I’m seeing this so many times… Like Aiden, Caiden, Braiden, Jaiden, Paiden…

  • Dr. Bob@lemmy.ca
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    3 months ago

    Social diffusion is an explanation of how information spreads, not just names.

    My understanding is that unique names and neologism have long been a feature of African-American culture where North American Caucasians followed a family naming tradition. I think what has happened is some celebrities have moved towards a unique name scheme. But it feels like a mainstreaming of AA culture more than anything.

    The impetus has been there in Europe. Many nations have/had very restrictive rules about names. They’d only have rules against it if people were trying to do it. I had Swiss friends who were very excited that their daughter was born in Canada so they could name her “Sora” which wasn’t in the approved name list in Switzerland.