Nook of Names

Thorn is the third letter of the Runic alphabet.

• Eldar Futhark: *Þurisaz (Thurisaz)
• Anglo-Frisian: Þorn (Thorn)
• Marcomannic: Thorn
• Younger Futhark: Þurs (Thurs)
  

Like Ur, Thorn has a split-personality, with the different Futharks parting ways. The Eldar Futhark *þurisaz  and Younger Futharks þurs  mean “giant”, while the Anglo-Frisian and Marcomannic connect it with the Old English þorn “thorn.”

Interestingly, þyrs — the Old English equivalent of þurs — was in use throughout the Anglo-Saxon period and passed into Middle English as “thurse,”  with the meaning “demon,” “devil” and “goblin.” Why, then, the Anglo-Frisian rune mutated to Thorn is unknown.

In the runic poems, Thorn’s giant and thorny attributes are focused on. The giants do not have a good reputation when it comes to treating women, it seems, while the focus on the thorn is, predictably, on its sharpness, readiness to wound and the discomfort of sitting on one.

Emphasis by modern diviners varies, depending on which Futhark is preferred. Those using the Eldar — and thus *Thurisaz — see it as symbolic of both destruction and protection, conflict and cleansing. It is a strongly masculine rune, of masculine energy and fertility.

As for Thorn itself, its sharpness too is equated with destruction and defense. It can also serve as a warning, or represent an obstacle — a “thorn in the side” which needs to be addressed.

The negative aspects of both are pretty self-evident too; brutality, severity, pain, malice, curses, and so on and so forth.

As a name, Thurisaz certainly has zing — a distinct conversation starter, whether you like it or not.

The rune’s defensive associations mean that a number of the names which work well for Ur also work for Thorn. But here are some other names with meanings in tune with the rune’s associations of protection, cleansing, masculinity, sharpness and destruction:

• Acacia ♀ — Australia’s national plant; most acacias are thorny. Greek: akis “sharp point.”
• Acer ♂ ♀ — Botanical name for “maple.” Latin: acer “sharp.”
• Acis ♂ — a character of Greek mythology. Greek: acis “sharp point.”
• Alexander ♂ — Greek: alexandros “defending men.”
• Andrew ♂ — Greek: andreios “manly.”
• Arrow ♂ ♀
• Ara ♀ — Latin “altar,” but also used by the Romans to mean “refuge” and “protection,” while ara in Greek means “vow” and “curse.”
• Blade ♂
• Clarimond(e) ♀ — Latin: clarus “clear” + Old German: munda “protection.”
• Dagger ♂
• Dart ♂
• Deianira ♀ — the name of the wife of Hercules. Greek: dêioô “to destroy” + anêr “man.”
• Devlin ♂ — Anglicized form of Irish surname Ó Dobhaileín “descendant of Dobhailen.” Dobhailen is probably a byname deriving from dobhaidhail “boisterous,”  “destructive” and “terrible” + the diminutive suffix -án.
• Dirk ♂ –  a type of dagger.
• Edmund ♂ — Old English: ēad “rich” + mund “protection.”
• Épée ♀ — a fencing foil.
• Esmond ♂ — Old English: ēast “grace” and “favor” + mund “protection.”
• Eryma ♀ — an epithet of Athene. Greek: eruma “defense.”
• Faramond ♂ — Old German: fara ‘journey’ + munda ‘protection’.
• Garmon ♂ — English surname from Old English name Garmund: gār “spear” + mund “protection.”
• Gillebhràth ♂ — Old Scots Gaelic name. Gaelic: gille “servant” + bràth “judgment” and “destruction.”
• Gunnora ♀ — Latinized form of Old Norse Gunnvǫr “war defense.”
• Lance ♂
• Liv ♀ — Scandinavian name from Old Norse: hlíf “cover” and “protection.”
• Montagu(e), Montacute ♂ — English surname, from Montaigu-le-Bois in France. OF: mont ‘hill’ + aigu ‘point’. Popularly shortened to Monty.
• Mugain ♀ — the name of an Irish Goddess, which possibly derives from the Old Irish: múgha “perishing” — in Scots Gaelic it carries the meaning “destruction.”
• Osmond ♂ – Old English: ōs “(a) God” + mund “protection.”
• Oxys ♂ — an epithet of Ares. Greek: oxus “sharp” and “piercing.”
• Persephone ♀ — the Queen of the Underworld in Greek mythology. Greek: perthô “to destroy” + phonos “slaughter” or “slayer.”
• Perseus ♂ — the well-known Greek hero. Greek: perthô “to destroy.”
• Pierce ♂ — technically, the name derives from Peter, but this version is obviously identical to “pierce.”
• Raymond ♂ — Old German: regin “counsel” or “might” + munda “protection.”
• Rosamund ♀ — Old German (hros) “horse” + munda “protection.”
• Saber, Sabre ♂ ♀
• Scimitar ♂
• Sharp ♂ ♀
• Sigmund ♂ — Old English sige “victory” + mund “protection.”
• Spike ♂
• Thormund ♂ — Old Norse theonym Thor + Old English: mund “protection.”
• Tulle ♀ — the fabric takes its name from a French town, deriving from Latin: tutela “watching” and “protection.”
• Vör ♀ — Norse Goddess, whose name probably meant “defense” and “protection.”
• Yashpal ♂– Indian name, from the Sanskrit yasha “fame” + pāla “protector.”

Read Full Post »