Open AccessThe Tsunami Curve and Popular Culture Influences on Given Names
Author(s) -
Cleveland Evans
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
names
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.2
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1756-2279
pISSN - 0027-7738
DOI - 10.1179/nam.2007.55.4.335
Subject(s) - popularity , event (particle physics) , history , psychology , social psychology , quantum mechanics , physics
Though journalists frequently attribute the popularity of certain given names to particular cultural events, they often make errors by focusing on only the top few names. Evidence shows that names do not reach that status immediately after the cultural event that introduces them. However, popular culture does influence parents in the choice of names. I propose that a pattern called a “tsunami curve” is a good indicator that a name has been influenced by a particular cultural event.