The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-08-04
SCIENCE OF NAMES.
System Submitted for the Benefit of
Fathers and Mothers.

A System Submitted for the Benefit of
Fathers and Mothers.
Writers spend much time and thought
in selecting name for play or novel,
for they know that success is largely
dependent on it. Parents, however,
are strangely careless and unscientific
in giving names to children. Usually,
when a newcomer arrives, some old
family name is taken, or if the parents
exercise an original choice, they are
too much excited to be guided by any
sound euphonic principles. They for
get that not only from the social point
of view it is very advantageous to have
ones name remembered, but that from
the business point of view notoriety is
capital, and must be obtained by per-
sistent and ingenious advertising. The
economy of the public stock of energy
wasted in innumerable unconscious eff
forts to remember a name without any
corners for the memory to grasp, but
,persistently thrust before it, would re-
suit in an increase of available mental
force applicable to settling the ques-
ton of future probation, or to raising
the ethical standard, or to reforming
the tariff, or to disposing of the sur
plus. The Importance of the subject
leads me to suggest one or two of the
chief fundamental principles of the sci
ence of naming children. The system
is simple, and any provident parent can
easily master and apply it.
l. Avoid odd, or eccentric, or poetic
combinations, and be guided by eu-
phonic quality only. 1t is true that an
odd name may be remembered, but the
associations with it will not be pleasing.
The idea of oddity or affectation may
attach to the shadowy personality built
up in the mind of the public. Under
this rule hyphenated names, especially
hyphenated Christian names like Floyd
Jones Robinson, are to be avoided.
Writing the first given name with an
initial and the second in full is also
evidently opposed to correct scientific
principles.
2. The best form of name is dactyl
and spondee, like Jeremy Taylor"
Every one has heard of the "Shakes-
peare of divines," and has dim idea
of an agreeable personality attached to
the name. Had his name been Charles
Taylor, it is far within bounds to say
that his reputation would be about one
third of what it is now.
3. If the surname is not one that
can be treated according to the above
rule, it should be fitted with a given
name, such as to bring the combination
as nearly as possible to the above
length and cadence, as, Sidney Dobell,
Ellery N.lly, Ionry Ward Beecher.
Dante Rossetti, Theodore Watts, and
the like; or, otherwise, to two long
syllables, like Mark Twain or Bret
Harte. The subdivision of this branch
of the subject are too numerous to be
given, but all rest on principle No. 2.
| The phonic value of the surname is,
under our custom, the controlling ele-
ment in practically applying the science
of names.
The great value of names beginning
with Mac or o is evident, because they
so readily combine with the ordinary
Christian names. Any one would be
favorably disposed to Arthur O'Connor,
for instance. A boy pervades our quiet
neighborhood simply because his name
is Johnny MacWhorter. He is not in
any respect a remarkable boy, but his
name forces him into prominence by
its phonic value. There are some ten
or twelve boys who are comrades, but
he and another dactyl-spondee boy,
Emory Watson, are the only ones ever
spoken of. No doubt there are others
who do as much mischief and make
more noise, but these two reap all the
| fame. atlantic.