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What’s in a Name? In China, the Olympics
Chinese babies are often named after significant events, such as the Olympic Games. But does a name change the way a person is perceived?
30-Second Summary
According to the BBC, “more than 4,000 children in China have been given the name Aoyun, meaning Olympic Games, in the past 15 years,” thought to signal support for the Beijing games being held this summer.
More recently, babies in China have been named after the devastating earthquake that hit the country in May 2008. The name “Zhensheng,” which literally means, “born from a quake.”
In China, children are often named after significant events and “popular slogans—such as Defend China, Build the Nation and Space Travel,” said the BBC.
The best-selling book “Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything” examines the significance of names of people and of streets. The authors found that an unfavorable street name could result in a lower-priced home, while people’s names usually had little effect on how they were perceived by others.
More recently, babies in China have been named after the devastating earthquake that hit the country in May 2008. The name “Zhensheng,” which literally means, “born from a quake.”
In China, children are often named after significant events and “popular slogans—such as Defend China, Build the Nation and Space Travel,” said the BBC.
The best-selling book “Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything” examines the significance of names of people and of streets. The authors found that an unfavorable street name could result in a lower-priced home, while people’s names usually had little effect on how they were perceived by others.
Headline Links: In China, it’s all in the name
According to the BBC, “more than 4,000 children in China have been given the name Aoyun, meaning Olympic Games, in the past 15 years,” thought to signal support for the Beijing games being held this summer. In China, children are often named after significant events and “popular slogans—such as Defend China, Build the Nation and Space Travel,” said the BBC.
Source: BBC
A blog entry on Ireport said that “many newborn babies are named Zhensheng these days, meaning born in the earthquake.” After an earthquake hit China in May, some pregnant women were forced to give birth on the street, perhaps inspiring parents to give commemorative names, said the blog.
Source: Ireport
Children born during a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Lijian in 1996 have also been named “Zhensheng,” meaning “born from a quake,” said the blog Go Kunming.
Source: Go Kunming
In December 2007, 14 babies in China were named “Chang’e, in honor of China’s first lunar satellite,” reported RIA Novosti. All of the children’s parents were employed by China’s aerospace industry, and each parent was given a crystal plate decorated with their child’s date of birth and face, as well as an image of the satellite and dates of launch and orbit.
Source: RIA Novosti
Related Topics: The psychology of names
Slate reported on the “variety of motives at work when parents consider a name for their child,” which is discussed in the book “Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything.” According to Slate, name trends cycle “down the socioeconomic ladder,” and then disappear after becoming too common.
Source: Slate
According to ABC News, the authors of “Freakonomics” believe that the name of a street can factor into the price of a home. A bad name often discourages people from going to see real estate, resulting in less demand, and ultimately a lower price. However, “people’s first names seem to have very little effect on others’ perceptions,” said author Stephen Dubner.
Source: ABC News
Reference Links: ‘Freakonomics’
The book “Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything,” by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, is available for sale in the Dulcinea Media Store.
Source: Dulcinea Media Store
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