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Structure of given names
I think it would be great if you added a page or several to your website discussing the structure of names in different traditions. For example, the Germans seem to have followed a tradition of naming children with several given names, but always beginning with Johann for boys or Maria for girls (or Anna) to get Johann Something or Maria Something and Anna Something (Hans being a diminutive of Johann, there were the Hans Somethings too). These are some kind of religious tradition, I guess, being John and Mary. Is this a Lutheran thing? I notice the French do it too with Jean and Marie, but I think it's not just the Huguenots who did it.Then there is the intergenerational naming patterns followed by some ethnics - the Scots had a definite pattern of naming children for forebears, and I think there are other ethnic groups who did the same. Then there is the Catholic tradition of including Saints names, etc.I think this would add another dimension to the site, and give you something to fill your idle hours
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As Nanaea said, I don't have a lot of free time, but it does sound like an interesting project. I have set up a page where I can add name-related articles - http://www.behindthename.com/articles.html - but it's not linked to the main page until I get some more interesting stuff to put on it.
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Idle hours...??"I think this would add another dimension to the site, and give you something to fill your idle hours."Mike C. happens to have a demanding job in the computer biz, so I seriously doubt that he has all that many "idle hours" in need of filling. But your suggestion, while lacking somewhat in tact, was otherwise a good one.Hey, I've got a great idea. Why don't YOU fill YOUR "idle hours" by making a contribution of such information to this website? If Mike likes it, he may use it. He's done so with other contributions in the past.-- Nanaea
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