Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-01
HOW NAMES ORIGINATE
GREEK AND LATIN SUPPLY MOST
OF FEMININE ONES.
Four Principal Sources for Most Of
Given Names Used Among Eng
lIsh-speaklns PeopIe-How
Mary Became Popular.

There are four principal sources fol
almost all the given names in use
among Engltsh-speaktng people-these
are Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Ger.
man. A very few are of Saxon, Celtic,
syriac. Persian or Arabic origin.
When England was Roman catho-
lie country the name of the mother
of Jesus Christ was, from religious
and superstittous motives. very fire.
quently chosen by parents and for
centuries Mary was the most COM
mon female Christian name In Eng
land.
After the Reformation the increased
familiarity with the scriptures caused
the names Of the characters Of the
Old Testament history to be very fire.
euently adopted. To this period we
owe the introduction of Sarah or
Sara, a Princess, and Hannah, grace.
The latter has many derivatives, such
as Ann. Anne, Annie, Anna, Annette
Nanette, Nan. Nancy. Nance and Net
tie.
The Puritans were stepped in Bible
lore and were fond Of taking the
names Of Christian virtues as front
names for girls. as to them we owe
such names as Mercy. Modesty, Grace,
Patience, Prudence, Truth, Virtue,
Faith, Hope and Charity.
In Queen Anne's time came tn
fondness for choosing names ending
in or 10, as Amelia, Letitia. Maria.
Lucida and Alicia, of several of which
there are alternative forms ending In
e, ie or y, as Olive. Lettice. Mary,
Lucy, Annie and Alice.
Elizabeth, which means "conse
grated to God," Is Hebrew and came
into general use In England during
the reign of Queen Bess. Isabel ia
the same name. of which Isabelle
Ysabel, Isabella are variants; Bess-
Bessie, Bet, Betsy. Betty, Elise, Elsie,
Lizzie. Liz and Lille being diminu-
tives.
Other Hebrew names in less com
mon use are Abigail. Deborah and
Dinah, Pleasure as the significance Of
Edna, and Eve. the mother of all,
means life
Of Eve or Eva, Eveline and Evelina
are diminutives.
Joan, Jane, Joanna, of which Janet
Is the diminutive, are feminine forms
Of John: Jean. Jeanne and Jeanette
are the French equivalents. The
meaning is gift of God.
Jaqueline, Josepha and Tomasa are
respectively feminine forms of James,
Joseph and Thomas. The name OF
Magdalene, given in the gospel to dis
tinguish Mary of Magdala from other
Marys, appears in French as Made
line, the shortened form Of which Is
Maud.
Maria has two meanings, bitter and
star OF the sea. Marion IS the
French form Of this and May is
diminutive Of It. The name Marion
or Marianne Is the result Of the COM
bination of Mary and Anne. Martha
means sorrowful or ruler OF the house.
We owe to the two classical Ian
guages, Greek and Latin. as many
names as to all other sources put to
gether, about 80 female given names
being traceable to the Greek and
about 70 to the Latin. Several Greek
first names are taken from flowers,
precious stones and animals. Thus
Rhoda Is q rose, Phyllis a green
Dough and Diantha flower of jeve.
Margaret and It's diminutives, Madge,
Maggie, Marcy, means pearl: Melis.
ga is a bee and Dorcas a gazelle.
Among the most common Greek
names are Dorothea, Dorothy, Helen,
which is the original of Eleanor
among the most popular and fashion
able names today.-New York World
Indications are tonight will be one