NAMING THE BABY

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 306, 26 December 1924, Page 4

NAMING THE BABY

PENDULUM OF CHOICE. SWINGS TO THE FANCITUL. NO JOHNS OR LITTLE MARYS. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star") WELLINGTON, this day. The pendulum of parental choice" in children « names has swung very dcci eively toward, the fanciful this year, and old fashioned well used family names seem to have boon almost completely ignored by proud parents, that is, if the register of births at Wellington can be taken as a criterion. Plaui '•John," so popular even until quite recently, has now been superseded by "Percival" or '-.Montgomery,- or some other name that "sounds better." The hosts of little "Marys" that used to crowd the birth register are no more, while "Nhirleys," '-Patricias," "Ngaires '■ and "Valeries" are taken in their hundreds. The influence of the "movies" has not been so pronounced this year aa last year, when all the picture stars had their names given to young hopeJust after the All Blacks had trounced Wales there came into the world a little boy, and his parents decided on "Porter" as a Christian name. This might be due to family fondness) for certain names, but it is more probable that the name came to be bestorod on the child because of the football match At all events there it is in the- register" ••Porter." December 1, 1024, just after the All Blacks had disposed of the Welshmen. Two days before the defeat of the British Labour Government, there came a little "Ramsay" quietly on to the register, and there lie must remain, even though numerous 'Baldwins' , have since appeared in the pages of the big book of names. It is noteworthy that when Mr. Lloyd George, was in power the Wellington register not infrequently recorded the two names for new arrivals. Flowers for girls' names have practically distppeared. Even last year there were quite a number, but a close perusal of the register this year ehowi only a very occasional little "Lily," "Rose," "Violet," or '"Daisy."