The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-08-31
NAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS.

In school lists, on cards of invitation,
and wherever else young girls names are
written or printed, ne constantly find in
what are called ''pet names," new varia-
tions from old usage. Mamie, Minnie,
Glemmie, Louie, BERTHE, Tudie, Lottie,
Ettie, Millie, Molie, Matte, Tressie,
Hattie, Nettie, Katie, Addie, Lidie, Efie,
Sadie, Carrie, Gertie. Josie, are TO be
found, with many more of the like char
acter. The above samples are both suffi-
cieht to make the ridiculous nature of the
custom apparent, and to show that alb
surdities grouped together do not support
each other, but make each instance more
ridiculous by association. The only ex-
cuse for ''mlsnamine" the young ladies is,
that these titles are supposed TO be terms
of affection and endearment. The plea to
a degree is valid, where the use of the
''pet names" is confined to the family cir
Gle, or is the privilege of very intimate
friends. But to tUrite such names, TO sign
them to formal letters, to record them in
school or other catalogues, and, worse
than all, TO print them in any connection,
is to widen the ''family circle" exceed
ingly, and TO increase intimate friend
ship indefinitely.
A little travestie of fashionable cores
pondence was published some years ago,
which puts in an amusing light the alb
surdity both of writing pet names and of
fashionable precocity. The writer's are
supposed to be young ladies of eight years
or thereabouts-such young ladies are
now figuring In ''childrens' balls at the
watering places, if the Correspondent"
truly report. The first Eote ran thus:-
"Miss Minnie Smiths compliments to
Miss Maggie Jones, and desires the pleas
ure of her company this evening. Re-
freshments at eleven" The response was ::
Miss Maggie Jones' compliments to Miss
Minnie Smith, with regrets that 'tpIior en-
gagements" preclude the pleasure of ac-
ceptance. She is to be whipped at seven,
and sent to bed without her supper at
eight ----
In order to see what is lost by the de-
facing of henored names, till their origin
can scarcely be recognized, it may be in
teresting to trace the significance of few
of the names which in one sense-their
frequency-may be called common names
The fi:st, Mary, which in its various le-
climate forms, is borne, probably by
more persons in Christian lands than any
other name Maria, Marion and Mi
riam have been adopted as English names,
and all have the same Specification. The
first on record who bore the name of Mi
riam was the sister of Moses and Aaron.
| The derivation which was most general
| ly accepted was Marab, bitter; and as
| Miriam was one of the children of the
captivity in Egypt, it is not difficult to
| imagine why this name was chosen
| Whatever was its origin, the first wearer
| of the name made it common one in Is
rael, perhaps from the association of Mi
riam with the triumph at the Red Sea.
| For an obvious reason the name has al
ways been highly popular among Chris
! tians and the poet seems TO have put In
| verse universal sentiment when he wrote
81 have passion for tie name of Mary"
Elizabeth or Elisheba was the wife OF
Aaron, the mother of Jewish priest
hood; and Elizabeth, the wife of Zacha-
riab, the priest, was the mother of John
the Baptist.
Thus curious is the name connected
with the beginning of the two dispensa-
tions. The meaning of the name is "God
hath sworn" and it is therefore an appeal
to his covenant. ELISA, the name of the
Queen who founded Carthage, better
known as s.Dido," is the same as Eliza
beth. So are Isabel, Isabella and Eliza,
other fornns of the same name; Esther,
Hester, Stells and Estelie mean a star !
Laura signifies a laurel; Ann. Anna,
Hanna, are all variations of the same
name, which mean grace; Aargaret,
pearl; Martha is from the same root as
Marv. Susan and Susannab, lily, RAJ