Smyrna times., 1871-08-16
.DIiSceI IIU n e o S.
Names, and their Meanings.

In school lists on cards of invitation, and |
wherever else young girls names are written |
or printed, we constantly find in what are
called pet names, new variations from old
usage. Mamie, Minnie, Clemmie, Louie,
BERTHE, Tudie, Lottie, Elite, Mlllie, Mollie,
Matte, Tressie, Hattie, Nettie, Katie, Addie,
Lidie, Effie, Sadie, Carrie, Gertie, JOSIE are
to be found, with many more Of the like char
acter The above samples are both sufficient
to make the ridiculous nature of the custom
apparent, and to show that absurdities group
ed together do not support each other, but
make each instance more ridiculous by assOcia-
ton. The only excuse for msnaming" the
young ladies is that these titles are supposed
| to be terms of affection and endearment. This
plea is to "a degree valid, where the use of the
| "pet names is confined to the family circle,
or is the privilege of very intimate friends.
But to tcrtte such names, to sign them to for
NAL letters, to record them in school or other
catalogues, and, worse than all, to print them
in any connection, is to widen the . family cir
Gle" exceedingly, and to increase intimate
friendship indefinitely.
A little traveste of fashionable correspOn-
dence was published some years ago, which
puts in an amusing light the absurdity both of
writing of pet names and Of fashionable pre-
cOcity. The writer's are supposed to be young
ladies of eight years or thereabOuts such
young ladies as are now figuring in children S
balls at the watering places, if the CORES
pondents" truly report. The first note ran
thus: Miss Minnie Smith compliments to
Miss Maggie Jones, and desires the pleasure
f of her company this evening. Refreshments al
eleren." The response was: Miss Maggie
Jones compliments to Miss Minnie Smith
with regrets that prior engagements preclude
the pleasure OF acceptance. She is to be whip
ped at seven, and sent to bed without her sup
per at eight.
In order to see what is lost by the defacing
of honored names, till their origin can scarcely
be recognized, it may be interesting to trace
the signifcation of few of the names which
in one sense-their frequency-may be calleC
common names. Take, first, Mary, which, il
its various legitimate forms, is borne, probably
by more persons in Christian lands than an
other name. Maria, Marion and Miriam hav
been adopted as English names, and all hav
o the same Specification. The first on record wht
n bore the name is Miriam, the sister of Nose:
y and Aaron. The derivation which is most gen
. orally accepted is from the word marah bitter
and as Miriam was one of the children of tn
captivity in Egypt, it is not difficult to iInagin
reasons why this name was chosen. Whateve
was its origin, the first wearer of the nam
!. made i; common one in Israel, perhaps iron
,r the association of Miriam with the triumph q
,r the Red Sea. For an obvious reason tn
| ndme has always Ueen ulgHy popular aulOO
4 Christians; and the poet seems to have put /
. verse a universal sentiment when he wrot
ID " | have a passion for the name of Mary.
Dr. Elizabeth or Elisheba was the wife OF AaroI
g. the mother of the Jewish priesthood an
5, Elizabeth, the wife of Zachariah, the prizes
o. was the mother of John the Baptist.
,e Thus curiOusly is the name connected wit
a the beginning of the two dispensations Th
or meaning of the name is God hath sworn,
N | I - 81 l.
ELISA, the name of the Queen who founde
Carthage, better known as "Dido," is th
:. same as Elizabeth. So are Isabel, Isabel
re- and Eliza, other forms of the same name
v, Esther, Hester, Stella and Estella mean star
or Laura signifies laurel Ann, Anna, Hannal
X: are variations of the same name, which mean
20 20 grace; Margaret, pearl; Martha is from th
nd nd same root as Mary; Susan and Sasannah,
lilly; Rachel an eve Lydia is from the nan
of province in Asia. said by JOsephus
have been founded by the children of LuC
fourth son of Shem; Charlotte and Caroln
r, are feminine forms of Charles of Karl, signif
- ing man or manly; Emily, Amy and Amelia
he may mean affable, or industrious, and Emu
us sometimes confounded with them, seems lik
d. Mamma, to have come from the first lispinl
,n t of the child, and is said to mean grandmothe
sct Ellen, Helen and Helena, mean light in IL
no sense of luminous; Catharine or Katherin
pure; Clara, Clarissa and Claribel, come fro
om famous or fair. Jane and Joanna mean IL
=, grace of the Lord. Abigail, meaning I'll
90 father of ioy," must be read the cause of o
he Debora is bee. Dorothea and Dora mean ii
at gift of God. Dorcas is n gazelle. Augusta
venerable-honorable or stately, if young
vs.: dies like that better. Agnes, is pure Ali
80 means noble cheer" good for q housewif
mo ADELAIDE has similar sense. Amanda mea
rk worthy to be loved. ph1be is shining Bridg
means strength. Harriet is a household nam
meaning home rule. What the very pleasa
.oo name Cecilia may mean is disputed. The II
'UH 'Ux man Caecian family objected to the leger
'en that their ancestor was blind as the nan
Us OS would import, and invented other legends. r.
aS. present popularity of the name comes from s
ier. Cecilia the martyr who sang with her la
breath and is 10 the calendar as the patrone