Some of the Dalish clan names seem like they have meanings in elvhen. here’s some of my headcanons relating to that.
Boranehn: bor’ turns assan (“arrow”) into “bow” (bor’assan). ‘nehn turns sulahn (“sing”) into “rejoice”/“joy” (sulahn’nehn). Bora is also found in Lathbora [viran], but I like to think Boranehn is a name pertaining to love of or great skill in archery; one who finds joy in the bow, or one so skilled with a bow that they can make it sing. Edit: Boranehn canonically means “Lost Joy”. How poignant and beautiful. Tysm @kispesan for making me aware of this, it’s much appreciated.
Ghilain: ghila shares the same root as ghilas, ghilan, ghilana - these words have to do with guidance/guide/guiding somewhere, leading somewhere, and going places. As a name the essence of Ghilain is “pathfinder”.
[?] Hassandriel: assan = “arrow”. Whatever the rest of the name means, it clearly has something to do with arrows.
Lavellan: -an as a suffix means "place". Solas ‘politely’ translates Penshra! Ghilas vellathan! as “I prefer that you remain close” - here Penshra specifically is the part that seems rude, as if the Sentinel is swearing like, “Damnit! [Stay close (More literally like Go - close - place)]". It's a stretch but here I take vell as "close", and la as a short form of lath ("love"), meaning that to me Lavellan means place of love and closeness.
Virnehn: vir = “way”/”path”. ‘nehn turns sulahn (”sing”) into “rejoice”/”joy” (sulahn’nehn). Virnehn, then, is the way to happiness, or the pathway to joy.
edit: Go here for Vaharel!
