Did you give your son a criminal's name?
By Madeline Holler
Strollerderby/Babble
I KNEW we should have gone with Michael!
My husband and I had protracted discussions on what we should name our new son. We went with Earl (shut up, it's cute!) for many reasons, including the fact that it wasn't super common. But according to the science, or maybe crazy science, we've predisposed the boy to criminal behavior.
A University of Pennsylvania study argues that boys with unpopular names may be more likely to break the law.
From Live Science (via The Daily Beast):
Results show that, regardless of race, juveniles with unpopular names are more likely to engage in criminal activity. The least popular names were associated with juvenile delinquency among both blacks and whites. ...
While the names are likely not the cause of crime, the researchers argue that "they are connected to factors that increase the tendency to commit crime, such as a disadvantaged home environment, residence in a county with low socioeconomic status, and households run by one parent."
"Also, adolescents with unpopular names may be more prone to crime because they are treated differently by their peers, making it more difficult for them to form relationships," according to a statement released by the journal's publisher. "Juveniles with unpopular names may also act out because they consciously or unconsciously dislike their names."
Earl, despite your future life of crime, Mommy will always love you. And totally blame herself for your actions.
Photo: iohachi.com
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