Most popular names: what happens when they all turn up at the same time?

Description

In 1998 and 1999, the name Isabella and its various permutations appeared at the top of all those lists of popular baby names. Now they are turning up in classrooms all over Australia.

A new study by Australian researchers Jo Lindsay of Monash University and Deborah Dempsey of Swinburne, based on interviews with new parents, says naming choice reveals a window onto parental aspirations. Middle class parents want names which will be different – but not too different.