Study Links Unusual Surnames To Criminality

The Washington Times ^ | January 29, 2009

[jiggyboy]

Looks like somebody smacked some sense into the headline writer since your post — maybe somebody reading FR?

[apocalypto]

lol!

Is it the name or is the fault with the type of parents who give their children weird names?

[jiggyboy]

What about “Antwan”?

Yep. I've always thought that a mother that mis-pronounces or mis-spells a relatively common name -- and has nobody to correct her -- will provide a less than optimal learning environment for young Anfernee.

"Combination" names of the non-redneck variety -- ShawnJay, etc., seem to be disproportionately represented in the smash-and-grab stories here on FR as well.

And to potential rebuttals I understand the difference between "every" and "many".

[gigster]

How many inmates have the first and middle names of:
William Robert.AKA

[Between the Lines]

If you check out the link the Times had changed the name of this article.

Odd first names linked to criminality

I guess they finally figured out just what a surname was.

[COBOL2Java]

I have long thought that the initials HH brought great fame and fortune.

"Well now, heh heh, that's kinda nice to know!"

[Eagle Eye]

Harlod Hecuba

[Hat-Trick]

I have always wondered if Anfernee Hardaway (NBA Player) should have been named Anthony Hardaway, but his name was mis-pronounced and subsequently mis-spelled on his birth certificate.

[TN4Liberty]

It this part of the country, Dwayne and Darrel (and all their other spellings) are very popular middle names for criminals in training.

[aruanan]

Study Links Unusual Surnames To Criminality

A man's first name can predict his criminal tendencies, according to research released Wednesday by economists who compared crime statistics and a roster of more than 15,000 first names to reveal a distinct "name-crime link" among American males.

Does the writer know that a "surname" is not the same thing as a "first name"? Also, the criminality probably has not been controlled for ethnic factors. Is there a higher than average number of boys given weird name variations and made-up names among a segment of society that is also more likely to be involved in criminal activity? Names, such as those below, probably aren't found too often in upper middle class areas:

BOYS NAMES: Amber, Canard, Chalance, Cigarette, Cook, Dang, De-Ante, De-rice, De-arse, Delante, Dell, Devoid, Diante, Farad, Ferric, FoFo, Lathe, Marshantose, Natron, Raytheon, Romain, Rondel, T’Corian, Sheik, Talon, Tauraus, Tobacco, Tron, and Wait

GIRLS NAMES: Arthurine, Baileen, Brie, Butterfly, Cambria, Chanel, Choclate, Ciera, Deja, Destiny, Hosanna, Java, Kia, Latrina, Lavoria, Milka, Monay, Necia, Necie, Ocolor, Phalopia, Phyla, Raven, Regime, Tandy, Tea, TyLenol, Unique, Yelling, and Yo-Yo

[aruanan]

I bet a study of boys with names that are derivatives of Mohammed shows a greater likelihood of their being involved in terrorist activities. That doesn’t, of course, have anything to do with the name but with the culture in which that name is popular.

[rabidralph]

But having a name like Chamique doesn't hurt your chances getting into Tennessee.

[antisocial]

“And naming your child Shaniqua can’t possibly help get her into Yale).”

You forgot the sarcasm tag.

[antisocial]

“And, I’m amazed that people who are paid to use words for a living don’t understand their meanings (and can’t spell either).”

Did you go to the link?

[antisocial]

“Amazing. This is a Washington Times writer. It took me all of 15 seconds to verify that surname means family name. And that was for two different references—Wikipedia and Dictionary.com.”

Did you look at the title at the link?

[bpjam]

“And naming your child Shaniqua can’t possibly help get her into Yale).”

You forgot the sarcasm tag.

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I have an actual saracasm key on my keyboard but I broke it sometime during the last campaign from overuse. (sarcasm implied...)