Names with Class: Education and Occupation as Determinants of Name Preferences Among Polish Mothers
Names with Class: Education and Occupation as Determinants of Name Preferences Among Polish Mothers

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines the naming preferences of Polish mothers across different educational and occupational groups. An online survey of 2,579 respondents asked mothers to rate the attractiveness of 25 male and 25 female names. Exploratory factor analysis identified five name categories for each gender. Mean ratings by education level and EGP class position were compared using one-way ANOVA. The results indicate that mothers with higher levels of education and occupational status tended to prefer names rooted in Polish tradition--whether already popular or experiencing a revival--while avoiding those considered outdated. In contrast, mothers with lower levels of education and occupational status were relatively more favorable toward recently imported names. Preferences for male names showed greater social differentiation than those for female names, supporting the view that boys' names more strongly reflect social background and parental cultural capital.

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