The only term which specifically refers to a selkie but which is only rarely encountered is maighdeann-ròin, or 'seal maiden'. mermaids) and clearly have the seal-like attributes of selkies. They are most commonly referred to as maighdeann-mhara in Scottish Gaelic, maighdean mhara in Irish, and moidyn varrey in Manx ('maiden of the sea' i.e. They are seldom differentiated from mermaids. In Gaelic stories, specific terms for selkies are rarely used. There is further confusion with the Norse concept of the Finns as shapeshifters, Finns (synonymous with finfolk ) being the Shetland dialect name for dwellers of the sea who could remove their seal-skin and transform into humans according to one native correspondent.
This confounding only existed in Shetland, claimed Dennison, and that in Orkney the selkie are distinguished from the finfolk, and the selkies' abode undersea is not "Finfolk-a-heem" this notion, although seconded by Ernest Marwick, has been challenged by Bruford. There also seems to be some conflation between the selkie and finfolk. However, when other Norse cultures are examined, Icelandic writers also refer to the seal-wives as merfolk ( marmennlar). Traill Dennison insisted selkie was the correct term to be applied to these shapeshifters, to be distinguished from the merfolk, and that Samuel Hibbert committed an error in referring to them as mermen and mermaids. The term selkie according to Alan Bruford should be treated as meaning any seal with or without the implication of transformation into human form.
Alternate spellings for the diminutive include: selky, seilkie, sejlki, silkie, silkey, saelkie, sylkie, etc. The Scots language word selkie is diminutive for selch which strictly speaking means 'grey seal' ( Halichoerus grypus).