The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-05
GIRLS NAMES CHANGE.
Decline Of Susan, Mary, Jane, Sarah,
Catherine and All Old Favorites.

Deciine OF ousan, Mary, Jane, Sarah,
Catherine and All old Favorites.
From the Times Democrat.
The roll Of honor in the public school
affords US an excellent opportunity TO study
the present fashion in girls names. The
names Of our mothers and grandmothers,
largely Biblical and universally in use at the
beginning Of the century, are out Of favor
to-day.
In nearly thousand names there is no
Nancy extremely popular in the last cen
tury), and but single Martha and Maria.
Jane has gone almost out of use, their being
but two recorded, and, strange TO say, both
OF French parentage, but a number of
Jennles and JeaDnettes survive. There is
one Emily, one Charlotte, no Catherine, but
two Hates aud innumerabIe Katies which
seems to be the latest form that Catherine
has Observation-Disclosures. Kate, Katie. Sarah,
very popular fifty years ago, has practi-
cally disappeared In favor of Sallie and
Sadie. Caroline is also out Of fashion, su-
perseded by Carrie and Lena Susan does
not boast a single representative but there
are number of Susies; and Elizabeth has
retired from service in favor of Lizzie
There are but three Margarets, but plenty
OF Marguerites, and some Margarettas.
Ellen Is dead as name, but Nellie is still
quite popular.
Mary has been thought the most frequent
female name, being both euphonious and
pleasantly and honorably associated. 1t is
said that one-third of the women and girls
of France are Maries. 1t is different in
New Orleans, where the number Of Marys
is very small, and growing smaller every
day. There are a number of Mollies and
NAMES, and not a few Maries: indeed, at
one time 1t looked az if all the Anglo-Saxon
Marys would be gallcized into Marie, but
so many became converted that it rather
overdld the business, and Marie became as
common as Mary. which may account for
the number of girls of French or creole
parentage who bear the English form of
the name "Mary."
Shakespeare's names are coming in as
fashionable. even at this late day. There
were more Violas on the roll of honor of the
public school than James, Hates, Emilys,
Ellens, Nancys, Margarets, Carolines,
Marthas, Marlas. Susans and Sarahs to-
gether. The name is fashionable Just now,
but we are afraid its popularity will not
last long, for our colored fellow-citizens
have taken to it, and have doomed it to the
same fate as Violet and Piukie. Stella is a
good second and Mabel, Ethel Alma,
Daisy, Luella, Loretta. Edna and Rita fol-
low as in most favor just at present. ANY
one or them VIII discount Susan. Sarah, or
Jane many times over, and even lead Mary.
Ruby, quite in favor fifteen years ago. is
getting rather Anticipated. The fanciful
names of the last century, as Amanda and
Malvina, are also going out. Hazel, which
came in with "Hazsl Kirk some dozen
years ago, did not stick" and is not in
creasing. Birdie has been laughed out
and Is less common than ten years ago; in
deed, number of Brides have converted
1t into BERTHE. Gladys is apparently forcing
It's way to the front. and promises to be we'll
received. Pearl, Pearlie aud Perle are also
coming in, ana nearly any form of Rose
will do but Rose itself, for there are
Rosellas, Rosettas, RoSelias and RosamondS.
Shakespeare. a we have said, is a prime
favorlte for female names. His Viola leads
them all in New Orleans, aud even Ophelia
is quite common among the girls, notwith
standing that lady's unhappy fate; but ap-
parently no mother has had the courage to
name her daughter Desdemona. The opera
has given us Aida, Norma and Carmen
which seems to have crept in of late-all
rather inappropriate names, taking the
lives of these ladies iuto consideration.
Longfellows Priscilla has but a single rep
resentative on the roll. Secessia recalls the
late war; but how is it that a Secessla is
attending the public schools at this late
davh
But of pure fancy names picked up here
and there from novels and poems, or posi-
bly, Thought out, there is no end.
II will be seen that If any one can sug-
gest good name for a girl. there are dozens
of mothers prepared TO adopt it at once. If
the present tendency continues, Sarah and
Susan will become so rare in another gen.
GRAFTON that they would sound sweet to us
again and be honored by our grandchildren
as they were by our grandfathers. We feel
1t necessary to warn godmothers that the
Viola, Stella and Daisy racket is being over
worked.