Baby names reveal parents' political ideology

Fox ^ | 6/7/13 | Stephanie Pappas

[workerbee]

* * * *

The sounds of liberal and conservative names varied, too. For both boys and girls, liberals tended to pick more feminine-sounding choices, such as Liam, Ely and Leila names that include lots of L sounds and soft-A endings, including popular choices Ella and Sophia.

Conservatives, on the other hand, tend to pick names with more masculine-sounding Ks, Bs, Ds and Ts, such as Kurt. A couple of famous national political families demonstrate that pattern, Oliver said: The liberal Obamas named their daughters Sasha and Malia, both names heavy on As and Ls, whereas the conservative Palin family picked more masculine-sounding names for both their boys and girls, particularly Track, Trig, Bristol and Piper (although third daughter Willow got a softer-sounding moniker).

The findings of an ideological split mostly among the well-educated are no surprise, Oliver said, as only about 20 percent of the American public holds strong political principles, and those people tend to be college educated. In that group, he said, the data suggest that liberals are looking to distinguish themselves for their culture and education by choosing esoteric names. Conservatives, on the other hand, seem to pick traditional names that will distinguish their kids as economically successful.

* * * *

[workerbee]

As I've always had a fascination with names and naming trends, I found this article quite interesting.

[goodwithagun]

Hmmm. I have a Roman and an Evelyn, and we’re searching for a name for baby girl #2. I’m leaning toward Cecelia or Sylvia, but my husband likes neither. Apparently my first two have conservatives names but the names I like for my unborn are liberal!

[Fiji Hill]

The liberal Obamas named their daughters Sasha and Malia

I don't like the name "Sasha" for a girl--in Russia, it's a boys name, the counterpart of "Alex" in English. However, I do like the name Malia.

[freedumb2003]

>>Apparently my first two have conservatives names but the names I like for my unborn are liberal!<<

“Sarah” is good. I have always liked “Tory.” Maybe “FMCDH” (FemCadish)?

[workerbee]

Cecelia is lovely.

[al_c]

Frank Zappa, who considers himself a conservative, named his kids Dweezil and Moon Unit. Discuss.

[combat_boots]

As I grow older, I find I am liking the old names. Ezekiel and other Biblical names, like Mary, are just grand.

I also like old-fashioned Southern names, like Bess and, yes Rhett.

I also like Alice and Max. And Christie.

[workerbee]

Well, he did stick to the hard consonants.

[Fiji Hill]

I have a Roman and an Evelyn

I assume Roman is a boy and Evelyn is a girl, although in England, Evelyn is a boy's name.

[Telepathic Intruder]

The main difference seems to be in the vocal stops vs. aspirants and other “soft” consonants. Stops include the sounds P, B, T, D, CH, J, and K (or C depending on how it’s pronounced). Aspirants are F, V, S, Z, Th, and Sh, and the soft consonants L, R, W, and Y. Vowels shouldn’t matter since they’re required in both cases. I’m not sure where the nazals M, N, and Ng fit. It seems like that to me, anyway.

[Venturer]

It’s BS.

I myself was named after my father, and I know why he was named-—for a priest at my grandmothers parish.

[workerbee]

I don’t think Evelyn has been fashionable as a male name for the past century.

[workerbee]

Of course there will be individual cases, but as a trend, I think this article is spot on. Your name history follows a conservative pattern, but there are few parents today (of either political persuasion) who would repeat it.

[Fiji Hill]

I have mixed feelings about "Roman" as a first name. In the 1970's and 1980's, there was a guy named Roman (pronounced "ro-MAHN") who was organizing collegiate Republicans in the LA area to support liberal causes. Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) alumni from Southern California will remember him--and not too fondly.

On the other hand, I was a big fan of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Roman Gabriel.

[Viennacon]

I hear the odd Russian name now and again. Nikita always gets me. On the one hand, sultry assassin. On the other, grumpy Soviet premier.

[workerbee]

Notably, the kinds of uncommon names chosen by upper-class liberals differed from the unusual names picked by people of lower socioeconomic status, Oliver said. Lower-status moms tend to invent names or pick unusual spellings of common names (Andruw instead of Andrew, for example).

A nod to Antwaan and D'Queshiaya.

[boop]

I think Roman is a cool name. Not common at all.

I have a very common first name, and it always made me crazy that I would have 3 or 4 kids in my class with the same.

So when my son was born, I made sure to look at the top 100 names for that year, but not use any of them. And his name is distinct, masculine, and no argument on how it's pronounced.

[Dilbert San Diego]

yep, what about the unusual names used by black people nowadays?

It’s probably politically incorrect to make any observations of such names. we can talk about liberal/conservative splits on names, but never say anything about the made up names used by black parents in recent years.

[boop]

Nikita DOES remind me of some sultry russian. I hardly ever think of that bald little elf, Kruschev.

Let me see if I can ruin "Leonid" for you:

[Viennacon]

Thanks for that, you just ruined my coming weekend.