The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-08-03
IDAHO WORLD.
ywoMENs NAMES.

posed know the meaning of their
names, and just as few, it may also be
supposed, ever took the trouble OF try
ing to find out. Shakespeare inquiry,
"What is in q name 2" would take
considerable time to answer if the per-
son questioned should go over all the
ground it covers. A writer who has
been looking into this subject of names
has gathered and published the follow
ing interesting facts about them:
On a certain occasion, two French
ambassadors were sent to the Spanish
court to negotiate marriage between
one of the Castilian princesses and
Louis, VIII. The names of the royal
women were Urraca and Blanche, the
first of whom was the elder and more
beautiful, and was intended by the
court for the French King, but the en-
bassadors resolutely persisted in their
preference for Blanche, on account of
her name, saying Urraca would never
do. They were sensible men. So
Blanche was made queen because she
had fair name, and Blanche was al
ways fair, if not beautiful. Is there
not something in a name?
Mary, albeit some etymologist trans
late it Marah lbitter) is one OF the
sweetest as well as commonest ever
given to woman | prefer to consider
it as signifying exalted, or, as another
authority has it, star of the sea, Maria
and Marie (the latter being French)
are merely other forms of the same
name, and, of course, have the same
meaning.
Martha means bitterness, which, alas
is too often significant of the lot of
women; but our Marthas may be very
sweet girls, in spite of the etymologists.
Anna, Annie, Hannah, and probably
Nina and Nancy, are all from the root,
and signify gracious and kind, of which
fact the fair owners of these cognomens
will please to take notice and govern
themselves accordingly. Jane, now
generally famiiarized into Jennie.
though differently derived, has the
same meaning as the foregoing
Ellen was originally Helen, Latin
Helena; French, Helene). According
to some etymologists, it has the mean
ing of alluring, while others define
it as one who pities Many a Helen,
since she of Troy, has proved alluring,
and some have shown that pity is akin
to love. Ella is only variation of
Ellen.
For Sarah Hebrew, Sara or Saria;
and Arabic, lara. eve find two defni-
tions-a Princess and the Morning
Star. i. .s---..--, .--.
Lucy signifies like light, and the
name was anciently given to girls born
at daybreak. Aurora, Aureolia and
Aurero, golden, the dawn or morning
redness0 Bertha (bright), and Clara,
(clear) may be grouped with it.
Louisa Trench, Louise) is the fem
mime of Louis, and has the meaning of
protector, and one one who furnishes a
place of refuge or of rest.
Fannie, or more formerly, Frances,
is frank or free; Elizabeth (better as
Lizzie, Isabel and Eliza, true; Sophia,
wisdom.
Catherine, or Katherine, derivcdfr from
the Greek, Kathare, (pure or chaste)
is one of the best of all our female
names. 1t is pretty in its Irish modi-
fication, Kathleen, and most attractive
as Kate.
Caroline, Charlotte and Charlotte, are
feminine forms of Charles, Spanish
Carlos; German, Karl, which comes
from the Sclavonic Krol, a king; and
the fair owners of these fine names
should, therefore, be queens-queens of
hearts. r....... -..-
Julia, of which Julietta and Juliet
are simply diminutives, signifies soft
haired; Harriet, mistress of the house;
and Alice princess.
Emma should be tender, affectionate,
motherly. The name is said to signify
literally, one who nurses, cares for, or
watches over another; but another au-
thority translates it Industrious.
Susan signifies lily, and is a fitting
name for tall, slender, fower-like
girl, of fair complexion and native
grace. As companions for this, Lillian
(lly-like) and Istanlina (white lily bud)
may be mentioned. The last is of In