Date of Award

5-2026

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Thesis

Department

Sociology

First Advisor

Alexander Roehrkasse

Second Advisor

Stephen Barnard

Abstract

This study investigates how demographic and cultural changes influenced first-name diversification in the United States between 1910 and 2020. Three main explanations are proposed: Solidarity and Diffusion, Multiculturalism, and Familial Modernization. The normalized Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) was employed to track name diversity for each state–year–sex group. Then, statistical analysis, including two-way fixed-effects linear regression, was completed. This analysis finds a clear correlation between first-name diversity and measures of population density, ethnoracial diversity, and household structure. This supports the conclusion that shifts in socio-demographic composition and cultural values over time played a significant role in shaping naming practices. Ultimately, this study highlights how the selections of names made by individuals can embody broader trends of cultural change.

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