Politics

Expecting Parents Are Picking Patriotic Names For Their Children

Campbell North Contributor
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You’re not the only one whose personal bubble has been burst by the persistent political pandering that plagues every TV and social media outlet.

While the unborn are shielded from Donald Trump’s verbal assaults and Hillary Clinton’s neon pantsuits in the womb, they may be subjected to a much more insidious injustice once born.

A new study from BabyCenter surveying more than 115,000 registered baby names reveals that many expecting parents are planning to name their children after the presumptive presidential candidates.

Since the start of 2016 — only six months ago — the name “Hillary” has seen a 142 percent rise in popularity since this time last year. “Bill” has jumped 113 percent, while “Chelsea” and “Charlotte” have grown 18 and 17 percent in popularity, respectively.

Trump family names are also the subject of this copycat craze. Surprisingly enough, “Donald” isn’t at the forefront of this race. With just an 8 percent uptick, “Donald” takes a backseat to the name “Melania,” which is up 36 percent in popularity. The name “Ivanka” has also jumped 4 percent.

“A presidential election is a big deal, and new parents who choose names like Hillary and Donald are placing a bet that their new baby will share the name of the next American president,” said Linda Murray, BabyCenter Global Editor in Chief, in a press release.

The patriotic influence driving parents to name a child after Trump or Clinton is bolstered by the success of the Broadway hit “Hamilton.”

“Hamilton” rose 60 percent in popularity since last year. The popularity of other Founding Father names has risen as well, with “Jefferson” jumping 171 percent, “James” up 25 percent and “George” up 21 percent.

A name can be a defining aspect of a person’s life.

“When parents reach into history to select a leader’s name for their child, it’s usually because they feel inspired by that person’s values and legacy,” said Murray.