CS 2367 M6 PREFACE. A BOOK on the same subject* by a well-known author having lately appeared, the writer of the present work assures her readers that, anxious as she is to behold its formidable rival, she has deferred that pleasure until after the publication of her own work. 'WHAT IS YOUR NAME?' was completed by Christmas Eve 1862, but the idea of it had long before suggested itself to her,-before, indeed, she was aware of any book in any language having been written on the subject of Christian Names. From the writer's first little book she ventures to quote the motif of her present one: 'She aye tell't the lassies the meanin' o' each o' their Christian names. "Aiblins," said she, * History of Christian Names,' by the Author of 'The Heir of Redclyffe,' 1863. "thae pretty thochts may be blessed to them. The very ca'ing o' their names wad be a re- minder o' some Christian grace; for," said the * Scotch Margaret's Story: 'The Fairy Tree,' p. 141. Nelson: An Advertisement-All Christian or Individual Names are significative-Value of Names -Good or evil fortune often attending on them-Crowns won and lost through the signification of Names-Story of a Spanish Princess- Twenty Names of a Portuguese Princess, their Derivations and Significations-Numerical Value of Names-Greek and Arabian Calculations depending thereupon-Names of Power-Individual Names inalienable Property-Advan- tages which may be derived from our Christian Names- God the first Name-giver-Motives influencing Choice of Names in Olden Times-Destinies of Names-Value of Names as Reminders-William the Helmet (or defence) of many-George the Sower-Esther the Star-Wini- |