There is an interesting poem entitled Ladies' Names which circulated several newspapers in the mid-19th century. The earliest copies of the poem attribute it to a "Henry" in the Family Herald which was published on 29 November 1851 and copied several times that December and during the following year.
The poem is clearly meant to be a light-hearted skit, pairing girls' names with set attributes, but it does give an interesting insight into the names that were in use at the time as well throwing in some timeless adages.
LADIES' NAMES
There is a strange deformity, Combined with countless graces, As often in the ladies' names As in the ladies' faces. Some names are fit for every age. Some only fit for youth; Some passing sweet and musical, Some horribly uncouth; Some fit for dames of loftiest grades, Some only fit for scullery-maids.
Ann is too plain and common, And Nancy sounds but ill, Yet Anna is endurable, And Annie better still. There is a grace in Charlotte, In Eleanor a state, An elegance in Isabelle, A haughtiness in Kate; And Sarah is sedate and neat, And Ellen innocent and sweet.
Matilda has a sickly sound, Fit for a nurses trade, Sophia is effeminate, And Esther sage and staid; Elizabeth's a matchless name Fit for a Queen to wear — In castle, cottage, hut, or hall, A name beyond compare: And Bess and Bessie follow well, But Betsy is detestable.
Maria is too forward, And Gertrude is too gruff, Yet coupled with a pretty face, Is pretty name enough. And Adelaide is too fanciful, And Laura is too fine, But Emily is beautiful, And Mary is divine: Maud only suits a high-born dame, And Fanny is a baby-name.
Eliza is not very choice, Jane is too blunt and bold, And Martha somewhat sorrowful, And Lucy proud and cold. Amelia is too light and gay, Fit only for a flirt. And Caroline is vain and shy, And Flora smart and pert: Louisa is too soft and sleek, But Alice gentle, chaste and meek.
And Harriet is confiding, And Clara grave and mild, And Emma is affectionate, And Janet arch and wild. And Patience is expressive, And Grace is old and rare, And Hannah warm and dutiful, And Margaret frank and fair: And Faith, Hope and Charity, Are heavenly names for sisters three.
Rebecca for a Jewess, Rose for a country belle, And Agnes for a blushing bride, Will suit exceedingly well: And Phoebe for a midwife, Joanna for a prude, And Rachel for a gipsy-wench, Are all extremely good: And Judith for a scold and churl, And Susan for a sailor's girl.
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'Twas Ever Thus
There is an interesting poem entitled Ladies' Names which circulated several newspapers in the mid-19th century. The earliest copies of the poem attribute it to a "Henry" in the Family Herald which was published on 29 November 1851 and copied several times that December and during the following year.
The poem is clearly meant to be a light-hearted skit, pairing girls' names with set attributes, but it does give an interesting insight into the names that were in use at the time as well throwing in some timeless adages.
LADIES' NAMES
There is a strange deformity, Combined with countless graces, As often in the ladies' names As in the ladies' faces. Some names are fit for every age. Some only fit for youth; Some passing sweet and musical, Some horribly uncouth; Some fit for dames of loftiest grades, Some only fit for scullery-maids.
Ann is too plain and common, And Nancy sounds but ill, Yet Anna is endurable, And Annie better still. There is a grace in Charlotte, In Eleanor a state, An elegance in Isabelle, A haughtiness in Kate; And Sarah is sedate and neat, And Ellen innocent and sweet.
Matilda has a sickly sound, Fit for a nurses trade, Sophia is effeminate, And Esther sage and staid; Elizabeth's a matchless name Fit for a Queen to wear — In castle, cottage, hut, or hall, A name beyond compare: And Bess and Bessie follow well, But Betsy is detestable.
Maria is too forward, And Gertrude is too gruff, Yet coupled with a pretty face, Is pretty name enough. And Adelaide is too fanciful, And Laura is too fine, But Emily is beautiful, And Mary is divine: Maud only suits a high-born dame, And Fanny is a baby-name.
Eliza is not very choice, Jane is too blunt and bold, And Martha somewhat sorrowful, And Lucy proud and cold. Amelia is too light and gay, Fit only for a flirt. And Caroline is vain and shy, And Flora smart and pert: Louisa is too soft and sleek, But Alice gentle, chaste and meek.
And Harriet is confiding, And Clara grave and mild, And Emma is affectionate, And Janet arch and wild. And Patience is expressive, And Grace is old and rare, And Hannah warm and dutiful, And Margaret frank and fair: And Faith, Hope and Charity, Are heavenly names for sisters three.
Rebecca for a Jewess, Rose for a country belle, And Agnes for a blushing bride, Will suit exceedingly well: And Phoebe for a midwife, Joanna for a prude, And Rachel for a gipsy-wench, Are all extremely good: And Judith for a scold and churl, And Susan for a sailor's girl.
'Twas Ever Thus
The poem is clearly meant to be a light-hearted skit, pairing girls' names with set attributes, but it does give an interesting insight into the names that were in use at the time as well throwing in some timeless adages.
LADIES' NAMES
There is a strange deformity,
Combined with countless graces,
As often in the ladies' names
As in the ladies' faces.
Some names are fit for every age.
Some only fit for youth;
Some passing sweet and musical,
Some horribly uncouth;
Some fit for dames of loftiest grades,
Some only fit for scullery-maids.
Ann is too plain and common,
And Nancy sounds but ill,
Yet Anna is endurable,
And Annie better still.
There is a grace in Charlotte,
In Eleanor a state,
An elegance in Isabelle,
A haughtiness in Kate;
And Sarah is sedate and neat,
And Ellen innocent and sweet.
Matilda has a sickly sound,
Fit for a nurses trade,
Sophia is effeminate,
And Esther sage and staid;
Elizabeth's a matchless name
Fit for a Queen to wear —
In castle, cottage, hut, or hall,
A name beyond compare:
And Bess and Bessie follow well,
But Betsy is detestable.
Maria is too forward,
And Gertrude is too gruff,
Yet coupled with a pretty face,
Is pretty name enough.
And Adelaide is too fanciful,
And Laura is too fine,
But Emily is beautiful,
And Mary is divine:
Maud only suits a high-born dame,
And Fanny is a baby-name.
Eliza is not very choice,
Jane is too blunt and bold,
And Martha somewhat sorrowful,
And Lucy proud and cold.
Amelia is too light and gay,
Fit only for a flirt.
And Caroline is vain and shy,
And Flora smart and pert:
Louisa is too soft and sleek,
But Alice gentle, chaste and meek.
And Harriet is confiding,
And Clara grave and mild,
And Emma is affectionate,
And Janet arch and wild.
And Patience is expressive,
And Grace is old and rare,
And Hannah warm and dutiful,
And Margaret frank and fair:
And Faith, Hope and Charity,
Are heavenly names for sisters three.
Rebecca for a Jewess,
Rose for a country belle,
And Agnes for a blushing bride,
Will suit exceedingly well:
And Phoebe for a midwife,
Joanna for a prude,
And Rachel for a gipsy-wench,
Are all extremely good:
And Judith for a scold and churl,
And Susan for a sailor's girl.
Posted at 05:54 PM in Historical Name Commentary | Permalink
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