NAME MEANING

SHANE FILAN

Shane: Irish, English
Anglicized form of SEÁN  Irish
Irish form of JOHN  English, Biblical
English form of Johannes, which was the Latin form of the Greek name Ioannes, itself derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan meaning "YAHWEH is gracious". This name owes its consistent popularity to two New Testament characters, both highly revered as saints. The first was John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ who was beheaded by Herod Antipas. The second was the apostle John who was also supposedly the author of the fourth Gospel and Revelation. The name has been borne by 23 popes, as well as kings of England, Hungary, Poland, Portugal and France. It was also borne by the poet John Milton and the philosopher John Locke.

Steven: English, Biblical
From the Greek name Stephanos which means "crown". Saint Stephen was an early Christian martyr who was stoned to death, as told in Acts in the New Testament. Another Saint Stephen is the patron saint of Hungary, the first Christian king of that country (10th century). As well, this was the name of kings of England, Serbia, and Poland and ten popes. More recently it is borne by the British physicist Stephen Hawking and the American author Stephen King.

Filan: Irish

Origin: Co Mayo / Sligo
Meaning: Little wolf
History: Rare Irish surname, often associated with several Irish surnames, including Phelan. Also believed to be connected with an old Ulster surname - Ó Fialáin - a name often miss-spelt as Phelan, meaning Descendant of Faolán, which means "Little Wolf".

 

O'Faelan, O'Faoláin, Felan, Phelan, Whelan, Whalen (A sept in Munster derived from Faelan, chief of North Decies) Arms: Argent four lozenges in bend conjoined Azure between two cotises of the last, on a chief Gules three fleurs-de-lis of the first. Crest: A stag's head Motto. No motto is recorded.

PARENTS

Mae: English
Either a variant of May: derived from the name of the month of May, which itself, derives from Maia, the name of a Roman goddess. May is also another name of the hawthorn flower. Maybe a form of Mabel (Medieval short form of a French name which was derived from Latin amabilis "lovable".)  or possibly Mavis, a name of the type of bird, also called the song thrush. In the spring it migrates to Scotland where it is said to be the harbinger of spring.

Peter: English, German, Scandinavian, Slovene, Biblical
Derived from the Greek Πετρος (Petros) meaning "stone" This is a translation used in most versions of the Bible of the name Cephas (meaning "stone" in Aramaic) which was given to the apostle Simon by Jesus (compare Matthew 16:18 and John 1:42). Simon Peter was the most prominent of the apostles during Jesus's ministry and is considered by some to be the first pope. This name was also borne by Peter the Great, the czar of Russia who defeated Sweden in the Great Northern War in the 18th century. A famous fictional bearer is Peter Pan, the boy who refused to grow up in J. M. Barrie's play.

SIBLINGS

Finbar: Irish
Anglicized form of Fionnbharr. Means "fair hair", derived from Gaelic fionn "white, fair" and barr "head". Saint Fionnbharr of Cork was a 6th-century bishop who supposedly performed miraculous cures. The Barry Islands off Wales were named for him.

Peter: English, German, Scandinavian, Slovene, Biblical
Derived from the Greek Πετρος (Petros) meaning "stone" This is a translation used in most versions of the Bible of the name Cephas (meaning "stone" in Aramaic) which was given to the apostle Simon by Jesus (compare Matthew 16:18 and John 1:42). Simon Peter was the most prominent of the apostles during Jesus's ministry and is considered by some to be the first pope. This name was also borne by Peter the Great, the czar of Russia who defeated Sweden in the Great Northern War in the 18th century. A famous fictional bearer is Peter Pan, the boy who refused to grow up in J. M. Barrie's play.

Yvonne: French
Feminine form of Yvon. Derived from Germanic iv meaning "yew".

Liam: Irish
Irish short form of William. From the Germanic name Wilhelm, which was composed of the elements wil "will, desire" and helm "helmet, protection". The name was introduced to Britain by the Normans. It has belonged to several rulers of England, Prussia, and Germany, including William the Conqueror, the first Norman king of England.

Denise: French, English
Feminine form of Denis. Medieval form of Dionysius. Saint Denis was a 3rd-century missionary to Gaul who was beheaded in Paris. He is the patron saint of France.

Mairead: Irish
Irish form of Margaret. Derived from Greek μαργαριτης (margarites) meaning "pearl". Saint Margaret was martyred at Antioch in the 4th century. She is the patron saint of expectant mothers.

WIFE

Gillian Rose:

Gillian: English,
Feminine form of Julian. From the Roman name Julianus, which was derived from Julius. This was the name of the last pagan Roman emperor, Julian the Apostate (4th century). It was also borne by several early saints. In medieval England this was also a feminine name.

Rose: English, French
In part it means simply "rose" from the word for the fragrant flower (derived from Latin rosa) However, it may have originally been a short form of names beginning with the Germanic element hros meaning "horse".

DAUGHTER

Nicole: French, English
French feminine form of Nicolas, commonly used in the English-speaking world. From the Greek name Nikolaos which meant "victory of the people" from Greek nike "victory" and laos "people". Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop who, according to legend, saved the daughters of a poor man from lives of prostitution. He is now known as Santa Claus, the bringer of Christmas presents. He is the patron saint of children, sailors and merchants, and Greece and Russia.

Rose: English, French
In part it means simply "rose" from the word for the fragrant flower (derived from Latin rosa) However, it may have originally been a short form of names beginning with the Germanic element hros meaning "horse".

SON

Patrick: Irish, English, French, German
From the Roman name Patricius, which meant "nobleman" in Latin. This name was adopted by the 5th-century Saint Patrick, whose birth name was Sucat. He was a Romanized Briton who was captured and enslaved in his youth by Irish raiders. After six years of servitude he escaped home, but he eventually became a bishop and went back to Ireland as a missionary. He is traditionally credited with Christianizing the island, and is regarded as Ireland's patron saint.
In England and elsewhere in Europe during the Middle Ages this name was used in honour of the saint. However, it was not generally given in Ireland before the 17th century because it was considered too sacred for everyday use. It has since become very common there.


Michael: English, German, Czech, Biblical
From the Hebrew name (Mikha'el) meaning "who is like God?". This is a rhetorical question, implying no person is like God. Saint Michael was one of the seven archangels in Hebrew tradition and the only one identified as an archangel in the Bible. In the Book of Revelation in the New Testament he is portrayed as the leader of heaven's armies, and thus is considered the patron saint of soldiers.
The popularity of the saint led to the name being used by nine Byzantine emperors, including Michael VIII Palaeologus who restored the empire in the 13th century. It has been common in Western Europe since the Middle Ages, and in England since the 12th century. It has been borne (in various spellings) by rulers of Russia (spelled Михаил), Romania (Mihai), Poland (Michał), and Portugal (Miguel). Other more modern bearers of this name include the British chemist/physicist Michael Faraday (1791-1867) and basketball player Michael Jordan

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