Irish Translation Forum

Sean Patrick O'Keefe... I've been told either my first or last name means "old" because I do not have a mark on it, I cannot remember which... any translations of what any of my names can mean, or any translations into Gaelic are appreciated

Have you checked the Irish Names link to the left? might find something there....

randomidiot wrote:Sean Patrick O'Keefe... I've been told either my first or last name means "old" because I do not have a mark on it, I cannot remember which... any translations of what any of my names can mean, or any translations into Gaelic are appreciated

"Seán" is "John" in Irish. But yes...if you write it without the fada on the "a," it's "sean" (pronounced "shan") and means "old." I'm guessing, however, that your parents meant to name you "Seán" ("John") and either didn't know about the accent or didn't have the means to add it to your name (such marks not being used in English). I assume you pronounce it "Shawn," yes?

Redwolf

Sean = Seán (most non-Irish speakers don't put the accent on the "a" because it doesn't appear in English).

This is the Irish form of French "Jean" which means "John." It comes from Hebrew "Yohchannan" meaning "The LORD is gracious."

"Patrick" comes from Latin "Patricius" meaning "noble, of the patrician class."

"O'Keefe" = Ó Caoimh - "descendent of the Gentle one."

In Irish, the word "sean" means "old."

OK, so if i had the accent over the a in Sean, it'd be shane, but I do not have that....?

Patrick translates to Padraig which means noble man?

and I saw nothing of O'Keefe, or any family motto, crests etc ?

randomidiot wrote:OK, so if i had the accent over the a in Sean, it'd be shane, but I do not have that....?

Patrick translates to Padraig which means noble man?

and I saw nothing of O'Keefe, or any family motto, crests etc ?

No. If you have the accent over the "a" it's "Shawn." But, as Oisin pointed out, most Americans don't bother to put the accent on...it's still pronounced "shawn" and it still means "John." Neither way does it get pronounced "shane." To get that, you'd need an accent on the "e."

In IRISH without the accent, it's pronounced "shan," not "shane," and it means "old." But with that spelling, it's not used as a name. The name in IRISH is always spelled with the fada on the "a."

Redwolf

sorry, i was doing quick research, didn't get the replies before i posted my reply...

so it's roughly john padraig o caoimh?

I don't understand what you're asking.

I'm utterly confused now, too.

Your first name is "Sean." In Irish, that would be written "Seán." It is an Irish form of the English name "John," derived from the Hebrew name Yohchannan, which means "God is Gracious."

Your middle name is "Patrick." In Irish, that would be written "Pádraig." It comes from the Latin word "Patricius" meaning "nobleman."

Your surname is O'Keefe. In Irish, that would be written "Ó Caoimh." It means "descendent of the gentle one.

So, in English, your name is Sean Patrick O'Keefe. In Irish it would be written Seán Pádraig Ó Caoimh. Beyond that, I don't know what to tell you.

Redwolf

Your name in English is Sean Patrick O'Keefe.

I told you what each of those mean individually.

The Irish form of your name would be Seán Pádraig Ó Caoimh