Since my last theory was so well received, I decided to make another piping hot take on OC’s real name. I know others have considered this as a possibility, and have made posts long ago about it before, but I didn’t go into detail about why.
I wanted to compile all the evidence in one place, and include a crucial political piece of evidence that I feel people missed.
//deep breath// Finnian or Fenian. (Different spelling, but same pronunciation slightly different but significant context)
So I’m sure we’ve all noticed this list before. However I’d like to gently point out one thing: These were names considered for REAL CIEL, there is no list for Our Ciel.
“It’s just an alias he picked” you say.
Is it just an alias?…
Or did that name mean something much more?
Look at how often this book comes up. Why?
Our Ciel is trying to live as his brother, right?
Our!Ciel might surmise in his mind, that Real!Ciel, could in all likelihood, name a servant or someone after his little brother, and no one would think anything of it.
He saw something in Finny that he saw in himself.
“Cedric”, dear grandpa (whoever he might be 👀) – Likely a Celtic person, with a Celtic name.
***As this has been pointed out; Sir Walter Scott invented this name, as it’s a parody of the name “Cerdic”, which is a name of Gaelic origin.
Sir Walter Scott, is also, Scottish with Gaelic origins himself. Which is why, many people, consider it a Gaelic name given the context.
What we see of his last name, “Ros” could be incomplete, but many names that begin with ‘Ros’ also have Irish and Gaelic origins. Even ‘Rosse’ has connections to Ireland.
This is the Victorian Era: People of Celtic origins were almost never noble with few extremely wealthy or well-assimilated exceptions.
Irish, Scottish, Welsh and others of Celtic origin as a collective whole, were people were facing hardships, and many stood against England, or were otherwise constantly negotiating for more freedom. Especially the Irish. Names and namesakes to nobility, were e v e r y t h i n g.
A french name, a noble name, a pretty name, would not have made anyone react this way.
But an Irish/Celtic name, absolutely would.
ESPECIALLY “Fenian” or “Finnian” – considered a slur even in some parts of England at this time. Has anyone heard of the Fenian Brotherhood?
They were a radical group, a huge “problem” (to England) in the 19th century. There would virtually be no bigger “fuck you” to the Queen than to name your son Fenian, and show pride in your “”””” undignified”””””” roots.
Updated: 9/8/22
Queen Victoria was 100% aware of the Phantomhive’s Irish roots, because:
– She picked St. Patrick’s Day. A day that, in many people’s minds, celebrates the person responsible for “taming” the Irish people, and “Bringing Christianity” to them. History is complex regarding this matter, but it’s plain that she’s aware that the boy has Irish roots, and it was likely a means of insult rather than celebratory.
It would make what Vincent said to an ENGLISH PRIEST uncomfortable. He basically said, that people of Celtic origin deserved freedom, and to be treated better and probably was soon to come.
Hence, the priest suddenly changing the subject.
Rachel likely wanted to give each twin a name that represented their non-english heritage: French and Celtic. It made all the sense in the world to give Ciel a name fitting a noble, and Fenian to the twin who was free to make his own path in life (politically that name is associated to freedom, also why OC would name his servant who was captive the same name. He clearly saw something of himself in him, and wanted him to be free.)
*Edit: I realized that I used “Irish” when I should have “Celtic” because the Celts originated from and spread to many countries and areas besides Ireland; I apologize for that. I adjusted a few words in this to make the point more clear.
*Edit two: Fenian / Finnian is also associated with the color white, as well as yellow. This was pointed out by Yana herself:
Hence, “Black Butler” – OC is “white” or symbolic of the other side of the board. Monochrome, chess, black and white, the promise in WHITE clover, – there’s been hints the entire time, honestly.
(Notice who, ultimately, the two key players are and what colors each represent them)
Our!Ciel is represented by the white pieces, Sebastian is represented by the black.
Another hint from kuro wiki, if Oc truly is (also) symbolic for a WHITE star while RC is the BLUE star.
****Edit 5/31/19 - more info about the Fenian Brotherhood above, addition below:
Since the name is clearly associated with white/yellow and we’re going with that O!C is symbolic for a white star … I just want to point out that the brightest star in the sky isn’t technically Siruis.
It’s the Sun. Our Sun is a white star.
How many times in Kuroshitsuji has a sunrise been significant?
Edit: 8/13/21
If Our!ciel is NOT Celtic. Then why this cover image for an art book?
Tartan aside… thistles are known as an ancient, EXTREMELY SACRED, Celtic symbol (primarily Scotland but also Ireland, and Wales) associated with Bravery and nobility.
And Finally, there are parallels between Fionn (the warrior in the Fenian Cycle) and Our!Ciel. I’ve found Seven* that stand out to me the most-obviously.
1. The Salmon of Knowledge and Fionn’s Magic thumb (9/8/22)
Abridged version: Fionn eats a magic salmon, he burnt his thumb on fat/juice that escaped from the salmon while it was cooking. Whenever the warrior beings his thumb to his mouth he’s granted forbidden knowledge.
Our!Ciel always, always wear’s the Phantomhive Ring on his thumb. It’s never on any other finger, never worn in any other fashion. One might think he could easily wear it around his neck on a chain, or have it pinned into place, or temporarily fashioned into a broach: But it is ALWAYS on his thumb, even when Sebastian had the perfect opportunity to resize it after the band was shattered. He purposefully places the ring on his thumb, and it consistently remains there.
You’re probably wondering, Okay, but what about the salmon?
This is the first meal we ever see in Kuroshitsuji. A meal Sebastian serves his Master. Page one of the manga:
And if you’re thinking “It can’t be THAT important” you’re wrong: because as many might remember. The first season of the anime, did not follow manga canon.
As a result (and sort of a “refresher”) Episode One of Book of Circus is meant to be a “redo” or “recap” of the first chapter. Guess what he’s served?
Poached Salmon.
2. Revenge parallel, and similar childhood goal
3. They both have and ride black horse
4. Bran and Sceólang (“raven” and “survivor”) / The dog parallel
Fionn was famously said to have magic hounds, that were once his biological cousins that were trapped in hound form. They were loyal to him and loved him, one might argue, to a fault. He was considered a “master of hounds” and could get his hounds and near any dog, to do what he said.
Then, there’s our!Ciel– Clearly, he didn’t feel like he was living up to his namesake.
5. Fionn’s arch nemesis Fear Dorocha / Sebastian the ‘Black Butler’ Parallel
(Keep in mind by ‘Fairy Queen’ They mean the Morrigan. Otherwise known as, the “great queen” or “phantom queen” and a powerful Celtic goddess of what one might consider, The Celtic underworld.)
I went into more depth about this in an answered ask, but the short of it is “Fear Dorcha” stole the love of Fionn’s life, and he was never the same person again.
(Do I really need to point out why this is important?)
6. The Sleeping Warrior Parallel
Fionn is infamously known as “the sleeping warrior.”
According to legend he’s not actually dead…but asleep. And he’ll wake up in Irelands most dire hour of need. This ‘wake up, Finn!’ has long become a part of Irish folklore, and enmeshed in the culture in many sayings, folk songs and such. A message that for obvious reasons, was aligned with “if you want this warrior to wake up it means you hate the Queen of England” so it’s sort of… an inside joke.
Many believe it’s even been hidden in more popular Irish songs as well. The best example I have of this, is probably “ Finnigans Wake ” which of course, has nothing to do with the warrior itself. It’s meant to be a lighthearted, very funny and upbeat song about miserable drunk old man literally coming back to life because he’s mistaken for dead. But the title choice is a play-on words. It sounds like “Finn, again, is ‘wake."
Our!Ciel has a tendency to be a very sleepy boy, but I find it incredibly interesting that Sebastian waking him up is such a stark, piece of imagery in the series as a collective whole.
But this is also on the first page of the manga, the first time ANYONE speaks, is Sebastian. And he says this.
7. The Hunting Parallel
Fionn Mac Cumhaill is also said to be an extremely talented and skilled hunter. He’s known as both a hunter, and a warrior as well as the rest of The Fianna (his loyal companions). Our!Ciel is also, an incredibly skilled hunter as well, especially for someone his age. He tied with Aunt Francis in a hunting match, the only reason she was deemed the winner, was because Sebastian allowed him to believe Francis shot the final kill.
Sebastian did not have to help him cheat to win that we know of, and he stayed behind with Elizabeth. Our!Ciel won this game on his own. (Although, Sebastian was the one who taught him how to hunt and ride a horse, so he can take credit for that much.) Our!Ciel isn’t said to be particularly talented or gifted in the way of many physical activities (hopeless at the circus), either relying on Sebastian to cheat for him or else, he has to rely on strategic ways to win/succeed without actually playing/winning/doing the task "properly” (like the cricket match, later on). But he does hunt properly, and he nearly wins against a grown adult who has been doing this much, much longer. If anything, Sebastian let him lose, in this particular instance. He also does all that while wearing an eye-patch… Hunting wild game, seems like a HIGHLY SPECIFIC SKILL Yana chose to let him be talented, at.
