NAMING THE CHILD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23883, 10 August 1939, Page 17

NAMING THE CHILD

TRENDS OF THE PRESENT FEW IMPORTANT INFLUENCES POPULAR FAVOURITES OF \ TO-DAY ■,'■•' * ; New 2!ealand has every reason to be proud of its Plunket Society and of everything that it has done for mothers .nd babies, but despite its activities, parents are still faced with one very big question when unto them a child '.' born—what to call, the infant? Grandmothers, •grandfathers, aunts and even uncles all offer suggestions until often as not the harassed parents have dozens of names from which to choose, and frequently weeks go by before the visit is paid to the registrar. Often the time limit for registering the baby's birth is not nearly long enough and the father has to. pay a special fee for the delay in selecting the name of the offspring What are the most popular names with parents to-day? is a question that produces some interesting answers. In past years important international events have had their effects on the birth register During the Boer War there were numerous babies who were forced to carry. through life the christi;. v •names, Robert Baden Powell, and even to have to suffer Mafeking aH such names. The same thing hapSened at the time of the Great War. louglas Haig being one of the most popular combinations Historical names were also verv pooular some years ago—Warren Hastings, Robert Clive, and Horatio Nelson come to, mind—and famous authors handed on their names to posterity "as' well as their works. Richard JohrTSeddon and William Ferguson Massey also found favour, but it aopears that the day of combinations such as these has passed. ~'•'." * Alter the "Umbrella Man" A study of names given infants in Dunedin in recent months does, however, reveal that Great Britain's Prime Minister has attracted parents' attention for his name s sake as well as for his peace efforts. Even hv the space of a few months there have been several newly-born baby boys christened Neville, but it is to the credit of the parents that, unlike those of a previous generation, they have not added the second name, Chamberlain. Of course, the marriage, of Princess Marina was an event that had a pronounced effect on parents' decisions just as.it had on the naming of trade lines—a subject now causing Australia some concern. For a while i there was a great run on Marina as a girl's name, and there are still! a few being registered at thi" present' time—perhaps because of her Royal Highhess's coming to sWhat royal children are called also has its effect, as was instanced by the sudden popularity of Margaret and Margaret Rose and the return'to favour of Elizabeth.

An Only Adam It seems a little surprising that no staunch Labour supporter in Dunedin has called his son Michael Joseph Savage. Both the Michael and the Joseph are, however, used separately, but each with less frequency than some years ago. As it was in the beginning of the world, there has been only one Adam christened in recent months—whether the offspring of an ardent National supporter with keen admiration for Mr Adam Hamilton is not, of course, known. International affairs and politics generally have had little influence on the big question of what to name the child, but then it is not altogether surprising when some of the names are "considered. Adolf, Benito. Prague, Danzig, . Molotov, and Tientsin are not altogether suitable for a young New Zealander to have included in his name. A Typical Contrast Women' are frequently described as fickle creatures and slaves to fashion. So, perhaps, it is this that explains the waves of-popularity for different names A girl's name that was popular a* year ago, or even three months ago. may be disliked intensely to-day. and a craze for another may take its place. On the other hand, boys' names retain much the same degree of. popularity from year to year. : At the present time one of the most popular names for a girl is Janice, a name that is strange to most generations Ann or Anne is still a favourite and Joan is extremely., popular. Names of the months are used occasionally, June being the most oopular name on the calendar. Beverley is favoured by many and Jennifer is considered very fashionable at Present. As was mentioned before, Elizabeth, Marina and Margaret Rose are still entered in the register fairly frequently, and Patricia more or less holds its own. Alice, where art thou? is a question that'might well be asked for this once popular name is seldom chosen to-day, Fay and Mary Ann, once very fashionable, have faded of late. ; Joy Abounding : . Strangely enough, film stars have had very little influence on parents' derisions in .recent months. There are practically no Shirleys, Gretas, Bettes, Lorettas, Irenes and Annahellas. but there have been a few Gaynors, whether or not after Janet is. of course, doubtful. Glenda is another choice that might have been selected because of Glenda Fanfell's appeal, and there is a Sonya which might be a variation of Sonja Henie's name or might be the influence of the Russian Ballet's visit. The optimism of newly-weds might be responsible for one interesting feature of ,the choice of names. There are numerous first-born daughters in Dunedin recently whose name has been entered in 'the regisr ter as. Joy; What these same parents will call their sixth or seventh daughter—if they have one—may be an interesting subject of conjecture. t Popular Boys' Names Boys' names have varied liltle in the past few years, and the most popular ones are still William. John, George, Robert, James and David. Perhaps this lack of marked change mas': be partly attributed to; the way in which a sOn' and heir is called after his father. .Alan is. a name that has increased in popularity in recent years and is very much used nowadays. . As Dunedin is a Scottish city, it is understandable that many Scottish names find great favour. There are numerous babies who are being fondly called -Douglas, Donald, Stuart, or Bruce in between the usual endearments lavished on offr springs by parents and.doting aunts. Bruce was the name chosen for the only male member of the Johnson quadruplets.' The kinema has had a mild influence on the naming of boy 1 babies in the past few months. .There are several Enrols, after the debonair Errol Flynn, and Gary, after the handsome star of "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer " and other successes* who find favour with a number of parents.."■'/' Taken on the whole, however, there have not been many changes in the degree of popularity pf boys' names throughout the years which is irt keeping with the small part fashion plays in man's life.'