A study on English naming trends

Abstract

Based on data from the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), naming trends in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2020 reveal significant cultural and social transformations in contemporary British society. The result of this research identifies four main trends: changes in cultural origins, gender differences, geographical variations, and temporal changes. The analysis shows a significant decline in traditional Anglo - Saxon names and an increase in multicultural names, particularly Arabic/Islamic names. Gender differences are reflected in syllabic structure, with male names favoring brevity while female names show greater diversity. Regional variations demonstrate a clear North - South divide: London, as a multicultural center, shows the highest naming diversity, while northern regions maintain more traditional patterns. In terms of time, the data shows a decreasing trend in the concentration of popular names, with top 10 names falling. These trends reflect broader social changes including globalization, migration patterns, changes in gender perspectives, and the evolution of cultural identity in modern British society.