NAMING THE BABY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19831, 29 December 1927, Page 10

NAMING THE BABY.

SOME POPULAR SELECTIONS CHOICE OF AUCKLANDERS. THE REGISTER'S DISCLOSURES. Fapcy names do not appeal to Auckland parents in classifying their offspring. Many of the good old names, mostly drawn from the Bible and freely bestowed in grandmother's day, are now very occasionally revived, but irr. most cases the names popular 20 years ago are popular to-day. The children of 1927 have much for which to call their parents blessed. Upon few has the handicap of long, numerous and full-mouthed names been conferred. One and two-syllable names are the usual choice, arid the conferring of a couple of initials is generally deemed sufficient for all practical purposes. Mother, as is her conceded privilege, usually has the last word in the naming of the new arrival, and all father is called upon to do is to supervise the entry in the register. To mother, then, must go the chief credit for a sensible choice, striking a happy balance between the common-place and the grotesque. Current events and prominent peAonages have not been allowed to throw a shadow across a new life, except where they suggest an agreeable appellation. Perhaps the title of two of the most popular musical plays of the year prompted a number of parents to call their little little daughter Nanette or Marie, while the crop of Bettys and Elizabeths seems to have a direct bearing on the visit early in the year of a very gracious little lady who captured all hearts.

Popularity of ShirleyBui for some reason not easily discernible the most popular girl's name of tho year has been Shirley. Alone and in combinations it appears scores of times in the register. Dawn is another frequent choice, with Valerie, Colleen and Patricia claiming a fair following. Flowers and jewels are no longer fonts of inspiration, and the Violets, Roses and Rubies of yesteryear are fast falling out of favour. One can be born in any month of the year, provided one is a girl, and still be regarded as a suitable recipient of the cognomen June, which is a ruling favourite. The calendar was wholly relied upon in the naming of one girl, christened June May—and she was born in September.

In one case parents allowed themselves a wide range. They were blessed with twins, and conferred four Christian names on each. Greater economy was revealed in another similar case, where a boy was named Antoine and his twin sister Antoinette.

Cherry and Bride were two somewhat ususual names given to girls. Danae and Veronica suggest a link with the navy, but in neither case had the father's calling the slightest connection with the sea. Yvonne, a popular name a year or so ago, is still occasionally revived, while Juanita is one of the old favouritss which seems destined never to die. Noel,, with the feminine accompaniment of Noeline, frequently appears on dates remote from Christmas.

Scottish Names for Boys. To • assist parents in the search for a suitable name, a list is kept at the office of the registrar of births, but most unfortunate would be the child dubbed Fenella or Sophronia just because a harassed paterfamilias, unable to decide, hit upon the expedient of thrusting a pin at random through the card after the manner of a woman seeking an outlet for her halfcrown investment on a racecourse. On that list are some fearsome names. Even good King WencSslaus is remembered and his name suggested. In the naming of boys there seems to be no particular fashion. John, especially in association with William or Henry, is as popular as ever. One noticeable trend is the wide acceptability of Scottish names. Keith, lan, Colin, Kenneth and Donald are freely conferred, but Ireland, suffering yet anofher Injustice, inspires few parents meditating on nomenclature. Here and there a Patrick or a Michael emerges, but the most popular Irish name appears to be Kevin. Having done their duty by the people in opening up new streets, city fathers are prone to lavish the names of poets on the thoroughfares. 'But the modern parent has a care for tho lad who may develop into a prize fighter or a ser-geant-major, and steers clear of the field of verse. One lonely little Tennyson is the sole representative of England's bards in this year's list.