Question about Brendan's meaning.......
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| Thu, 10-20-2005 - 10:18am |
I have read on here somewhere (I can't find the darn post now, wouldn't you know it!?) that Brendan means "smelly hair". I would like to know where that meaning comes from. Before we named our son that, we searched and searched and NEVER saw anything like that. As far as I have ever seen, it means either Prince, Little Raven, or sword-blade, depending on whether its Gaelic, Welsh, or German.
Not that it makes a difference to me, but I'm curious where this meaning is from and where did you find it???
I guess I should give some history why I want to know so bad...my sister and brother-n-law said that's what it means and were constantly bringing it up in front of my son, not very nice if you ask me. One day I could not take it anymore and made some snide remark back to them and they finally got the hint to stop. They have no kids and seem to think that mine are for their entertainment......yes, I have issues with that.....but I just have never heard of that meaning for Brendan and would love to know where it comes from. And no, it doesn't change my mind about the name. We are huge hockey fans and our BRendan's name was inspired by my favorite player!!!!!!!!
Thanks for any info you could give me!
Theresa

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Oh dear! I think Brendan's a great name and according to www.behindthename.com , it means this:
From Brendanus, the Latinized form of the Irish name Bréanainn which was derived from a Welsh word meaning "prince". Saint Brendan was a 6th-century Irish abbot. According to legend he and 17 other monks crossed the Atlantic and reached North America.
it pulls up no matches when searching for a name meaning stinky and only 4 that have anything to do with hair (Rhonwen & Xanthe are two of them)
behindthename.com is the most reliable of online etymology sites, feel free to check it out yourself, send your pesky BIL and his wife the link : http://www.behindthename.com/php/search.php?terms=Brendan&nmd=n&gender=both&operator=or
or have the meaning written down & framed for Brendan for the holidays.
Then dance a happy dance. You're right and they're wrong! :D
Maybe they're jealous?
I second that, behindthename is one of most reliable of online etymology sites.
The frame Idea is cute!
Sorry, but I had to LOL b/c I saw that other post, too, and I thought to myself, "There's no way that Brendan means smelly hair." Now I'm not an expert, but I've never heard such a randomly cruel meaning for any other name. :-P
I'm glad the pp had a better meaning for you.
Stephanie
Yah, I know that meaning must be out there somewhere, because this is now the 2nd time I've heard it. I just want to know where it comes from, because I have been unable to find it. I know that the post that stated it originally meant no harm, I am just very curious now! Just leave it up to my sister and BIL to use it against my son who is only 3!
Thanks!
Theresa
I was bored so I went and started looking through the other posts, I found the post you are refering to in the "Would You" question. Here is part of that posters opinion:
I like the name Brendan, but it actually means "smelly hair", we choose a different boys name b/c we liked the name better, not b/c of what Brendan meant.
I have a brother named Brendan (he is 21 now) and I have never heard Brendan meaning smell hair until today when I read that!
Oh my goodness!! Somebody had made a post about a name not having a great meaning, and I replied with the example that Leah means "weary" which I have picked out for a girl anyway, and that MY BABYBOOK AT HOME said that Brendan meant "smelly hair". I was even considering that name myself, dispite what the meaning was IN THE BOOK I HAD AT HOME. I did not make it up BECAUSE I WAS JEALOUS!! I was just giving an example! I did a search after reading this post and now realize that nowhere on the internet (at least at the baby sites I've looked) does it say that- that is great! I guess my baby book is outdated! Anyway, I do love the name Brendan. I was just a little hurt when I read this post and you said I must be jealous to say something like that. Anyway, I hope I cleared the air, and there is no bad feelings.
Denise
Oh no--please don't think that when I posted the question that I in any way thought you were saying anything to be mean! I was only asking where that meaning came from because of my crazy sister and BIL, who were at one point always saying that to my son. It was only the 2nd time I'd heard that meaning, so I knew it had to be out there somewhere. I think the PP that was saying something about being jealous was referring to my sister, not you. I don't I was not mad at the post one bit, in fact, I thought my sisiter and BIL had been making it up all this time! So now I know that it came from a baby book somewhere. Incidentaly, I also googled "brendan smell hair" together and did myself find a couple sites that show it. Something about how "some scholars believe it means...."
No biggie and please don't feel bad!
Theresa
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