OT: Name Frequencies (WAS: Re: new Klingon spelling)

Someone rang, so I answered the call:

> > > What?  Keith is a very common name over here.  I knew several growing
up;
> > > my longest-term college roommate was named Keith; my current boss is
named
> > > Keith . . . what made you think it was uncommon?
> >
> > Over where, if I may ask?
>
> In the US, which I meant to be implicit in my reply to Tristan's remark
> that an American "Keith" felt odd, but of course you don't know that
> I'm in the US.  :)  I live in Atlanta.
Indeed. Though I also meant a bit more localized. As I'm not by Atlanta (St.
Louis, more like), I suppose it's different. Being midwestern and all.

> > I think it's uncommon because I don't encounter it that often.
>
> It is, as you said, not as common as John or Mark (or David; sheesh, so
many
> Davids in my generation!!), but I wouldn't go so far as to call it
> uncommon.  I'd say it's a second-tier name, below John et al but well
> above, say,  Sebastian. :)
I know quite a few Davids (not the least of which being my father).

I collected CCGs for a while, so I go by that. "common", "uncommon", "rare".
It is not a common name, but it isn't rare (such as say, "Hamlet")

I was significantly surprised when I went to see Return of the King, that
the guy sitting behind me was named Keith. I discovered this when he was
asked for the time.

What really freaked me out is someone I met at college whose name was David
and had a father named Keith. (As mine is Keith and my father's is David).

But I still maintain that my name is fairly uncommon. I have yet to be in a
situation where someone called my name and I wasn't sure if it was me or
another Keith being called. I get the impression that's common among common
names. :)

-Keith

P.S. On an interesting note, my psych class in high school had two Ashleys
that sat one in front of the other. It was very amusing to say "Ashley!" and
inevitably have the wrong one turn. More interestingly, I think, is the fact
that they both responded to the word "Actually". Just like I respond to
"key", and "tea", and "plea" and "teeth" and so on and so forth.

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