Obama Inspires Baby Names, But Perhaps Not Babies

by Terry Lamb

August 27, 2009

If you recall, I reported last November on the possibility that an Obama baby boomlet could occur in August (this month). It’s time to report on whether that actually occurred.

The Chicago Tribune reports that, “In Chicago, ground zero for Obama's election celebration, area hospitals confirm that they have not seen a noticeable surge in births.” However, one medical center did report that “nurses were unusually busy” (presumably in the birth center).

Speculation has it that births are more planned and managed in modern society than they were at the time of the baby boomlet that Obama was a part of. If you recall, about 40 weeks before his birth was the election of JFK.

The Trib goes on, “Though his election apparently did not spawn a generation of Obama babies, the president may be tickled to know he has inspired a generation of baby names.” Barack has skyrocketed up the list of the most registered baby names since the time of Obama’s election campaign, from 12,535th to 2,409th.

© Terry Lamb