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Gender | Masculine |
---|---|
Language(s) | English, Irish |
Origin | |
Language(s) | Irish |
Word/name | Gaelic |
Meaning | charioteer, raven |
Other names | |
Pet form(s) | Mac |
Derivative(s) | Kormákr, Corbmac |
Cormac is a masculine given name in the Irish and English languages. The name is ancient in the Irish language[1] and is also seen in the rendered Old Norse as Kormákr.
Mac is Irish for "son", and can be used as either a prefix or a suffix. The derivation of "cor" is not so clear. The most popular speculation is that it is from "corb," the old Irish for wheel, perhaps designating someone who fought in a cart or chariot as male names are often derived from the order of battle. (For instance "Gary, Garth, etc., from "gar" for "spear.") However, some etymologies suggest it derives from the old Irish for "raven", a bird laden with mystical meaning for the Celts, and often used to mean "legend" or "legendary".[citation needed] Similarly, it might refer specifically to Corb, one of the legendary Fomorians of Irish mythology. Today the name is typically listed in baby names books as meaning "raven" or "legend" or sometimes as "charioteer".