Naming Boys after U.S. Presidents in 20th Century |
| K. KuĊakowskia, P. Kulczyckia,b, K. Misztal a, A. Dydejczyk a, P. Gronek a, and M.J. Krawczyk a
aFaculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Cracow, Poland bSystems Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Newelska 6, 01-447 Warsaw, Poland |
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| This paper deals with the popularity of given names in the United States, for the period 1885-2009. Based on the data obtained from the website of U.S. Social Security Administration, it was demonstrated that the fashion of naming babies after the incumbent American president passed away in the '60s. At the same time, however, examples were given, mainly concerning celebrities, after whom babies are still named. The above theses were strengthened with the aid of quantitative data analysis by constructing an index dedicated to the specifics of the task under investigation. The obtained results were discussed in the terms of the rally effect and of the Simmel theory of fashion. |
DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.129.1038 PACS numbers: 89.20.-a, 89.65.Cd |