New-York tribune., 1910-02-13
NAMING THE BABY
Foolish AppeHatioms Bestored
on Helpless Infants.

People who have followed the changes
in Christian names can almost tell Wom-
ans age by her name, a fact which ought
to give parents food for thought when IL
comes to the naming of girl baby
Fifteen wears ago every mother in the
United States and Canada choosing
Dorothy, Margery. Phyllis or some other
English name of the late eighteenth cen
fury for her Youngest. while for the last ter
years Catharine. with &c" Elizabeth and
other strait-Iacef names have succeeded
the bookish Phyllis.
Babies conlinSE into the world at the pres
ent time getting tie benefit of quaint
family names almost forgotten. and more
than likely desptsed. by the original own
ers, as the fad is 20 have as unusual
Christian name a possible picked out.
Hence Dorinda. Anne. Euphemia, Sophia
Cynthia Justina and others are culIed for
occasions from the family Bibles. or names
of Puritan SAVIOR. such as Priscilla or De
horal1. are taken from New England an
nails.
Another fashion which has already taken
hold is that of combining the names of the
parents or 'nf ether members of the IA mily
to produce a nam. which has the merit of
singularity and EaundS Christian at
least. Georgia ma is one of these names,
although the previous existence of Georgi-
anna would seem to have made its inyen-
ton unnecessary. Jeremina and Johanna
have both been used. and others more curl
ous stin are bestowed upon helpless in
fancy
Fortunately the fad for Spanish names
was OF short duration. for such com bina-
tions as Lolita Smith or Inez Jones, which
abounded for a time, do not appeal to the
cars of most people. The craze for chang
ing the spelling of common names
seems also TO have passed away. Edith is
no longer Edyth. and the Macs wish
to be knows as Marys, for the fashion in
names shows signs of turning to the plain,
practical and lasting.
Surnames often bestowed upon boys
for first names, and it is usual and desir-
able also to have surname as a middle
name. These names ought in reason to be
family names or the names OF persons
closely associated with the family. Thus
the name of godparent may appropriately
be given to child. as well as the name OF
a grandparent or an ancestor. The osten-
sible purpose OF such names is to indicate
the ramifications and friendships OF the
family. and they serve among strangers
as kind of letter of introduction But
little regard for these considerations,
greatly to the indignation of those who
bear the patronynics in question by hered-
itary right
There ought to be copyright on
names,'' complains the bearer of cog
nomen which dates back to Colonial
times and is associated directly and
through the connections of the family
with many of the most important events
in the country's history. for which reason
it is greatly sought after by borrowers.
1T is downright robbery. she went on
'to take name that doesn't belong to
you and the strange thing is that people
want to do it, ou might as well buy
family portraits in the open market as
take other folks names. OF course, | am
proud OF my name, and if it weren't mine
| should still have a great regard Tor IT,
but | wouldn't want it. The reason | am
proud to bear it is because II is mine
Such complaints. it Is needless to say,
fan upon deaf ears and even in her own
circle cf friends this woman finds sinners
against her code of ethics and propriety-