Lir (also spelled Ler) is a sea god in Irish mythology, whose name means “Sea” in Old Irish. The forms Ler and Lir are the nominative and genitive cases, respectively, suggesting that Lir is etymologically the genitive form used in patronymics such as Manannán mac Lir (Manannán son of Lir). In early genealogies, Lir is also called Allód. He corresponds to the Llŷr of Welsh mythology. Etymology The name derives from Old Irish ler “sea,” and Lir himself appears to be a personification of the sea rather than a distinct, active deity. The related name Ler, with short vowel, is the nominative form, while Berard used it in different contexts. Lir is chiefly an ancestor figure, famous as the father of the sea god Manannán mac Lir, who features prominently in medieval Irish literature. The medieval tale The Children of Lir tells how Lir of the Tuatha Dé Danann had his children transformed into swans by his jealous third wife Aoife. Cultural Significance While Lir’s individual myths have largely been lost, his name survives in many patronymics (e.g., Manannán mac Lir, “Manannán son of Lir”), and his association with the sea is consistent across Celtic traditions. The narrative The Children of Lir remains one of the best-known Irish legends, and although the titular Lir is more a humanized king in that story, the mythological Lir is considered a distinct figure. In Welsh mythology, Llŷr serves a similar role. Unlike his son Manannán, who took over many sea-god attributes, Lir is primarily a symbol of primordial oceanic force and ancestral heritage. The names Lir and Ler are sometimes confused, but according to scholarly consensus, Lir (genitive) and Ler (nominative) are not interchangeable: Lir is strictly the genitive form. Despite a quasi-interchange in medieval romance, the legendary characters Lir and Ler appear to be distinct. Distinctiveness Because of its direct link to the sea—one of the most elemental and majestic concepts—within an ancient mythological figure of the paramount distinctiveness, the name maintains a gace. Meaning: “Sea” (Old Irish) Origin: Irish mythology Types: Mythological figure, name used in modern times Usage: Irish, Welsh related forms