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ArchivesRe: Meaning of my name -Shaleen
in reply to a message by visitor
Shaleen,
Hope I can help you out with your quest. I named my youngest daughter Shaleen in 1980. I was told 23 years ago that the name originated in England and originally may have been Shaelyn, derived from the Scottish Gaelic name Seaghdh (although don't ask me how). At any rate, the name means "admirable" or "hawk-like". The "hawk-like" portion sounds bad, but it really isn't. The English, Scots, and other Gaelic clans, revered the hawk as a majestic, noble, and beautiful bird; one that was fearless and worthy of great respect. Funny part about this, I suppose, is that my daughter prefers to be called by her nickname, Shay. My pet name for her was, and still is, Shaybird ... so I guess the reference to the hawk fits. In researching the origin of Shaleen over the years, I've been able to track the name a bit further. Seems that the name came to Australia sometime in the late 1700's, coinciding with the establishment of the first English penal colonies. Somehow, over the years, the name "morphed", if you will, from Shaelyn to Shaleen sometime around 1840-1850. If you think about the way an Australian might pronounce Shaelyn, this does make a great deal of sense and is very believable. Just how much of this is 100% accurate, I simply don't know. The information did, however, come from very reliable sources at major universities in England and Australia. As such, I have little reason to doubt it's veracity. My choice of Shaleen as a name for my little one was simple ... it's just a beautiful, feminine name and yet one that inspires the impression of self-confidence and strength; both are traits which my daughter definitely has. My only reason for the research was curiosity in where it may have originated. While I suspected Ireland or Scotland, I've never found it as an original name. Hope this little bit of information helps.
Don
Hope I can help you out with your quest. I named my youngest daughter Shaleen in 1980. I was told 23 years ago that the name originated in England and originally may have been Shaelyn, derived from the Scottish Gaelic name Seaghdh (although don't ask me how). At any rate, the name means "admirable" or "hawk-like". The "hawk-like" portion sounds bad, but it really isn't. The English, Scots, and other Gaelic clans, revered the hawk as a majestic, noble, and beautiful bird; one that was fearless and worthy of great respect. Funny part about this, I suppose, is that my daughter prefers to be called by her nickname, Shay. My pet name for her was, and still is, Shaybird ... so I guess the reference to the hawk fits. In researching the origin of Shaleen over the years, I've been able to track the name a bit further. Seems that the name came to Australia sometime in the late 1700's, coinciding with the establishment of the first English penal colonies. Somehow, over the years, the name "morphed", if you will, from Shaelyn to Shaleen sometime around 1840-1850. If you think about the way an Australian might pronounce Shaelyn, this does make a great deal of sense and is very believable. Just how much of this is 100% accurate, I simply don't know. The information did, however, come from very reliable sources at major universities in England and Australia. As such, I have little reason to doubt it's veracity. My choice of Shaleen as a name for my little one was simple ... it's just a beautiful, feminine name and yet one that inspires the impression of self-confidence and strength; both are traits which my daughter definitely has. My only reason for the research was curiosity in where it may have originated. While I suspected Ireland or Scotland, I've never found it as an original name. Hope this little bit of information helps.
Don
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