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Children's first names and immigration background in France

Author

Listed:
  • Mahmood Arai

    (Department of Economics and SULCIS - Stockholm University)

  • Damien Besancenot

    (CEPN - Centre d'Economie de l'Université Paris Nord (ancienne affiliation) - UP13 - Université Paris 13 - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Kim Van Huynh

    (LEM - Laboratoire d'Économie Moderne - UP2 - Université Panthéon-Assas)

  • Ali Skalli

    (LEM - Laboratoire d'Économie Moderne - UP2 - Université Panthéon-Assas)

Abstract

We present evidence indicating that immigrants and especially those from the Maghreb/Middle-East give first names to their children that are different from those given by the French majority population. When it comes to natives with an immigrant background, these differences are very little pronounced. Being born and raised up in France as well as being exposed to the French society and culture through residence, citizenship and the educational system draws individuals with or without immigrant background into similar ways of expressing belongings when choosing first names for their children, indicating the very strong assimilating forces in the French society.

Suggested Citation

  • Mahmood Arai & Damien Besancenot & Kim Van Huynh & Ali Skalli, 2009. "Children's first names and immigration background in France," Working Papers halshs-00383090, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-00383090
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00383090
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Roland G. Fryer & Steven D. Levitt, 2004. "The Causes and Consequences of Distinctively Black Names," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 119(3), pages 767-805.
    2. Mahmood Arai & Peter Skogman Thoursie, 2009. "Renouncing Personal Names: An Empirical Examination of Surname Change and Earnings," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 27(1), pages 127-147, January.
    3. Marianne Bertrand & Sendhil Mullainathan, 2004. "Are Emily and Greg More Employable Than Lakisha and Jamal? A Field Experiment on Labor Market Discrimination," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(4), pages 991-1013, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alberto Bisin & Thierry Verdier, 2010. "The Economics of Cultural Transmission and Socialization," NBER Working Papers 16512, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    First names; integration; belonging; immigrants.; immigrants;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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