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WHATWHAT BABYBABY NAMESNAMES TELLTELL USUS AboutAbout EthnicEthnic andand GenderGender TrendsTrends Our tells a story about us. It can determine our View our interactive dashboard career. It can influence how smoothly we navigate through to explore the baby in a life or, alternatively, how hard it can be for us to get multi-cultural society. ahead (1,4).

Over the last 70 years, for example, researchers have tried to gauge the effect of having an unusual name on a person. It is thought that our identity is partly shaped by the way we are treated by other people - a concept psychologists call the "looking-glass self" (2) - and our name, therefore, has the potential to color our interactions with society (3,4). More recent studies present a mixed picture (1,3,4), showing children with unusual names learn to control impulses because they may be teased and then get used to people repeatedly asking them about their name. Some scholars have explained that children with unusual names actually benefit from that experience by learning to control their emotions or their impulses (1,3,4).

Various names are popular among different social classes, and these groups have different opportunities and goals (1). The name we give our baby can stem from traditional, regional, historical or religious sources (5). In addition, a child's name can also hint at what his or her parents’ expectations are for their children within the particular society in which they live. Therefore, it is very interesting to explore baby names in a multi-cultural society like New York City, which has distinct ethnic groups: White, Hispanic, Black, and Asian. Baby names in a multi-cultural society reflect the sociological process of integration or segregation between minority ethnic groups and the majority ethnic group (in New York City’s case, the White ethnic group) (5). Also, it is enlightening to reflect upon the popularity of male and female baby names during this period of progression in gender equality (6).

1 This report sheds light on the following questions: To answer these questions, we analyzed a data set from Kaggle that included 1,571 names of 164,965 female babies, and 1,417 names of 207,569 male babies born in New York City between Do parents of different ethnic groups choose specific ethnic names for their children or do they 2011 and 2016 (7). The dataset included the ethnic group of each baby. prefer more ethnically neutral names for their descendants? Which minority ethnic group - Hispanic, Black or Asian - chooses neutral names for their children and to what extent does the majority ethnic group, the White ethnic group, choose distinct names for their children? To what extent are the children’s names in New York City mostly ethnically specific or ethnically neutral? Which are the names that are given equally between White, Hispanic, Black and Asian ethnic groups (ethnically neutral names), and which are mostly given to children of a specific ethnic group; White, Hispanic, Black or Asian (ethnically specific names)? The ethnically neutral and Ethnicity Number of Number of % of Avg. Num of specific names can indicate to what extent social integration or segregation is taking place Different Names Children Children Children per Name among the next generation raised in New York City. Asian Female 286 22,105 13% 77 Do parents choose specifically female or male names, or do they prefer unisex names for children Black Female 282 22,981 14% 81 of each gender? Does gender equality start with children’s names? Is it a popular trend to give Hispanic Female 463 52,225 32% 113 unisex names? White Female 536 67,654 41% 126 Which are the names that are mostly gender neutral or the most gender specific? Which are Female Total 973 164,965 44% 170 the names that were given almost equally to both males and females? These measurements can Asian Male 262 28,580 14% 109 indicate to what extent names are unisex. Black Male 290 31,000 15% 107 Hispanic Male 400 70,580 34% 176 White Male 460 77,409 37% 168 Male Total 829 207,569 56% 250 Total 1,802 372,534 207

2 Variables

Ethnically specific male names: Baby names given to males in one ethnic group only (White, Hispanic, Black or Asian). Gender Neutral and Specific Name Index Ethnically specific female names: Baby names given to females in one ethnic group only (White, Hispanic, Black or Asian). In to understand if a name was gender neutral or specific, we created a neutrality index Ethnically neutral male names: Baby names that were chosen for males in two or (8,9) and defined this index as: more ethnic groups. 2 2 Ethnically neutral female names: Baby names that were chosen for females in two or 1 – (PMale +PFemale ), more ethnic groups. where P Male is the proportion of male baby names in all the population of babies with the Gender-specific names: Baby names given only in one gender group (male or female). same name. The gender-neutral baby names index can range from 0.00, when a baby male Gender neutral names: Baby names given to both female and male babies. (or female) name has appeared only in one given gender group (Gender specific names), to .50, when a baby name has appeared equally in both gender groups (Gender neutral names where 50% of the is female, and 50% of the same name is male).

Ethnically Neutral and Specific Name Index

In order to understand if a name was ethnically neutral or specific, we created a neutrality index (8,9) and defined this index as:

1 – (PWhite Male 2 +PHispanic Male 2 +PBlack Male 2 +PAsian Male 2 ), where P White Male is the proportion of White male baby names in the whole group of babies with the same name. The ethnically neutral baby name index can range from 0.00, when a male (or female) name was given in one ethnic group (Ethnically specific names), to 0.75, when a male name appeared equally in each one of the 4 ethnic groups (Ethnically neutral names, 25% in each one of the ethnic groups). This ethnically specific name index was computed for males and females.

3 Main Findings

Most Popular Male Baby Names

In New York City during the researched years, the top 5 most popular names for males were Jacob, Ethan (more than 3,000 names), Matthew, , and (2500-2750 names). (See Graph 1.1).

Graph 1.1: Popular Male Baby Names New York City 2011-2016

JACOB 3,140 ETHAN 3,104 MATTHEW 2,798 DAVID 2,759 LIAM 2,668 NOAH 2,543 2,509 AIDEN 2,508 DYLAN 2,450 2,327 RYAN 2,286 MASON 2,279 LUCAS 2,246 2,233 JAMES 2,167 2,137 ANTHONY 2,116 SEBASTIAN 2,039 JAYDEN 1,909 CHRISTOPHER 1,847 BENJAMIN 1,799 JUSTIN 1,750 1,742 1,716 1,714 JOHN 1,594 AARON 1,594 1,559 1,534 JONATHAN 1,502 ADAM 1,499 CHRISTIAN 1,464 NICHOLAS 1,445 1,421 ELIJAH 1,367 NATHAN 1,298 JASON 1,297 HENRY 1,290 BRANDON 1,270 1,000 2,000 3,000 4 ,000

4 Most Popular Female Baby Names

The top 5 female names were Emma, Olivia, Emily, Mia, and Sophia (more than 2000 names) (See Graph 1.2).

Graph 1.2: Popular Female Baby Names New York City 2011-2016

Emma 2,323 Olivia 2,248 Emily 2,148 Mia 2,078 Sophia 2,025 Leah 1,957 Isabella 1,954 Ava 1,795 Sarah 1,792 Chloe 1,743 Sofia 1,672 Madison 1,660 Victoria 1,467 Esther 1,450 1,446 Rachel 1,247 Maya 1,203 Ashley 1,138 Ella 1,099 Grace 1,096 Zoe 1,090 Elizabeth 1,076 Samantha 1,069 Chaya 1,061 Charlotte 1,019 Amelia 965 Gabriella 944 Hailey 940 Kayla 920 Brianna 887 Camila 887 Alexandra 877 Hannah 872 Valentina 860 Arianna 850 Ariana 842 Anna 813 Miriam 798 Scarlett 795 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500

5 Baby names in a multi-cultural society

The choice of baby names within ethnic groups hints that parents from distinct ethnic groups stronger intention to choose ethnically neutral female baby names than Hispanic parents. 88% of would prefer their descendants to integrate socially into the mainstream population rather than have Asian male babies and 89% of the Black male babies, compared to 80% of Hispanic male babies, were them identify specifically and exclusively in their ethnic groups. 80% of the male baby names and 77% given ethnically neutral male baby names. Indeed, most White parents (72%) choose neutral names of the female baby names were ethnically neutral baby names (names have appeared in two or more for their male babies. However, 28% of their baby names were specific to a White ethnic group. We ethnic groups (see Graph 2). Only 20% of the male baby names and 23% of the female baby names found the same trends for female baby names, except for the Asian ethnic group which chose more were specific in a given ethnic group. The findings also reveal that Black and Asian parents have a neutral names (88%) for their female babies than Black and Hispanic ethnic groups (82%-83%).

Graph 2.0: % Ethnically Specific Names vs. % Ethnically Neutral Names by Ethnic Group and Gender

100% 72% 80% 89% 88% 80% 68% 82% 83% 88% 77% Ethnically Neutral Names Ethnically Specific Names

75%

50%

32% 25% 28% 23% 20% 20% 18% 17% 11% 12% 12% 0% White Male Hispanic Male Black Male Asian Male Total Male White Female Hispanic Female Black Female Asian Female Total Female

6 Popular ethnically neutral baby names that crossed ethnic groups (each appeared at least once in a given ethnic group):

The top 5 most popular ethnically neutral male baby names that appeared (at least for one baby) in all ethnic groups - White, Hispanic, Black and Asian - were Jacob, Ethan, Matthew, David, Liam, and Michael.

Graph 2.1: Popular Ethnically Neutral Male Names by Ethnic Group

JACOB 24% 22% 36% 18% 3,140 Asian Male

ETHAN 13% 11% 26% 49% 3,104 Black Male

MATTHEW 10% 14% 48% 28% 2,798 Hispanic Male DAVID 12% 6% 19% 63% 2,759 White Male LIAM 7% 18% 49% 26% 2,668

NOAH 14% 13% 27% 47% 2,543

MICHAEL 6% 13% 29% 51% 2,509

AIDEN 23% 16% 35% 26% 2,508

DANIEL 10% 13% 39% 38% 2,327

RYAN 13% 7% 24% 56% 2,286

MASON 26% 24% 40% 9% 2,279

LUCAS 6% 9% 35% 50% 2,246

JOSEPH 13% 18% 43% 25% 2,233

JAMES 29% 5% 44% 22% 2,167

ALEXANDER 9% 21% 48% 22% 2,137

ANTHONY 8% 10% 51% 32% 2,116

SEBASTIAN 9% 18% 32% 41% 2,039

JAYDEN 9% 30% 35% 26% 1,909

CHRISTOPHER 30% 11% 24% 36% 1,847

BENJAMIN 4% 6% 65% 25% 1,799

0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 7 Graph 2.2: Popular Ethnically Neutral Female Names by Ethnic Group

For female baby names, the top EMMA 15% 6% 42% 37% 2,323 Asian Female

5 most popular ethnically neutral OLIVIA 26% 14% 21% 40% 2,248 Black Female names that appeared (at least for EMILY 19% 9% 36% 36% 2,148 Hispanic Female one baby) in all ethnic groups MIA 17% 8% 44% 31% 2,078 were Emma, Olivia, Emily, Mia, White Female SOPHIA 23% 9% 37% 31% 2,025 and Sophia (See Graph 2.2). LEAH 7% 10% 23% 61% 1,957

ISABELLA 12% 10% 47% 31% 1,954

AVA 12% 24% 21% 43% 1,795

SARAH 10% 9% 16% 65% 1,792

CHLOE 29% 18% 22% 31% 1,743

SOFIA 5% 2% 52% 41% 1,672

MADISON 9% 25% 42% 25% 1,660

VICTORIA 10% 6% 48% 36% 1,467

ESTHER 3% 2% 7% 88% 1,450

ABIGAIL 11% 17% 37% 36% 1,446

RACHEL 13% 1% 7% 79% 1,247

MAYA 12% 10% 21% 57% 1,203

ASHLEY 21% 8% 64% 8% 1,138

ELLA 17% 2% 12% 69% 1,099

GRACE 29% 13% 21% 38% 1,096

ZOE 16% 15% 35% 34% 1,090

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

8 Table A: Most Ethnically Neutral Male Baby Names (on a scale of 0-0.75, where 0.75 = very ethnically neutral male names)

Number Asian Black Hispanic White Total Ethnic Neutrality Index Name of Babies Male % Male % Male % Male % Male % of Male Babies' Names RICHARD 514 28% 20% 29% 24% 100% 0.75 458 34% 26% 22% 18% 100% 0.74 NATHAN 1,298 22% 22% 21% 36% 100% 0.74 ETHAN 3,104 23% 16% 35% 26% 100% 0.73 AIDEN 2,508 24% 22% 36% 18% 100% 0.73 CALEB 864 15% 33% 31% 22% 100% 0.73 TIMOTHY 301 26% 19% 18% 37% 100% 0.73 NATHANIEL 1,019 13% 29% 33% 25% 100% 0.73 HUNTER 560 12% 28% 26% 34% 100% 0.73 JOSHUA 1,742 13% 25% 36% 27% 100% 0.72 Each name has a different distribution TRISTAN 639 15% 38% 27% 21% 100% 0.72 JORDAN 747 12% 36% 27% 24% 100% 0.72 across ethnic groups. We computed the DEVIN 287 34% 19% 33% 14% 100% 0.72 ethnic neutrality and specificity index RYAN 2,286 30% 11% 24% 36% 100% 0.72 TYLER 1,184 14% 40% 23% 23% 100% 0.71 for each one of the male and female AARON 1,594 18% 14% 39% 29% 100% 0.71 NOAH 2,543 9% 30% 35% 26% 100% 0.71 baby names. Table A presents the most AIDAN 528 24% 9% 30% 37% 100% 0.71 ethnically neutral male baby names 572 40% 11% 27% 22% 100% 0.71 KAI 392 31% 29% 7% 33% 100% 0.71 (on a scale of 0-0.75, where 0.75 = very JAYDEN 1,909 26% 24% 40% 9% 100% 0.70 EVAN 1,155 36% 7% 31% 26% 100% 0.70 ethnically neutral male names), and SEAN 497 23% 20% 14% 43% 100% 0.70 JASON 1,297 39% 12% 33% 16% 100% 0.70 Table B presents the most ethnically LIAM 2,668 13% 18% 43% 25% 100% 0.70 neutral female baby names (on a scale of GAVIN 538 28% 9% 21% 42% 100% 0.69 LOGAN 1,246 12% 27% 44% 17% 100% 0.69 0-0.50, when 0.50 = very ethnically MICHAEL 2,509 9% 18% 32% 41% 100% 0.69 PRESTON 221 12% 46% 22% 20% 100% 0.69 neutral female names). WILLIAM 1,534 25% 8% 22% 44% 100% 0.68 AUSTIN 810 46% 14% 24% 15% 100% 0.68 JONATHAN 1,499 12% 14% 45% 29% 100% 0.68 The most ethnically neutral male baby BRAYDEN 254 27% 4% 40% 29% 100% 0.68 KYLE 650 44% 31% 10% 14% 100% 0.68 names are Richard, Marcus, and JACOB 3,140 10% 13% 39% 38% 100% 0.67 Nathan (neutrality index 0.75-0.74). DANIEL 2,327 14% 13% 27% 47% 100% 0.67 LUCAS 2,246 29% 5% 44% 22% 100% 0.67 Following those are Ethan, Aiden, Caleb, ALEX 780 29% 5% 44% 22% 100% 0.67 Overal Male Names 207,569 14% 15% 34% 37% 100% 0.70 Timothy, and Nathaniel (Table A).

9 Table B: Most Ethnically Neutral Female Baby Names (on a scale of 0-0.75, when 0.75 = very ethnically neutral female names)

On the other hand, the most ethnically Number Asian Black Hispanic White Total Ethnic Neutrality Index neutral female baby names are Aria, Name of Babies Female % Female % Female % Female % Female % of Female Babies' Names Michelle, Chloe, and Isabelle ARIA 561 26% 23% 21% 30% 100% 0.75 MICHELLE 632 29% 17% 26% 28% 100% 0.74 (index 0.75-0.73) (Table B). CHLOE 1743 29% 18% 22% 31% 100% 0.74 ISABELLE 378 23% 20% 21% 37% 100% 0.73 CHRISTINA 265 35% 25% 12% 28% 100% 0.72 SUMMER 239 19% 37% 15% 29% 100% 0.72 LAUREN 405 12% 36% 23% 29% 100% 0.72 ALYSSA 636 16% 21% 39% 23% 100% 0.72 KAYLA 920 11% 34% 31% 24% 100% 0.72 ZOEY 539 16% 31% 37% 16% 100% 0.72 GRACE 1096 29% 13% 21% 38% 100% 0.72 ZOE 1090 16% 15% 35% 34% 100% 0.71 OLIVIA 2248 26% 14% 21% 40% 100% 0.71 KAITLYN 383 29% 21% 38% 11% 100% 0.71 BELLA 592 26% 9% 38% 28% 100% 0.71 SOPHIA 2025 23% 9% 37% 31% 100% 0.71 JASMINE 559 30% 29% 34% 7% 100% 0.70 AVA 1795 12% 24% 21% 43% 100% 0.70 NAOMI 681 7% 30% 26% 38% 100% 0.70 ABIGAIL 1446 11% 17% 37% 36% 100% 0.70 MADISON 1660 9% 25% 42% 25% 100% 0.70 EMILY 2148 19% 9% 36% 36% 100% 0.70 AMELIA 965 19% 11% 28% 43% 100% 0.69 ARIANA 842 18% 15% 46% 21% 100% 0.69 ARIANNA 850 10% 27% 43% 20% 100% 0.69 RILEY 584 8% 31% 21% 41% 100% 0.69 FATIMA 454 39% 38% 11% 12% 100% 0.68 HANNAH 872 28% 10% 16% 46% 100% 0.68 MIA 2078 17% 8% 44% 31% 100% 0.67 LAYLA 708 5% 19% 37% 39% 100% 0.67 EVA 759 20% 5% 31% 44% 100% 0.67 ARIEL 424 17% 49% 21% 12% 100% 0.67 JESSICA 427 44% 5% 32% 19% 100% 0.66 ANGELINA 655 21% 4% 44% 31% 100% 0.66 ELENA 381 28% 0% 37% 35% 100% 0.66 AVERY 579 17% 13% 20% 50% 100% 0.66 ISABELLA 1954 12% 10% 47% 31% 100% 0.66 MILA 543 17% 6% 32% 45% 100% 0.66 HAILEY 940 19% 15% 51% 15% 100% 0.66 EMMA 2323 15% 6% 42% 37% 100% 0.66 SAVANNAH 662 5% 41% 39% 15% 100% 0.66 NATALIE 521 26% 0% 34% 41% 100% 0.66 AMANDA 342 29% 8% 48% 15% 100% 0.66 10 Overall Female Names 164,965 13% 14% 32% 41% 100% 0.69 The Age of Gender Equality

Most parents choose gender-specific names for their babies. 98% of female baby names were at least once amongst boys and girls were; , Avery, Riley, and Ariel. However, Alexis, Tenzin, specifically feminine, and 95% of the male baby names were specifically masculine. However, we and Milan are baby names which were almost chosen equally for baby boys and girls (see Graph 3.1). found seeds of "gender-revolution" in some baby names. 2% of the baby girls’ names and 5% of Also, Quinn (39% boys vs. 61% girls), Avery (33% boys vs. 77% girls), and Ariel (30% boys vs. 70% the baby boys’ names were unisex (See Graph 3.0). The most popular babies' names that appeared girls) are names given to both boys and girls.

Graph 3.0: Gender-Specific Names vs. Gender Neutral Names for Both Males and Females

5% 2% 100% Gender-Neutral Names 98% 95% Gender-Specific Names 90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

Male Female

11 Graph 3.1: Popular Unisex Baby Names

% Male Name ROWAN (102) 90% 10% % Female Name YAEL (106) 14% 86%

EDEN (182) 27% 73%

QUINN (222) 39% 61%

CHARLIE (237) 73% 27%

MILAN (265) 46% 54%

BLAKE (298) 82% 18%

TENZIN (323) 49% 51%

PEYTON (388) 13% 87%

ALEXIS (435) 49% 51%

ARIEL (610) 30% 70%

RILEY (729) 20% 80%

AVERY (863) 33% 67%

ANGEL (1,220) 89% 11%

12 To discover the most gender-neutral names, we calculated a gender-specific baby name index (see variables, Table C), and found that Alexis, Tenzin, and Milan are the most gender-neutral baby names, chosen almost equally for baby boys and baby girls. After these, Quinn, Avery, Ariel, and Charlie (index 0.48-0.4) are names quite popular for both boys and girls.

Table C: Most Gender Neutral Baby Names (on a scale of 0-0.5, when 0.5= very gender neutral)

Gender Neutrality Baby Names Total FEMALE (%) MALE (%) Index of Baby Names ALEXIS 435 51% 49% 0.50 TENZIN 323 51% 49% 0.50 MILAN 265 54% 46% 0.50 QUINN 222 61% 39% 0.48 AVERY 863 67% 33% 0.44 ARIEL 610 70% 30% 0.42 CHARLIE 237 27% 73% 0.40 RILEY 729 80% 20% 0.32 BLAKE 298 18% 82% 0.30 PEYTON 388 87% 13% 0.22 ANGEL 1,220 11% 89% 0.19 JORDAN 802 7% 93% 0.13 DYLAN 2,596 6% 94% 0.11 TAYLOR 539 96% 4% 0.07 LOGAN 1,281 3% 97% 0.05 KAI 402 2% 98% 0.05 RYAN 2,339 2% 98% 0.04 CAMERON 559 2% 98% 0.04

13 Important Insights from the Dataset

Of the 372,534 babies born in New York City between 2011 and 2016, 56% of them were male, and 44% of them were female (Graph 4.0). The top 5 most popular names for males in New York City between 2011 and 2016 were Jacob, Ethan (more than 3,000 names), Matthew, David, and Liam (2500-2750 names). For female baby names, the top 5 most popular names, were Emma, Olivia, Emily, Mia, and Sophia (more than 2000 names) (See Graphs 1.1, 1.2 on pages 4 and 5).

Graph 4.0: Babies born in New York City 2011-2016 by Gender (372,534 Babies)

Female Male

44.3% 55.7%

14 Males and Females Born by Ethnic Groups

From 207,459 male babies born in NYC during 2011-2016, 36% of them were White, 34% Hispanic, 15% Black and 14% Asian (See Graph 4.1). A similar distribution was found for females. From 164,965 female babies, 41% were White, 32% Hispanic, 14% Black, and 13% Asian. (See Graph 4.2).

Graph 4.1: Male Babies by Ethnicity Graph 4.2: Female Babies by Ethnicity (207,459 babies, NYC 2011-2016) (164,965 babies , NYC 2011-2016)

13.8% 13.4%

37.3% 41.0% 14.9% 13.9%

Asian Male (28,580) 34.0% 31.7% Asian Female (22,105) Black Male (31,000) Black Female (22,981)

Hispanic Male (70,580) Hispanic Female (52,225)

White Male (77,409) White Female (67,654)

15 The top 5 most popular ethnically neutral names for males that appeared (at least once) in all for White male babies and Jose, Carlos, and Luis for Hispanic male babies. In addition, the most ethnic groups - White, Hispanic, Black and Asian - were Jacob, Ethan, Matthew, David, Liam, and ethnically specific names were Malachi, Nasir, and Mamadou for Black male babies and Ayaan, Michael. (See Graph 5.0). The most ethnically specific names were Moshe, Chaim, and Eason, and Tenzin for Asian male babies (See Graph 5.1 on the next page).

Graph 5.0: Popular Ethnically Neutral Male Names Graph 2.1: Popular Ethnically Neutral Male Names by Ethnic Group

JACOB 3,140 JACOB 24% 22% 36% 18% 3,140

ETHAN 3,104 ETHAN 13% 11% 26% 49% 3,104

MATTHEW 2,798 MATTHEW 10% 14% 48% 28% 2,798

DAVID 2,759 DAVID 12% 6% 19% 63% 2,759

LIAM 2,668 LIAM 7% 18% 49% 26% 2,668

NOAH 2,543 NOAH 14% 13% 27% 47% 2,543

MICHAEL 2,509 MICHAEL 6% 13% 29% 51% 2,509

AIDEN 2,508 AIDEN 23% 16% 35% 26% 2,508

DANIEL 2,327 DANIEL 10% 13% 39% 38% 2,327

RYAN 2,286 RYAN 13% 7% 24% 56% 2,286

MASON 2,279 MASON 26% 24% 40% 9% 2,279

LUCAS 2,246 LUCAS 6% 9% 35% 50% 2,246

JOSEPH 2,233 JOSEPH 13% 18% 43% 25% 2,233

JAMES 2,167 JAMES 29% 5% 44% 22% 2,167

ALEXANDER 2,137 ALEXANDER 9% 21% 48% 22% 2,137

ANTHONY 2,116 ANTHONY 8% 10% 51% 32% 2,116

SEBASTIAN 2,039 SEBASTIAN 9% 18% 32% 41% 2,039

JAYDEN 1,909 JAYDEN 9% 30% 35% 26% 1,909

CHRISTOPHER 1,847 CHRISTOPHER 30% 11% 24% 36% 1,847

BENJAMIN 1,799 BENJAMIN 4% 6% 65% 25% 1,799

1,000 2,000 3,000 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Asian Male Hispanic Male Black Male White Male

16 Graph 5.1: Popular Ethnically Specific Names by Ethnic Group - Males

Ethnically Specific White Male Names Ethnically Specific Black Male Names Given in NYC 2011-2016 Given in NYC 2011-2016

MOSHE 1,217 MALACHI 312 CHAIM 887 NASIR 153 YOSEF 547 MAMDOU 142 SHIMON 497 CHANCE 138 YISROEL 493 ZAIRE 125 YEHUDA 488 MEKHI 123 MENACHEM 429 SINCERE 102 MORDECHAI 426 OMARI 101 SHLOMO 371 AMADOU 97 YAKOV 347 IBRAHIMA 81 ARON 343 KHALIL 79 YITZCHOK 338 MOUSSA 79 YAAKOV 309 KAMARI 73 MEIR 306 ALPHA 70 ZEV 282 MAJOR 61 AVRAHAM 280 ABDOULAYE 59 SHMUEL 271 ABOUL 58 SOLOMON 267 AMARE 55 ARI 242 OUSMANE 52 MENDEL 241 DARIUS 51

17 Graph 5.1: Popular Ethnically Specific Names by Ethnic Group - Males

Ethnically Specific Hispanic Male Names Ethnically Specific Asian Male Names Given in NYC 2011-2016 Given in NYC 2011-2016

JOSE 700 AYAAN 240 CARLOLS 534 EASON 177 LUIS 531 TENZIN 157 MIGUEL 444 SYED 154 JUAN 432 KINGSLEY 142 JESUS 402 ARJUN 120 ERICK 374 CARSON 112 ALEJANDRO 359 ARAYAN 111 DIEGO 350 ANSON 109 GAEL 277 BENSON 105 SANTAGO 251 LAWRENCE 103 IKER 247 AYAN 88 CRISTIAN 230 ROHAN 88 JADIEL 215 ROY 80 ALEXIS 213 AARAV 72 JOSUE 212 RAYYAN 71 JORGE 207 KIMI 68 ANDRES 198 ZAYAN 63 ADRIEL 192 RICKY 62 JOHAN 188 ARHAM 60

18 For female babies, the top 5 most popular ethnically neutral names which appeared (at least once) and Andrea for Hispanic female babies. In addition, the most ethnically specific names for Black in all ethnic groups were Emma, Olivia, Emily, Mia, and Sophia (See Graph 6.0). The most female babies were Fatoumata, Aminata, and Amiyah and Tenzin, Selina, and Ayesha for Asian ethnically specific names were Chaya, Rivka, and Chana for White female babies and Emely, Leslie, female babies (See Graph 6.2 on the next page).

Graph 6.1: Popular Ethnically Neutral Female Names Graph 2.2: Popular Ethnically Neutral Female Names by Ethnic Group

EMMA 2,323 EMMA 15% 6% 42% 37% 2,323

OLIVIA 2,248 OLIVIA 26% 14% 21% 40% 2,248

EMILY 2,148 EMILY 19% 9% 36% 36% 2,148

MIA 2,078 MIA 17% 8% 44% 31% 2,078

SOPHIA 2,025 SOPHIA 23% 9% 37% 31% 2,025

LEAH 1,957 LEAH 7% 10% 23% 61% 1,957

ISABELLA 1,954 ISABELLA 12% 10% 47% 31% 1,954

AVA 1,795 AVA 12% 24% 21% 43% 1,795

SARAH 1,792 SARAH 10% 9% 16% 65% 1,792

CHLOE 1,743 CHLOE 29% 18% 22% 31% 1,743

SOFIA 1,672 SOFIA 5% 2% 52% 41% 1,672

MADISON 1,660 MADISON 9% 25% 42% 25% 1,660

VICTORIA 1,467 VICTORIA 10% 6% 48% 36% 1,467

ESTHER 1,450 ESTHER 3% 2% 7% 88% 1,450

ABIGAIL 1,446 ABIGAIL 11% 17% 37% 36% 1,446

RACHEL 1,247 RACHEL 13% 1% 7% 79% 1,247

MAYA 1,203 MAYA 12% 10% 21% 57% 1,203

ASHLEY 1,138 ASHLEY 21% 8% 64% 8% 1,138

ELLA 1,099 ELLA 17% 2% 12% 69% 1,099

GRACE 1,096 GRACE 29% 13% 21% 38% 1,096

ZOE 1,090 ZOE 16% 15% 35% 34% 1,090

500 1,000 1,500 2,000 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Asian Female Hispanic Female Black Female White Female

19 Graph 6.2: Popular Ethnically Specific Female Names by Ethnic Group - Females

Ethnically Specific White Female Names Ethnically Specific Black Female Names Given in NYC 2011-2016 Given in NYC 2011-2016

CHAYA 1,061 FATOUMATA 264 RIVKA 683 AMINATA 160 CHANA 589 AMIYAH 120 GITTY 454 ZURI 119 MALKA 445 KIMORA 108 MALKY 411 MARIAMA 106 FAIGY 372 SANAA 98 RAIZY 364 LYRIC 94 RIVKY 321 SANAI 93 BAILA 291 HARMONY 89 YITTY 272 AICHA 87 DEVORAH 260 TORI 82 SHANDY 259 MALIYAH 81 TOBY 241 AISAATOU 77 CHAVA 230 MIRACLE 77 DINA 228 HAWA 76 CHANY 227 OUMOU 76 MOLLY 227 DAKOTA 75 HINDY 202 SKYE 70 GUILIANA 193 KYLA 66

20 Graph 6.2: Popular Ethnically Specific Female Names by Ethnic Group - Females

Ethnically Specific Hispanic Female Names Ethnically Specific Asian Female Names Given in NYC 2011-2016 Given in NYC 2011-2016

EMELY 270 TENZIN 166 LESLIE 247 SELINA 138 ANDREA 240 AYESHA 137 VALERIA 224 VICKY 126 AYLIN 173 ELAINE 109 JAYLEEN 170 JENNY 104 YARETZI 168 WINNIE 92 MELANY 165 QUEENIE 86 DANNA 155 SHARON 80 153 ALISHA 68 ALISON 150 ELINA 68 JAZMIN 148 ERICA 65 BRIANA 147 MANHA 65 KAMILA 145 SYEDA 63 ALAIA 133 JANNAT 56 XIMENA 131 JANICE 53 SHERLYN 129 TINA 52 ESMERALDA 125 ANYA 44 GUADALUPE 123 ARISHA 44 JAZLYN 123 INAAYA 44

21 Summary

Our study has shown a fascinating overarching fact. When When it comes to baby naming, like New York City itself, it’s one big melting pot. Our results have shown that you can no longer assume someone’s background simply by hearing their name because it comes to baby-naming trends, New Yorkers are very sure there is less differentiation between ethnic groups now. The truth is reflected in this research, which about two choices in particular. They want to clearly shows that the multi-cultural environment of the Big Apple is one in which assimilation and differentiate the boys and the girls (the most popular names integration between communities is an increasing trend, which contributes to such a vibrant atmosphere in one of the world’s most iconic cities. are given either to boys or to girls and generally not to both), but in general, they prefer names that cross cultural View our interactive dashboard boundaries and ’t differentiate by ethnicity. for full visualization of the research data. In an age when gender equality is in the spotlight more than ever before, and with the issue of imposing expectations on boys and girls more widely discussed than ever, it’s surprising to find that more children don’t have names that are unisex. Maybe it’s something that many parents, consciously or unconsciously, just aren’t comfortable with yet. Nevertheless, for those less traditional parents who have entertained the idea of giving their child a gender-neutral name, we’ve identified the most popular.

One of these names is Angel, which is an interesting case in point from an ethnic and cultural References: perspective. It’s likely that the masculine version is Hispanic, while the feminine version of the name 1. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26634477 is anglicized. However, regarding the way different communities name their children, the trend is 2. Cooley, H. (1998) On Self and Social Organization. Ed. Schubert Hans-Joachim. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-11509-7. (pp. 20–22) towards names that all groups like and use, although Hispanic parents are a little more inclined to 3. Kourtellos, Andros; Marr, Christa; , Chih Ming (2014). "Robust Determinants of Intergenerational Mobility in the Land of Opportunity." Rochester, NY give their children ethnically specific names than Black or Asian parents. 4. Clark, Gregory. (2014). The Also Rises: and the History of Social Mobility. 5. Osgood, L. (2005) The history of inclusion in the United States. Gallaudet University Press, 6. England, Paula (2010). The Gender Revolution. Gender & Society, Vol. 24 No. 2, 2010 149-166 DOI: 10.1177/0891243210361475. 2010 Sociologists for Women in Society 7. https://www.kaggle.com/new-york-city/nyc-most-popular-baby-names 8. Musterd, S. & , M. D. (1998) Conditions for spatial segregation: some European perspectives, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 22, 665–673. 9. Blau, P. M. (1977). Inequality and Heterogeneity. A Primitive Theory of Social Structure. The Free Press. New York

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