The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-03-06
GIRLS NAMES CHANGE.
Tho Decline OF Susan. Mary, Jane, Sarah,
Catherine, and All the old Favoriies.

Inc Dcclihe ot susan, MARY, Jane, Sarah,
| Catherine. and All the ola Favorites.
The roll of honor in the public school
| affords us an excellent opportunity to
| study the present fashion in girls names
says the New Orleans Times Democrat
The names of our mothers and grand
mothers. largely Biblical and universally
in use at the beginning of the century,
| are out of favor to-day.
In nearly a thousand names there Is no
Nancy Extremely popular in the last
century,, and but single Martha and
Maria Jane has gone almost out of use,
there being but two recorded, and.
strange to say. both Of French parent
age, but a number of Jennies and Jean
| nettes survive. There is one Emily and
one Charlotte, no Catherine, hut two
| Hates, and inuumerable katies, which
seems TO be the latest form that Gather
| inc has taken-Catherine, Kate, Katie
Sarah, very popular 80 years ago, has
practically disappeared in favor of Salle
and Sadie. Caroline is also out of fash
ion, superseded by Carrie and Lena. SUI
san does not boast single representa-
tive, but theye are a number of Suses; and
Elizabeth has retired from service in fa-
vor Of Lizzie. There are but three Mar
garets, but plenty of Marguerites and
| some Margarettas. Ellen is dead as a
name. but Nellie is still quite popular.
Mary has been thought the most fire.
quent female name, being both euphoni-
Gus and pleasantly and honorably asso.
ciated. 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 grow
ing smaller every day. There are num-
Der of Mollies and Mamies, and not a few
Maries; indeed, at one time it looked as
if all the Anglo-Saxon Marys would be
gallcised into Marie, but so many be-
came converted that it rather ovcrdid
the business, and Marie became as COM
mon 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 names are coming in as
fashionable, even at this day. There
were more Violas on the roll of honor
of the public school than James, Hates,
Emilys Ellens, Nancys, Margarets, Caro-
lines, Marthas, Marias, Susans, and
Sarahs together. The name is fashion
able just now, but we are afraid its
popularity will not last long, for our
colored citizens have taken hold of it,
and have doomed it to the same fate as
Violet and Pinkie. Stella is a good
second, and Mable, Ethel Alma, Daisy,
Luella, Lorretto, Edna, and Rita, fol-
low as in most favor just at present.
Any one of them will discount Susan,
Sarah, or Jane many times over, and
even lead Mary.
Ruby, quite in favor Is years ago is
getting rather antiquated. The fanciful
names of the last century, as Amanda
and Malvina, are also going out. Hazel,
which came in with Hazel Kirk some
dozen years ago, did not "sticlS" and is
not increasing. "Birdie" has been
laughed out and is less common than 10
years ago; indeed, IA number of Brides
have converted it into Bertie. Gladys is
apparently forcing its way to the front,
and promises to be well received. Pearl,
Pearlie, and Perle are also coming in,
anu ucdill cNciy ipiii Vi iIooc Niii W.
but Rose itself, for there are Rosellas,
Rosettas, Roselias, and Rosamonds.
Shakespeare, as we have said, is n
prime favorite for female names. His
Viola leads them all in New Orleans, and
even Ophelia is quite common among
the girls, Notwithstanding that lady S un-
happy fate; but apparently no mother
has had the courage to name her daugh-
ter Desdemonia. The opera has given
us Aida, Norma, and Carmen-which
seem to have crept in of late-all rather
inappropriate names, taking the lives of
these ladies into consideration. Long
fellows Priscilla has but Il single repre-
sentative on the roll. Secassia recalls
the late war; but how is it that Secassia
is attending the public schools of this
late day?
But of pure fancy names, picked up
here and there from novels or poems, or
possibly thought out, there is no end.
1t will be seen that if any one can sug-
gest a good name for girl there are
dozens of mothers prepared to adopt IL
at once. If the present tendency con-
tinues, Sarah and Susan will become SO
rare in another generation that they Will
sound sweet to us again and be honored
by our grandchildren as they were by
our grandfathers. We fell it necessary
to warn godmothers that the Viola,
Stella, and Daisy racket is being over
worked.