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HelpWhat would you do if you had the ability to control the popularity of name at will?
If it were me, I'd probably lower the popularity of names I don't like, and leave everything else alone.
(This allows you to manipulate not only how popular a name was, and also when the peak was, but doesn't eliminate the name altogether.)
(This allows you to manipulate not only how popular a name was, and also when the peak was, but doesn't eliminate the name altogether.)
This message was edited 2/2/2024, 5:06 AM
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I would magically cause total stoppage of mass collection of usage-frequency information and compiling of all-population popularity lists.
Then people name babies what they really just want to name them, and would if they had only their own experience to go on, to decide how "popular" it was.
I'd just want to see what would happen, what it would feel like.
Popularity lists are kind of like a fashion publication for names. They herd anxious people away from using names that a large number of other people will like, towards using names fewer people like.
I don't think things would completely revert to how they were 100 years ago, with 5% of babies getting the same name. I think there would still be a lot more creativity and diversity now than there was then, and there would still be higher turnover of name fashions.
Also people could still go online and talk about names, and still gather and share birth announcements and lists of names of children and babies that people had encountered. So there would be some awareness of frequency. Just not authoritative measurement.
Being one of four Jennifers in your class of 25, is a partially negative experience - but so might being the only Xyla you've ever known and having to spell and repeat it for people. I just think the concern about popularity is driven by popularity measurement, itself, and no longer driven by any social reality that affects anybody.
Then people name babies what they really just want to name them, and would if they had only their own experience to go on, to decide how "popular" it was.
I'd just want to see what would happen, what it would feel like.
Popularity lists are kind of like a fashion publication for names. They herd anxious people away from using names that a large number of other people will like, towards using names fewer people like.
I don't think things would completely revert to how they were 100 years ago, with 5% of babies getting the same name. I think there would still be a lot more creativity and diversity now than there was then, and there would still be higher turnover of name fashions.
Also people could still go online and talk about names, and still gather and share birth announcements and lists of names of children and babies that people had encountered. So there would be some awareness of frequency. Just not authoritative measurement.
Being one of four Jennifers in your class of 25, is a partially negative experience - but so might being the only Xyla you've ever known and having to spell and repeat it for people. I just think the concern about popularity is driven by popularity measurement, itself, and no longer driven by any social reality that affects anybody.
This message was edited 2/2/2024, 11:12 AM
Maybe I'd increase the popularity of Aryan and Lolita, to lessen the stigmatization around them.
In other words, I would increase the popularity of names that bring unpleasant imagery. Mary doesn't have unpleasant imagery because it is so common and can be associated with anything - not just the evil women who are coincidentally named Mary.
In other words, I would increase the popularity of names that bring unpleasant imagery. Mary doesn't have unpleasant imagery because it is so common and can be associated with anything - not just the evil women who are coincidentally named Mary.
But why? I like seeing how peoples' likes of names change.
I asked a question just for fun.
This message was edited 2/2/2024, 8:01 AM