Madison strikes a nerve

Here are a couple of interesting articles I found on the net while researching baby name trends. They present contrasting views on the economics of baby naming. It's funny how the authors of both articles drive their conclusions home using the name Madison as the epitome of what they're trying to illustrate.

From the 2002 New York Times article How can the marketplace gauge fashions? Consider what to name the baby by Virginia Postrel:

Name choices, like clothing choices, reflect the desire to be different, but not too different. The ideal balance varies, and new fashions begin with innovators who want to stand out. If the innovations have the right aesthetic appeal, they spread to people who aren't as nonconformist.

And, from the 2005 Slate article Trading Up. Where do baby names come from? by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner:

There is a clear pattern at play: Once a name catches on among high-income, highly educated parents, it starts working its way down the socioeconomic ladder. Amber, Heather, and Stephanie started out as high-end names. For every high-end baby given those names, however, another five lower-income girls received those names within 10 years.