LOYAL TO NAMES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 December 1938, Page 7

LOYAL TO NAMES

4 SCOTTISH NOMENCLATURE. In a rapidly changing world Scotland remains staunchly loyal to the favourite Christian names of 80 years ago, according to an analysis recently made by the Registrar-General. In 1860 the most popular boys' Christian names, as recorded in the birth indexes for that year, were John, James, William, Alexander, Robert, George, David, Thomas, and Andrew. The present analysis shows that John, James, and William can still display a clean pair of heel to any rivals, but that Alexander has dropped one place, while Thomas has moved up one at the expense of David (says the “Christian Science Monitor”).

The most popular of the newcomers is lan, which achieves tenth place in the present reckoning, but did not qualify at all in 1860. Patrick, Alisair, Gordon, Douglas, and Michael entirely failed to make the grade in the Victorian age, but today occupy the 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, and 28th positions respectively. Highland names like Colin, Roderick, Dugald, and Lachlan and such Biblical names as Abner, Gideon, and Ezekiel have now fallen into disfavour.

An equal conservatism prevails among girls. Margaret, Mary, and Elizabeth led the field in 1860, and they do so today; but Catherine has pushed Annie out of the fourth position. Parents prospecting in territories of nomenclature unexplored in 1860 show distinct liking for Sheila, Irene, Dorothy, Maureen, and Shirley. (Yes, there are cinemas in Scotland, which Scott and Stevenson made into the shrine or temple of romance). The old surnames, too, in spite of a vastly increased competition—there are 11,976 surnames in Scotland today, against ,682.3 80 years ago—still more than hold their own. Smith, M’Donald,- and Brown continue, to beat all challengers.