'Twas Ever Thus: What's vogue in the 1930s?

 

 

The following article appeared in the Falkirk Herald on Wednesday 24 May, 1939 and the Western Daily Press on Saturday 27 May, 1939 on both their "Feminine Reflections" pages.  

 

Though fashions in children's names change with passing years, it must be admitted that the vogue for Victorian names is, and has been, very popular recently. Apparently, although young mothers are not keen on Victoria, they are delighted with Caroline, Laura and Ann.     To-day's fashion in names differs in one important respect from that of the Victorian era. Victorian babies were blessed with three or four names. Nowadays, one is enough; two abundant.       Many mothers are calling their little daughters Sally; but few know that this means a lady of possession. Perhaps a lucky omen.                                IRISH INFLUENCE     Irish blood in the family is a good excuse for such pretty-sounding names as Kathleen and Eileen; for boys, Patrick and Brian.      Ian and Douglas, both very familiar just now, hailed from Scotland originally.      Christopher has been much employed since Mr A. A. Milne's verses gave it a fillip. Crispin was the unusual name chosen for the grandson of a peer.      Romantic mothers choose such attractive names as Tristan for a boys, and Guinevere for a girl.     Sometimes a devotional flavour creeps into a name, such as Cecilia.      And all the names of the apostles are certainly lavished on little boys these days -- with Peter leading.                               ANOTHER APOSTLE     John is another great favourite. Those parents who have an eye on the future, and who want something important for their offspring are choosing John, if not Roderick, Roger or Kenneth.     William, David, Anthony and Arnold all have a good native sound about them, and many new Georges and Stephens have been registered lately.      Hugh should express a thoughtful personality.      Grace is a quaint, yet nor a "date"-able name. Neither is Amelia and Rebecca. There have been occasional Phoebes lately; but this is not a name many mothers are instantly attracted to; given a striking personality it would be distinctive. But not otherwise.                              THESE ARE UNUSUAL     Hermione and Marda are unusual and worth considering that is if the parents have not decided on Margaret, which always pleases, or Mary or Elizabeth for their baby girl.      Few daughters are likely to object to Catherine later on -- but they might to Maude, which is enjoying a sudden "come-back."     Isobel is one of those soft-sounding names handed down from the middle-ages which mothers are finding particularly attractive. And a bright eyed baby was christened Lucinda a few weeks ago.     Whether the daughter will thank her parent for this name in years to come remains to be seen. But who can tell? So long as a child is not given some utterly eccentric name the future is not likely to bring regrets. After all, if there are a million Marys in the next generation, the complaint of a single Mary that she doesn't like her name is not likely to win much sympathy.                                                        Falkirk Herald                                                        24 May1939

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