California-Oh-Lion-N

This is how I usually teach people to write my name. California == CA. Oh == O. Lion == LION. N == N. CAOLIONN. Easy enough. I always thought it was helpful, but recently someone confessed that it confused him even more than my already confusing name.

I've been asked a couple times about my name, so I thought I would address it. It is old Irish with the traditional spelling. It seems for the really old Irish names, each century brought with it a new way to spell it. I think my version comes from around the 10th century, give or take a couple centuries. My aunt named me from a character in an Irish fairy tale or so the family lore goes. When I was old enough to go to the Los Angeles Public Library, I looked up its meaning, since my parents neglected to ask that question of my aunt. Apparently, it's a combination of "caol" which means slender and "fionn" which means white or fair. Let's just say they got white part right, since I tend more to sunburn than tan. I'm a bit embarrassed by its superficial translation, so I tell most people it just means "lass."

I usually respond to "Key-Lyn" (the proper way to pronounce it), but I have been known to acknowledge "Kay-lyn" or "Kay-o-leon" (some people are incapable of the proper pronunciation and I can't really blame them with its spelling). My three year old nephew calls me Key or Keelie, since he still can't get his tongue around Key-lyn.

Despite all its complications, I love my name. Yes, its a little strange, totally gender neutral and very difficult to spell but its remarkably pretty for all the heavy letters it contains. Sort of a first warning to people who meet me not to judge too quickly.

Comments

[balaji shankar]

You've got a nice blog going here. Its really interesting to follow the lives and thoughts of some of the best particle physicists around the world.

[Caolionn]

Thank you.
p.s. I don't think I qualify for particle physicist, let alone among the best of them. I am more in the realm of accelerator physicist and sadly, still not among the best of those either.

[bicycle p]

Poor girl, you will never know the joy of a personalized novelty bicycle license plate.

[David]

In Ireland it is often pronounced: Kway-leen !

[claire.bertiaux]

Do you know what in France some say to caracterize "the exception qui confirme la règle", even about high level persons giving one opinion: c'est un cas.

Yes Caolionn, you are : un cas.

Without any relationsship: Did Miste K took his shoe to obtain order in hte CAcophonie of one important international conference. Or is it another one?

[Kev]

I gotta say, that's a cool name.
Cool name, cool job, nice blog.
Keep up the good work! :-)

[Caolionn]

Thanks, Kev.