American economist Steven Levitt is convinced that the girls' names Angel, Heaven, Misty, Destiny and Tiffany, and the boys' names Billy, Tommy and Ricky, point to very poorly educated white parents

A good education, by contrast, and the influence of literature and art on parents are attested by such names in their children as Beckett, Sasha, Finnegan, Maira, Beatrix and Aviva.

First, forgive me, Tiffany. Second, let us recall what the heroes of the highest-grossing Hollywood films of recent decades are called. Mostly all sorts of Brittanys, Brendas, Steves and Larrys. Quite so.