WHAT WE SHALL CALL HER?

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1930, Page 23 (Supplement)

WHAT WE SHALL CALL HER?

SOMETHING ABOUT NAMES.

(By

H.M.C.)

“Don't cal! her Margaret,” said her godmother-to-be, “It’s a name of sacrifice.” “Cal! her Elizabeth —that’s a suece.ssful name; or Olive —an Olive always gets what she wants; or Katharine—a Katharine will get power and use it well. Do avoid Joan and Pamela — they date; and for goodness’ sake don’t choose Ethel; and don’t give her a family name, and . . . Certainly a Christian name should be chosen carefully, for names suggest types. Long names are now fashionable, and they seem to bring with them something of dignity and repose. Elizabeth, Margaret and Katharine arc queenly names.- Beatrice and Eleanor belong to stately days of the past; they ha-e a certain graciousness, quite in contrast with names like Alice, Audrey, Molly, which are light and cheerful. Abbreviated names are merry; Betty, Peggy, I.etty, Sally. Kitty, all bring laughter and mirth, though Kitty veils her cleverness. Bessie is very z ainine and a little old-fashioned, while Fanny and Polly arc good-natured gossips. Old-fashioned names speak of oldworld' days. Martha, Emily, Maria, Emma bring to mind pleasant herbgardens and still-rooms. Anne is tender and womanly. Jane is the soul of industry. Tuneful names are Phyllis, Joyce, Cecily and Gertrude, while peace and tranquillity belong to Irene, and Muriel. Edith speaks of courage. Maud of reserve, Constance of trust, and Helen of icy perfection. Mildred and Caroline are rather frigid, but Millicent brings visions of. halcyon days in a garden. Madge and Margot may be witty, but Gwen and Nora are fresh like a Spring morning. ■■■■■ ■ Very demurely come Lucy, Hester and Laura. Ethel and Mabel ■ are unimaginative maids. Susan ,is rather bold, Sally is bewitching, Rosaleen, Rosabelle, Rosamund and Isohel are romantic. Diana and Hilda have imperious charm, Veronica is a name of sacrifice. Patricia has a certain elegance. Monica is a name of mystery and so, to a lecsef extent, are Sylvia and Sybil, while Mavis and Merle suggest the:song of birds. Pamela and Joan are hackneyed through over-popularity, but- Winifred seems to be overlooked just' now. Many of the racial names are attractive, Sheila, Moira, Maureen and Aimeen having many admirers. Bronwen, Gwyneth. Myfanwy and Olwen are names of Wales. Loyal and true are the names of Scotland: Jean. Janet, Elspeth and Alison. And there.. is a merry-lilt in some, of '""the names peculiar to France—Yvonne, Afarcelle, Marie. Biblical , names...never vanish., Ruth, Naomi, .Deborah and, above all, Mary have lived through the ages.