Since when does "George" start with "N"?

Factual Questions
1

Near the end of Jane Austen’s “Emma” Emma tells her fiance, Mr. George Knightly, that she will call him by his first name only once, when M. takes N. for better or worse. I can see that Emma might be short for Margaret, but what’s the “N” for?

I’m a political prisoner trapped in a windowless cage
Cuz I stopped the slaughter of turnips by killing five men in a rage.

2

I always thought she was making a play on words, “M”, pronounced “emm”, being short for “Emma”, and N to represent the consonant sound that starts Knightly.

3

I think M. and N. are generic abbreviations for the principal parties in the marriage rite. If I’m remembering my former life as a Catholic correctly, these abbreviations are pretty standard in written prayers – e.g. “let us pray for N., our bishop.” Obviously, if you were reading the prayer in church, you’d fill in the bishop’s real name.

4

I haven’t read the book. What is Mr. George Knightly’s first name?

rocks

5

Porpentine is right. The Book of Common Prayer, the liturgy of the Church of England in Jane Austen’s time (and still used occasionally today), uses “N.” to indicate that a name should be inserted and “M.” for a second name.

6

Thanks!

The Lutheran church (in which I was raised) just uses (bride’s name) and (groom’s name).

I’m a political prisoner trapped in a windowless cage
Cuz I stopped the slaughter of turnips by killing five men in a rage.

7

Thank you TomH! I’ve been labouring under a misapprehension all these years.

8

Well, not Arnold, you weren’t. It is the play on words you assumed, and it’s also the reference to the older Book of Common Prayer. It’s a pun, but one that’s difficult to understand without the information Tom provided.

Jodi

Fiat Justitia