"What's In a Name?"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23055, 4 June 1938, Page 6 (Supplement)

"What's In a Name?"

By M.J.S.

"AFTER all, -what's in a name?" people scoff, then trail off indistinctly into something about roses. Of course, it doesn't matter much for flowers, but it certainly does matter a lot for human beings. If a rose were called schizanthus, it would not be cataclysmic, because we do not call our roses homo to dinner over the back fence 1 Neither do they have to stand the barrage of children's inventive genius in the matter of nick-names. Nor, again, do roses have squiriningly to answer roll calls for years at school, or in later life, have their names, insignificant or humorous, exposed on brass plates or neon, lights. Roses escape all this, but our youngsters do not. They have to bear the brunt of our paucity of ideas, or our weakmindedness, for the rest of their lives. Because of all this, take time over the important task of "naming the baby." This job belongs definitely to the parents, but it is amazing how often it is left to someone else to fix up. Sometimes, it is even merely the result of a blind stab into the telephone book; at other times wealthly old Uncle Benjamin is allowed to lump his pompous name on to the poor child; consequently it labours under the atrocious insipidity of "Benny." How crippling those diminutives are! Then again, the thunders of Great-aunt Millicent become diminuendo in the anaemic wails of young "Milly," in the third generation. And so it goes on. What's in a name, forsooth 1 Why, there is everything —there is the beginning of a personality —a new entity has arrived. It is not merely faces that launch ships—it is the magic of names, resonant with personal magnetism; names that clang down the centuries — Boadicea, Sennacherib, Caesar, Elizabeth of England, Lincoln, Leonardo da Vinci, and so on. Do they not televise even the individual features almost immediately? We cannot help being influenced in this way. Even in our everyday lives, if we have business dealings with an unknown can called "Robert J. Stanwell," for example, our first impulse toward that man would be trust and good feeling. He sounds a good chap and even more of a good chap if we sound the R's and N's well. What a tremendous asset it is to be able to make good first impressions 1 No one would argue that merely a good name could actually make a trustworthy person, or that weak names must make weak ineffectual people; but it certainly takes much more energy and drive for a good man to combat the drawback of an insignificant name. Significance of Variations Now let us play round for awhile. Think of the variations on a name like "Katie Wardell," for instance. To me, the name would convey a pleasant, homely,'reliable woman with a strong bias toward home life. But what about "Kit Wardell?" Is she a young fly-by-night, thoughtless, gay, hopelessly impractical, but tremendous fun? Then how does "Kate Wardell" sound? A bit of a surprise here —capable and level-headed, could hold her own anywhere'and thought a lot of by men.

.You've often heard it, haven't you? "Great girl, Kate Wardell." We have not forgotten "Kathleen Wardell," so soft, pretty and gentle, a tune in a minor key. And, oh, dear, half a minute, make way for "Katherme P. Wardell," advocating baby bonuses or State lotteries or something. There is iron in that name and she is just the girl to strike while it is hot, too! You can almost hear her doing it, can't you? In the same way these imaginary characteristics attach themselves to boys' names. Give the little chap a flying start with a good ringing name with strong consonants to give stiffening and strength. If you don't want some of the more usual names, such as Ross, Scott, Steele, Brent, Roger and Bruce, then give him the name of some great man, or some worthy predecessor in your Own family, if you like. Tell the lad, when he is old enough, the history or the fine name he bears; encourage him to add greater lustre to that name. There are so few altars that youth •will worship at these days, but most youngsters are impressed by the value of a name. Their own name is one of their first most cherished possessions. They inflate with pride when they can first say it and later write it, this "something" of their very own, which differentiates them from everyone else. Personal pride has a tremendous pull with the human ego, and wo should give it adequate opportunity. Value of Stage Names A theatrical producer, interested In the euphony and attention value of stage names, argued it out this way. A one-syllable first name with a onesyllable last name, such as Buck Jones, has no musical rhythm. But a threeeyllable first name gives it considerable distinction; for instance, Anthony Jones. With a two-syllable last name, a three-syllable first name is more distinctive, as Katherine Hepburn rather than Kathleen Hepburn. And with a three-syllable last name, a one or twosyllable first name has the best sound combination; as in the case of John Barrvmore and Ethel Barrymore. Play with syllables as a painter plays with colours, to create a name which will stand alone by the sheer merit of its sound impression. Many actresses have been failures under their own names, but by changing them to something more significant, something with a. shadowy personality already attached, tney have become wonderfully §uccess-

Give the Baby a Flying Start

ful. We all know these things, and as we do, there is no further argument. If you have called your baby Centaurus, Centenary or Windsor in a misguided passion for commemoration, then go right home and change it. If you have inadvertently given it initials which will cause sniggers of amusement wherever they are seen, play the game and change those, too. But I implore you, don t go to the other extreme and designate your offspring "Birkerton Crummer Thorne Williamson," and then dribble weakly down to "Toddles" in a few months, because he has such funny little fat legsl This, by the irony of its aptness, will stick to him closer than a brother for the rest of his life; and what is worse., your own name will go down unwept, unhonoured and unsung for committing the outrage. Now mark my words. (I think I must be psychic.)