The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-08
'TvHE NOMENCLATURE" FINDS
A NOVEL VOCATION

What's in name?" When we
quote the old phrase ourselves we
usually mean: Is there significance,
appropriateness and beauty in it?
When advertisers choose name, they
demand that 1t shall have catchiness
and simplicity Recently, however, a
young woman living in Plainfield, n.
j., has found that there is not only
meaning and euphony. but lucrative
vocation, in names.
Naming things is Miss Laura Lee
Rogers business On her stationery
is engraved in small blue letters, The
Nomenclator She names country
estates and seaside cottages. poultry
farms and city luncheon rooms, parks
and streets, commercial products and
even aristocratic dogs, cats. and hors-
es From all over the United States
come requests for her advice as 20
the most appropriate names for
homes. camps clubs and the like;
and, lest It be thought that this ser
vice could mot he remunerattvc, he II
known that generous fee is asked.
and gladly paid for every name &c
cepted by her pafons.
What? AS much as that for just
thinking up a name?" exclainS the
average person, upon hearing of her
success in this new and interesting
vocation, But, when a person learns
of alt that goes into this bushes Is of
finding out what's In a name, the
charge seems very modest. after all.
To begin with, the Nomenclator"
sends to every prospective purchaser
of a name a series of searching ques-
tons, Suppose a name is desired for
"a country estate--as most of them are,
in fact. The client is asked Tor in
formation as to the location, contour,
and natural features of the lana,
whether II is level or hilly, wooded
or open. in the mountains or near
the seat there Is a lake on the
grounds Or near them. II beech trees
or elms prevail. II the house affords
an extensive view. These facts are
noted and taken into consideration.
e.ext the nationality OF the family or
group of persons Is onsidered. II the
family name was derived from the
Welsh or French. Gaelic or Russian,
this helps to decide In choosing a
name. The proper names of the mem
bers of the family are asked. as often
from these names or their initials a
pretty and significant name may be
concocted. Every point that might
contribute an idea toward the naming
of the place Is carefully worked out.
My idea is. you see. that each
name should be peculiarly applicable
to that particular place or group of
people. 1t should express them. their
interest, their surroundings. The ideal
name is one that would be appropri-
ate to that particular case and to no
other. So | make every effort to find
the special feature or quality or in
terest that they wish to bring out IN
their abiding place, and then subject
II to the laws of euphony practical
hility, and originality. In some cases,
IT seems best to symbolic the beauty
OF the natural surroundings In a
name; in others the principal activity
or interest should be expressed. For
example. If the family Is musical, or
interested in any particular sport; =
the camp of girls desiring a name Is
trying to work out some special Gull
tural idea; II trees are the glory OF
the spot. or II the sea crashes on the
nearby rocks-the desired idea is en-
bodied in the name as consistently a.
possible with beauty and simplicity
Far-fetched, unpronounceable names
ore never attractive, no matter what
hidden significance they. carry. ~. II.
IN order to have available sources
Tor names of every sort. ] have made
my own dictionary or glossary.
have collected an enormous number
OF indian words and syllables, which