Recent data from the Social Security Administration shows that while Olivia and Liam remain the most popular names for newborns, the name Oaklee and its variants are rising, particularly in red states. Dallin D. Oaks, a linguistics professor, analyzed naming trends and found that oak-related names feature prominently in the top ten red states but are largely absent in blue states. This trend, influenced by Latter-day Saint (LDS) culture, is believed to be a product of larger family sizes and unique naming practices prevalent in Utah.
"Clearly, there's a pattern," says Dallin D. Oaks, an English linguistics professor at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, who has written about names, especially among Latter-day Saints. He has reviewed data from red and blue states, as ranked politically by the International Business Times. "Every one of the top ten red states had either an Oaklynne or an Oakley or both, or something in the top 100 names," he said.
Cleveland Evans, a professor and former president of the American Name Society, noted that the name Oaklee trend began in Utah, which he considers an early warning system for upcoming name popularity. He explains that Utah's Latter-day Saint culture contributes significantly to the rise of unusual names.
Oaks further explains that oak-based names are increasing in popularity across the U.S. but have a particularly strong presence in conservative states. "We have more kids than some other states," he jokes, suggesting a possible reason for this naming trend.
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