What’s in a Name?

Lady E:  I’ve noticed that the Unicorns of Kalidore seem very particular about names. Why is that?

Muse:  A name is something that stays with you your entire life and we believe it even shapes the person you become. So of course it is very important to find just the right one for every new foal. That’s why foals aren’t named right away; mothers will refer to their little foals as “my Kore” (pronounced, “Kor-ah”) wich means “my little daughter”. Weaning and naming are a Rite of Passage – a celebrated step in the life of a young unicorn!

Lady E:  How do you find the right name?

Muse:  Often, one just knows. It’s hard to explain. It can be something that describes the foal, embodies her somehow in spirit or mind. The meaning behind the name is quite important too – whether it is the basic meaning of the name it self, or the person it stands for. Many unicorns are given the name of strong persons from your Earthen stories and myths, because the unicorns have great respect for the arts and culture, and what those characters embodied in the stories they shared.

Lady E:  That’s quite neat. Can you share any stories behind some of the Unicorn’s names?

Muse:  Many of the mares have been named after our sisterly goddesses; we unicorns consider ourselves of divine origin, so it’s often quite fitting. They are such beautiful names, too! Unicorns admire beauty wherever it lies.
Literary characters figure prominently as well for as you know Unicorns love stories. Mare Imbrium was named for the hero of Xanthe’s Nightmare, who herself was named after the Moon’s ocean – Mare Imbrium – which translates to Sea of Rain, or Sea of Tears. It’s a beautiful and haunting name, and the duality gives its barer a certain depth of character that is quite suited to the darkly beautiful mare. The Moon is also a symbol of our Great Mother Kal, and Imbri was her first daughter.
Bree was named for a literary horse as well, Narnia’s The Horse and his Boy, after the wise steed who carried that story’s main character from humble beginnings to his rightful place as King. That is what each of us Unicorns do for our Companions – carry them through the most difficult parts of their lives so that they might emerge successful and strong.
This strength lies within us all, and Rahne, named for Wolvesbane from the Marvel Comics Universe, is a symbol of that inner strength waiting to blossom and grow. Marvel’s Rahne was often unsure of herself and her place in the world, but her huge heart and optimism was the grit that saw her through – and they are exactly the qualities a unicorn celebrates and holds dear.
Morgaine’s naming honoured the principal figure from The Mists of Avalon. It is a story of uncovering the original truths, long after they have been lost to myth and history. Unicorns themselves were almost lost to myth and history, and in that time many people have forgotten our true purpose and goal; some might even fear us through a lack of understanding. Morgaine reminds us to look beyond our preconceived notions of the world and of people and to seek truth wherever it may lie.