Cael

Cáel is an ancient Irish name, from the Irish-Gaelic adjective “caol” meaning “slender”. It was borne by a mythical character in Irish folklore. Cáel was a member of the Fianna, the legendary Irish warriors who, led by Fionn Mac Cumaill (Finn MacCool), protected their homeland of Éire. According to legend, Cáel fell in love with a Dannan woman named Créde the Fair (Dannan were known as the “people of the goddess Danu”, among the first Gaelic people to arrive in Ireland). Créde was one of the fairest women of all off Ireland so she was constantly turning away many eager suitors, but it was Cáel who finally won her hand with his beautiful poetry. Créde joined Cáel at the Battle of Ventry, a battle where Fionn Mac Cumaill called upon the Fianna to defend Ireland against foreign invaders from mainland Europe. During the course of the seventeen day battle, Cáel tragically drowned as he pursued his enemy to sea. During his burial, the grief-stricken Créde laid herself next to her dead husband and died of sorrow. Cáel remains an obscure Irish masculine name; it no longer shows up on any English-speaking baby name lists. However, it was recently resurrected in the United States, probably in reaction to similar sounding names Kale and Cale.