The two pirate archetypes are Shackles Corsair which is a pretty stereotypical pirate Not exactly optimized but with some thematic abilities that could come in handy, as well as a focus in intimidate. With Disarming Threat Deed you could make good face use of intimidate without poisoning the well.
The other archetype is the Okayo Corsair which has more of an eastern flavor with monk weapons and some ki abilities. Kind of a Mantis clan pirate if you're familiar with legend of the five rings.
That's basically the concept for half the swashbuckler archetypes. And several non-swashbuckler archetypes. A few questions to narrow it down:
Robin Hood of the Seas: meaning an archer, and/or meaning a pirate? Please say which apply.
Do you want to be a leader or more a solo fighter in combat?
Is DPR your main concern in a fight, or is debuffing of interest? How important is survivability?
How hard do you want to push diplomacy - to the point of using feats & class features, or are silver tongue + memorable (+some Cha) enough?
Shackles corsair is the only direct pirate archetype then.
I'd go down the dirty trick tree and take Dastardly Trick
I think noble fencer AND corsair take a little too much of the combat focused deeds away. Noble fencer in particular takes away both a cha to ac, and a cha to any save option.
Inspired blade/Corsair should be good. Noble fencer also gives up something for kind of an optional system found in ultimate intrigue. I'd find out if your gm is going to use the verbal dueling rules before putting it into rotation.
If you're looking for something to mark him out as an ex noble, maybe rich parents or the scion of nobility feat.
First off, my thought is that while you might start with swashbuckler, taking it all the way is a waste of good class levels.
1: two-weapon fighting
Human: combat expertise
Swashbuckler 1: swashbuckler finesse
3: improved feint
Rogue talent 2 (L5): Sczarni smuggler
5: two-weapon feint
7: improved TWF
9: lunge
Devoted muse 3 (L9): greater feint
Feinting is a minor debuff, and you can add more to its effect at 8th+ level. Sczarni smuggler lets you take 10 when using diplomacy to bribe, among other things - this is an example of spending a feat equivalent on social stuff. If you don't like it, spend the rogue talent on something combat related. Between azateriel and tidal trickster you have 40' move, swim 30' and can ignore difficult terrain. An azateriel doesn't get the precise strike damage bonus, but between +Cha to attack/damage on a riposte, TWF, and the unchained rogue bonuses you should be fairly effective at damage.
1: iron will
Human: fencing grace
Inspired blade 1: inspired finesse (weapon finesse & focus w/rapier)
3: combat reflexes
5: weapon trick (one-handed)
Rose warden 1 (L6): holy thorns
7: legendary influence
Rose warden 3 (L8): rogue talent (the whole time), cunning swipe (~improved disarm)
9: weapon versatility
Rose warden 5 (L10): advanced rogue talent (petrifying strike)
Rose warden is a prestige class made for you, thematically. CG required and it's about being a good guy thief/swashbuckler. It gives a 1/day debuff in holy thorns, the whole time lets you go 'who, me?' after stabbing someone, and sneak attack and petrifying strike are damage buffs. Spirit dancer gives you the choice of +1 attack/+3 damage, a few castings of a 1st level sorc/wiz or cleric spells, or 2 bonus skills - legendary influence adds a different feat to each of these options. Noble fencer is the 'do you want to sacrifice a bit of combat ability for social skills?' option here, with its social panache deed.
Edit: Noble fencer's replacement for charmed life isn't so bad because it doesn't require an action. Swashbucklers have a real problem with too many uses for their swift/immediate action and this mitigates it. Holy thorns and spirit dancer both use swift actions too, if only 1/combat each at most.
Or if you want inspired blade might be worth sticking with swashbuckler until 5, and then shackles corsair could make 7 levels vaguely worthwhile.
1: combat reflexes
Human: fencing grace
Inspired blade 1: inspired finesse (weapon finesse & focus w/rapier)
3: dazzling display
5: weapon trick (one-handed)
Inspired blade 5: improved critical (rapier)
7: shatter defences
9: disheartening display
Without pushing the minimums or maximums I'd go for something like Str 8, Dex 14+2=16, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 14.
& what Firebug said about weapon trick.
Can be. With a bard you want to go as close to single-classed as possible usually, but one level in swash can make many 3/4 BAB classes work better in melee (q.v. Swashtigator).
That can work. You get a few odd bonus feats as an arcane duelist which push you in different directions, and bards have different tricks so it might end up as
Human: fencing grace
Inspired blade 1: inspired finesse (weapon finesse & focus w/rapier)
Arcane duelist 1 (L2): arcane strike
3: riving strike (adds a debuff to arcane strike)
Arcane duelist 2 (L3): combat casting
5: spellsong (conceal spellcasting in a performance, use bardic performance to concentrate on a spell)
7: weapon trick (one-handed)
Arcane duelist 6 (L7): disruptive
9: encouraging spell (apply to heroism)
Saving finale is worth it, so are heroism and haste. It's good to have one of the invisibility spells available starting with vanish, but you don't need the lot. Beyond that it depends on your preferences, illusions (starting with silent image) and mind-affecting disabling spells (starting with hideous laughter) and utility spells all have their points.
Edit: oh yeah, get mirror image too.
Yes, that's how bardic performance works. A standard action to start it (later levels just a move or a swift), a free action each round to maintain it. It works just fine in melee.
Lyonette is the easy answer to (female, French, lion-ish). It could be first name or surname.