Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-11-08
FEMALE NAMES.

1t is interesting to trace the Specification of
a few names, which may be called common.
lake Mary, wnlch, 10 its various legitimate
forms, is borne probably by more persoos 10
Christian lands than any other name. Maria,
Marion, and Miriam nave been adopted as
Euglsh uames, and all have the same signif-
cation. The first on record who bore the name
is Miriam, the sister OF Moses and Aaron. The
derivation which is most generally accepted is
from the word marah, bitter; aud as Miriam
Was one of the captivity iu Egypt it is not diff
hcuIt to imagine reasons why this name was
chosen. Whatever Was its origin, the first
Wcarer OF the uame made 1t common one 10
lsraci, perhaps fiom the association ot Mira %
with the triumph at the Red Sea- The name
has always teen popular aiuong Christians; aud
the poet seems TO have put 10 verse uuivcr-
sal sentiment when he wrote Il have passion
for the n;me OF NJ ,ry." E!iz .beth or E isha
ba was the vile .! Aaron, the mother of the
Jewish priesthood, and Elizabeth the wife OF
Licharlas. the priest, was the mother of John
the Baptist. Thus curously was the name
connected with the beginning of the TWO dis
pensatious. The meaning Of the name, is
God hath sworn," and is therefore an appeal
to his coveoaot. ELISA, the name of the aueen
who founded Carthage. better known as
Dido, is the same as Elizabeth. So are Isa.
bel, Isabella, and Eliza, other forms of the
same name. Esther, Hester. Stella, and Es-
tela, mean star. Laura signifies a laurel;
Ann, Anna, Hannah, are all variations of the
same Dame, which means grace; Margaret, a
pearl Martha is from the same as Mary; Su
sanuah, lily; Rachel, an eve; Lydia is from
the name OF province iu Asia, said by Jo-
sephus TO have been founded by the children
OF .Lud. fourth son Of Shem; Charlotte and
Caroline are feminine forms Of Charles or Karl,
slguiiyiog man or manly; Emily, Amy, aud
Amelia, may mean fable or Industrious, and
Emma, sometimes coDtouuded with them,
seems, like mamma, to have come from the
first spings Of rhe child, and is said to mean
grandmother; Ellen, Helen, aud Helena, mean
light, ln the sense OF luminous; Catherine or
Katherine, pure; Clara, Clarissa, and Caribel,
come from famous or fair; Jane and Joanna
mean the grace Of the Lord; Abigail, meaDiug
the father Of JOY, must be read the cause Of
Joy; Deborah is bee: Dorothca aud Dora mean
the gift OF God; Dorcss is gsze!lc Augusta is
venerable or stately-if young
ladies like that better; Agnes is pure; Alice
means noble CO eer," good for house-w wife;
ADELAIDE has similar sense; Amanda means
worthy 10 lie loved; Pheba shining: Bridget
meaDs strength; Harriet lsa household name,
meaning home rule. What the very
pleasant pame Of Cecilia may mean
Is disputed The Roman Ca ;ian fami-
y objected TO the legend that their ancestor
was blind, as the name would import, aud in-
vented other legends. The present popularity
OF the name comes from St. Cecilia, the mar
tyr, who sang with her last breath, and is in
the calendar as the patroness of music Ma
tilda should be able to hold her OVID, her name
meaning battle maid Sophia is isdom; So
phronia, OF strong mind; Rebecca, or Re-
bekah, comes from root signifying to blind
and is appropriately introduced in prayer u
the Episcopal marriage service; Louisa means
famous holiness; Frances is free; Gertrude
means spearmaid; Antoinette is inestimabe;
Arabea, an eagle heroine; Roxauna is the
dawn of day; Rhoda, rose; Millicent means
strength; Mavua, handmade Florence,
fourishug WilheImioa, like Wilhelm, and
William, helmet Of resolution This list of
names, with their signifcations might be in-
dchnicly extended, but what are here given
will suffice to show how much better the hon
est old forms are than any travestry. If our
ladies' were to Investigate their own names,
and also to seek out the meaning and history
OF other common things-tor words are things,
aod all things have history--they would find
IN such pursuit both recreation and instruc-
iion