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There are names indeed which are painful to the feelings, from the associations of our passions.[3] I have seen the Christian name of a gentleman, the victim of the caprice of his godfather, who is called Blast us Godly,–which, were he designed for a bishop, must irritate religious feelings. I am not surprised that one of the Spanish monarchs refused to employ a sound catholic for his secretary, because his name (Martin Lutero) had an affinity to the name of the reformer. Mr. Rose has recently informed us that an architect called Malacarne, who, I believe, had nothing against him but his name, was lately deprived of his place as principal architect by the Austrian government,–let us hope not for his unlucky name; though that government, according to Mr. Rose, acts on capricious principles! The fondness which some have felt to perpetuate their names, when their race has fallen extinct, is well known; and a fortune has then been bestowed for a change of name. But the affection for names has gone even farther. A similitude of names, Camden observes, “dothe kindle sparkes of love and liking among meere strangers.” I have observed the great pleasure of persons with uncommon names meeting with another of the same name; an instant relationship appears to take place; and I have known that fortunes have been bequeathed for namesakes. An ornamental manufacturer, who bears a name which he supposes to be very uncommon, having executed an order for a gentleman of the same name, refused to send his bill, never having met with the like, preferring to payment the honour of serving him for namesake.

Among the Greeks and the Romans, beautiful and significant names were studied. The sublime Plato himself has noticed the present topic; his visionary ear was sensible to the delicacy of a name; and his exalted fancy was delighted with beautiful names, as well as every other species of beauty. In his Cratylus he is solicitous that persons should have happy, harmonious, and attractive names. According to Aulus Gellius, the Athenians enacted by a public decree, that no slave should ever bear the consecrated names of their two youthful patriots, Harmodius and Aristogiton,–names which had been devoted to the liberties of their country, they considered would be contaminated by servitude. The ancient Romans decreed that the surnames of infamous patricians should not be borne by any other patrician of that family, that their very names might be degraded and expire with them. Eutropius gives a pleasing proof of national friendships being cemented by a name; by a treaty of peace between the Romans and the Sabines, they agreed to melt the two nations into one mass, that they should bear their names conjointly; the Roman should add his to the Sabine, and the Sabine take a Roman name.[4]

The ancients named both persons and things from some event or other circumstance connected with the object they were to name. Chance, fancy, superstition, fondness, and piety, have invented names. It was a common and whimsical custom among the ancients, (observes Larcher) to give as nicknames the letters of the alphabet. Thus a lame girl was called Lambda, on account of the resemblance which her lameness made her bear to the letter [Greek: l], or lambda! AEsop was called Theta by his master, from his superior acuteness. Another was called Beta, from his love of beet. It was thus Scarron, with infinite good temper, alluded to his zig-zag body, by comparing himself to the letter s or z.

The learned Calmet also notices among the Hebrews nicknames and names of raillery taken from defects of body or mind, etc. One is called Nabal, or fool; another Hamor, the Ass; Hagab, the Grasshopper, etc. Women had frequently the names of animals; as Deborah, the Bee; Rachel, the Sheep. Others from their nature or other qualifications; as Tamar, the Palm-tree; Hadassa, the Myrtle; Sarah, the Princess; Hannah, the Gracious. The Indians of North America employ sublime and picturesque names; such are the great Eagle–the Partridge–Dawn of the Day!–Great swift Arrow!–Path-opener!–Sun-bright!

[Footnote 1: Lower’s “English Surnames; an Essay on Family

Nomenclature,” may be profitably studied in connexion with this curious

subject. ]

[Footnote 2: Fortunate names, the bona nomina of Cicero, were chiefly

selected in accordance with the classic maxim, bonum nomen, bonum

omen. ]

[Footnote 3: “Plautus thought it quite enough to damn a man that he

bore the name of Lyco, which is said to signify a greedy-wolf; and Livy

calls the name Atrius Umber abominandi ominis nomen, a name of

horrible portent.”–Nares’ Heraldic Anomalies. ]

[Footnote 4: The names adopted by the Romans were very significant. The

Nomen was indicative of the branch of the family distinguished by the

Cognomen; while the Prenomen was invented to distinguish one from

the rest. Thus, a man of family had three names, and even a fourth was

added when it was won by great deeds. ]