Elf(ves): Another term for faerie from the word alfar (associated with water and earth) in the Nordic and Teutonic languages; used to emphasize the connection between the fae and the earth. Elves are considered to be a distinct race in present times but were once one and the same with the fae as far as the Nordic peoples were concerned.
Faerie: Comes from the latin term for fate (fatum or [verb]fari). Fay (as an Arabic word) once referred to a state of enchantment, but later became “fay-erie” and thus, faerie, a common archaic term. It is also speculated that the word may come from the Persion “peri” but this theory is currently largely discounted. Highly supported by Kisma Stepanich, author of “Faery Wicca”, the definitive tome on the tradition although it is highly criticized and often considered to be a sham.
Fair Family/Fair Folk: Welsh nickname.
Farisees/Pharisees: Suffolk nickname.
Fary: Northumberland nickname.
Fays: early form of the word.
Fees: Upper Brittany nickname.
Feriers/Ferishers: Suffolk nickname.
Frairies: Norfolk and Suffolk version.
Gentry: Irish nickname for the fae.
Good Neighbors: Scottish and Irish nickname used in order to give no unnecessary offence as the fae were always listening.
Good People (Daoine Matha): Irish reference to the Sidhe.
Green Children, The: Faerie reference in medieval literature.
Greencoaties: Lincolnshire Fen version.
Greenies: Lancashire nickname.
Grey Neighbors, The: Shetland nickname for the Trows.
Henkies: Orkney and Shetland nickname for Trows.
Honest Folk (Daoine Coir): Irish Celt name for the fae.
Klippe: Forfarshire nickname.
Li'l Fellas: Manx nickname.
Old People, The: Cornish nickname based on the idea that faeries were considered to be on earth long before humanity.
People of Peace: Irish reference to the Sidhe.
Pigsies/Piskies: Cornwall variations of Pixies.
Sidhe: Gaelic (both Irish and Highland Scottish) name for a race of faeries that can be divided into the Daoine Sidhe (those who stayed behind after the Tuatha de Danann or “People of Dana” were defeated), the Bean Sidhe (Women of the Hills, or Banshee), Leanan Sidhe (a single vampiric sidhe woman), and the Aes Sidhe (People of the Hills), a name which better befits the whole group. Sidhe itself is understood to mean “People of the Fairy Hills.”
Sith/Si: Gaelic variations of Sidhe.
Silent People, The: Irish/Scottish Gaelic name for the “sith” or peaceful people.
Sleigh Beggey: Manx language version of Little Folk.
Small People of Cornwall, The: Cornwall variation.
Still-Folk: Scottish Highland version.
Themselves/They/Them that's in it: Manx replacements for "Faerie", used in order keep from invoking or insulting the name of the fae.
Twlyth Teg (pronounced Tullith teg): Northern Welsh name.
Verry Volk: Gower (Wales) nickname.
Wee Folk: Scottish and Irish nickname.
Back