The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-08-23
HOW NAMES ORIGINATE
GREEK AND LATIN SUPPLY MORT
or FEMININE ONES.
-Four Principal Sources for Most Of
olysn Names Used Among Eng
llsh-8psaklng PeopIs--How
Mary Became Popular.


There are four principal sources for
almost all the given names In use
among Engllsh.speaking people these
are Latin. Greek. Hebrew and Ger
man. a very few ARE of Saxon, Celtic
syrlac. Persian or Arabic origin.
When England was q Roman Catho
Tic country the name OF the mother
Of Jesus Christ was, from religious
and superstltlous motives, very fre.
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 fro
qusntly adopted. TO this period we
owe the introduction OF Sarah or
Sara, Princess. and Hannah. grace.
The latter has many derivatives, such
as Ann, Anne, Annie, Anna, Annette,
Nanetts. Nan. Nancy. Nance and Net
tie.
The Purltans were stepped In Bible
lore and we're fond OF taking the
names OF Christian virtues 80 front
names for girls. as to them we owe
such names ms Mercy. Modesty. Grace,
Patience, Prudence, Truth, Virtue,
Faith, Hope and Charity.
In Queen Anne's time came In a
fondnoas for choosing names ending
IN or Ia. aa Amelia, Letitla, Maria
Lucida and Alicia, OF several OF which
there are alternative forms ending in
.. 10 or y, es Oliys, Lettics, Mary,
Lgoy, Annie and Aii6b.
Elizabeth, which means "conse-
Grated 10 ood." IL Hebrew and came
into general use in England during
the reign OF Queen Bsss. Isabel is
the same name. OF which Isabelle,
YaRbel Isabella are variants; Dess.
Bessie. bet. t,stsy, Betty. IriiaA, E1lsie.
LiKKls, Lis and Lille being dimlns-
tlvea.
other Hebrew names In less COM
mon use are Abigail, Deborah aud
Dinah, Pleasure az the significance OF
Edna, and Eve, whe mother OF all.
means life.
OF Rive or Eva. Eveline and Evelira
are diminutives.
Joan, Jane, Joanna. OF which Janet
IN the dlminutlve, are feminine forms
Of John. Jean, Jeanne and Jeanette
are the French equivalents The
meaning Is gltt of God.
JaQueliae, Joeepha and romasa are
respectively feminine forms of James,
Joseph aud Thomas. The name of
Magdalene, gtven IN the gospel 20 dis.
tlnguish Mary of Magdala from other
Marye, appears In French as Made.
line, the shortened form of which is
Maud
Marta has two meanings, bitter and
star of the sea- Marion ia the
French form Of this and May is a
dlminutive of Il. The name Marion
or Marianne is the result of the com,
hiuatlon Of Mary and Anne, Martha
means eorrowful or ruler OF the house.
We owe 10 the two classical Ian.
gaages, Greek and Latin, az many
names as TO all other sources put TO.
gether. about so female glven names
being traeeahle 60 the Greek and
about 20 80 the Latin Several Greek
frat names are talen from flowers.
precious stones aiG animals. Thus
Rhoda IL rose, Phyllis a green
hough and niantha flower OF Jove.
Margaret and its daninutives, MadRe.
Maggte. Marry, means pearl; Mells.
"a is a bee and norcas gazelle.
Among the most common Greek
names are Dorethea, Dorothy, HeleA-
which ls the original OF Eleaner-
among the most popular and fashion.
able names today New York World.