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[Opinions] Re: Thoughts on these extinct girl names?
Par/para as in by/for/from/with/alongside/against? + Lee? It seems to exist a bit pre-1840, though now I wonder if it peaked during/after the Civil War (maybe originally it was a reference to Richard Henry Lee, as in: indepedence, antifederalism, states' rights? And then more popularly, maybe also a reference to Robert E. Lee and the actual Confederacy? Used about the same period as Pharisee "separatist"?). Aaaaaa.I guess one could also say it's 'equal + an elaboration'.

This message was edited 4/12/2024, 11:25 AM

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Dr Evans implied he didn't think people in the 1820s used -lee as an elaboration https://www.behindthename.com/bb/fact/322573 It wouldn't surprise me if the name "Lee" could have made it feel more fashionable to CW-era Southerners, too, but I doubt that's anything to do with the origin.This person has an interesting theory about it:
https://appellationmountain.net/paralee-baby-name-of-the-day/
I like that it's related to cards. That is funny.