Sweeney
About Sweeney
The double 'e' gives this Celtic surname a genial sound. It derives from an old Irish name — Suibhne (SHEEV-ne) that was borne by several early saints and kings, including, unfortunately, one known as Mad Sweeney who spent his life living in trees and composing nature poetry. Another possible drawback is the association with Sweeney Todd, the bloodthirsty butcher of Sondheim stage-musical fame.
But if you can put all that aside, Sweeney makes a cheery choice.
Pronounced SWEE-nee.
Editor's take: The name Sweeney is a boy's name of Irish origin meaning "the little hero".
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Sweeney on lists
Famous Sweeneys
- Sweeney Jerome Young
Australian actor
- David "Sweeney" Schriner
Russian,Canadian ice hockey player
Sweeney in pop culture
- Sweeney Todd
the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, British folk figure and subject of musical and film "Sweeney Todd"
- Mad Sweeney aka Suibhne mac Colmain
king of the Dál nAraidi, driven insane by St. Ronan's curse, subject of the Irish tale The Buile Shuibhne or Mad Sweeney
- Sweeney
main character in "Sweeney Agonistes" by T.S. Eliot, based on Mad Sweeney
- Sweeney
character in the novel At Swim,Two,Birds by Flann O'Brien, based on Mad Sweeney
- "The Sweeney
" TV series named after Sweeney Todd, Cockney rhyming slang for "flying squad"