CHRISTIAN NAMES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4016, 23 February 1938, Page 12

CHRISTIAN NAMES

PREFERENCES CHANGE. A census of Christian names in several hundred working-class families was recently taken in a number of Lancashire towns. Commenting on the tabulated results, the “Manchester Guardian” observes that not only is the fashion in names constantly changing, but.in our time it is changing rapidly. If, it continues, the Lancashire census be. typical, it is clear that the habit of naming children after their parents is declining, as also is the habit of naming them after Biblical characters, once so strong amongst chapel-going families. The Aarons, Calebs, Jesses, Joshuas and Nathans among the men; the Keziahs, Marthas and Susannahs among the women, were copious in the older generation, and have only in part passed on their parents’ choice. Moreover, where the good old family names like John and Mary, Thomas and Jane are handed on it is often with the apologetic addition of something more romantic. A generation ago a plain lad whose school fellows got to know that one of his initials stood for Basil, Cyril, Gerald or Roland, would have had to face a good deal of chaff. Now, it seems, one can call a lad Granville or Horace without bringing ridicule upon him. The Great War seems to have had little effect on Lancashire christenings. Nor do our statesmen influence the choice much. There is no crop of young Stan-

leys to commemorate Lord Baldwin, nor of Ramsays to recall Mr McDonald. But it may also be remarked that there is no sign either of Adolphs or Benitos.