, and in the US, she first charts in the Top 1000 in 1944.

Stateside, Deirdre peaked at #333 in 1961, and spent much of the decade in the 300s before slowly declining and dropping out of the rankings entirely after 1990.

There are no shortage of Deirdres in the US or the UK, but most are older. On Coronation Street, we find Deirdre Anne Hunt Langton Rachid Barlow. (Don’t you just love soap opera marriages and remarriages?) And The Beach Boys recorded a single called “Deirdre” in 1970.

The original version of the name was probably closer to Derdriu, and at least a few American parents have attempted to simplify Deirdre’s spelling. DJ Spinderella of Salt-N-Pepa fame was born Deirdra. Such variants were never common enough to chart, but flip open a baby name book and odds are you’ll find a few alternate spellings.

The nickname commonly associated with Deirdre is Dee or Dee Dee. We must say, these short forms feel rather dated. But there is the possibility of the fresher Dree, or simply using the full two-syllable name.

Overall, Deirdre starts to look like an interesting option. It might not be the most current Celtic choice – we think Maeve or Ailis probably feel like more authentic imports. But Deirdre would fit many parents’ criteria for an unusual name. Odds are strong that she’ll be the only one in her class, but most will recognize her name. And drawing a moniker from myth is a great way to ensure that you’ve picked an enduring name for your daughter.

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Comments

  1. Lyndsay says

    December 5, 2008 at 9:44 PM

    one of Barbie’s little sister Kelly’s friends was named Deidre, I always liked her.

    Reply
  2. Shannon says

    December 5, 2008 at 12:55 AM

    I have always kind of liked this name. One of my “I like it and it’s interesting but not what I’d name my child” names. Dee and Didi for nn – don’t like.

    Reply
  3. The Fuss (Jennifer) says

    December 4, 2008 at 12:21 AM

    Deidre has always sounds like “dreary” to me. It feels sad and plain. And, at this point, dated. But, it would be a little surprising and refreshing to meet one, I suppose!

    Reply
  4. photoquilty says

    December 3, 2008 at 9:18 PM

    I picture tea and crumpets. Her sister’s name is Saffron, her doll is called Bridget…

    Reply
    • Dedré says

      February 15, 2016 at 2:46 AM

      I am a Deirdre but I am spelt like this Dedré. I like the name and think the history behind it is fantasying.

      Reply
  5. Cat says

    December 3, 2008 at 8:15 PM

    I knew a Deirdre in high school, and I always thought she had the coolest name. I thoroughly like the name name, even if it’s not my style, really. She sounds a little surfer chick, but the history and usage lend her some weight. I give Deirdre the thumbs up.

    Reply
  6. Lola says

    December 3, 2008 at 6:07 PM

    I thoroughly like Deidre. She’s definitely different from almost everything out there, sound wise but she still fits in with all those other Irish imports. I was friends with a Deidre as a kid, she moved when we were 7 but I still remember her wacky sense of humor and how much fun we had together. Makes me a touch more fond of the name, I think. She feels cool, though; which is one reason I’ll never use her myself. I prefer warmer feeling names (not that that’s going to makes sense to a whole lot of folks).

    Deidre’s got a really lovely sound and a great History. Her meaning and assocation don’t bother me one whit (says she who’s got “blind” at the top of her list). I give Deidre a solid :thumbsup:

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Name of the Day: Bridget « Appellation Mountain says:
    December 5, 2008 at 9:23 PM

    […] of the Day: Bridget 05Dec08 On the heels of Deirdre, we have another Irish mythological choice – one we expect to gain modestly in the coming […]

    Reply

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