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Whats up with Michael

lexus

lexus

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Mar 26, 2006
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Depends Greatly On The Weather
How come in most TV shows at the moment the main character is named Michael?

Just a few which come to mind:

Michael Scofield - Prison Break
Michael - Lost (Seasons 1 & 2)
Michael Scott - The Office

Seriously it is pretty scary.
 
"Michael" is always high on the official list of most common names in the U.S. I know people with all of those common names, except for "Ethan". I don't think I've ever met somebody named Ethan.
 
I thought this thread was about another person named Michael.:rolleyes:

Some names you never hear about, Betsy, Gertrude, Ernie, Victor.
 
My parents almost named me Michael. I personally don't care for the name, because of the whole "ae" thing. I mean, what's up with that? :rolleyes:
 
Man, according to the SSA, Michael was either #1 or #2 every year from 1954 to 2005. Interestingly, before 1935 it only once cracked the top 40.

It's really interesting how names come in and out of style. This website has a nice graphical representation:

http://babynamewizard.com/namevoyager/lnv0105.html

It also shows how #1 in 1950 was very different from #1 today. For example, with Michael, when it was #1 in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, over 20,000 babies per million were named Michael, or about 4% of boys. Currently, Jacob is the most popular, with over 7,000 per million with that name, or about 1.4% of boys.

People just use more names these days.
 
Doctor Q said:
I know people with all of those common names, except for "Ethan". I don't think I've ever met somebody named Ethan.
Click to expand...
Hmm. I have a nephew, a second cousin, and a friend's kid all named Ethan. None of their last names is Rom, though.

someguy said:
My parents almost named me Michael. I personally don't care for the name, because of the whole "ae" thing. I mean, what's up with that? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
My middle name is Michael. Oddly, I like it because of the "ae" thing. That and it's a cool middle name because no one shortens middle names. ;)
 
MacNut said:
Some names you never hear about, Betsy, Gertrude, Ernie, Victor.
Click to expand...
ejb190 said:
Wow! I know two Ernie's, two Victor's (One first name and one last name), and a Betsy. Don't know a Gertrude, though.
Click to expand...
And I've met two people named Betsy and two people named Ernie (one of whom fixed computers for me). So we've proven that there are at least a few people with each name... except for Gertrude.

That proves scientifically that there are absolutely no people named Gertrude.

Hmmm....
 
someguy said:
My parents almost named me Michael. I personally don't care for the name, because of the whole "ae" thing. I mean, what's up with that? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

My parents almost named me Kathy. It came as quite a surprise when i was born male. then they said, "orange you glad we didn't name you kathy?"
 
Wow, I didn't realise that "Ian" was such a popular name over the past few decades. I rarely meet another Ian.

I'm also checking boys names that I've only noticed since moving to Australia (eg: Dean, Dane), and yes, they're ranked quite low in America.


EDIT: Just checked the name "Sydney", which I'd be willing to name a boy or a girl, but I didn't realise that it was such a popular name. In 2005, it was the 30th most popular name for girls. :confused:
 
You know how people say that "John Smith" is the most common name? I have never met a John Smith.

I have met a James Smith, though. Blandest name I've come across, and yet I still haven't met John Smith. What's up with that?

And besides, I'm sure the most common name is going to have a surname of Lee/Li, Wong, or Singh or something.
 
Abstract said:
You know how people say that "John Smith" is the most common name? I have never met a John Smith.

I have met a James Smith, though. Blandest name I've come across, and yet I still haven't met John Smith. What's up with that?

And besides, I'm sure the most common name is going to have a surname of Lee/Li, Wong, or Singh or something.
Click to expand...

Need to start working the front desk of a dive motel on the hooker mile.
 
miloblithe said:
Man, according to the SSA, Michael was either #1 or #2 every year from 1954 to 2005. Interestingly, before 1935 it only once cracked the top 40.

It's really interesting how names come in and out of style. This website has a nice graphical representation:

http://babynamewizard.com/namevoyager/lnv0105.html

It also shows how #1 in 1950 was very different from #1 today. For example, with Michael, when it was #1 in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, over 20,000 babies per million were named Michael, or about 4% of boys. Currently, Jacob is the most popular, with over 7,000 per million with that name, or about 1.4% of boys.

People just use more names these days.
Click to expand...

You should read Freakonomics. There's a chapter about how names cycle from being "rich" names to "common" names. (I can't remember what the terms he uses is, but that's the gist). Really good book, that section included.
 
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