Newer states spawn unique names

The Columbian:

When Washougal residents Kyle and Dianna Curtis had their first daughter, Brooklynn, they wanted to give her a unique name that would epitomize her personality.

“I wanted a unique but not a farfetched, ridiculous name,” Dianna Curtis said.

Nationwide, names have become more unconventional in the past 20 years in tandem with an increasing value placed on individualism, according to a 2010 study by researchers from San Diego State University and the University of Georgia.

“In recent times, … the culture emphasizes uniqueness more than past eras or eastern states,” said Jean Twenge, psychology professor at San Diego State University, who co-authored the study. “When a culture emphasizes uniqueness and standing out, parents are less likely to give their children common names.”

Read the whole story: The Columbian

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