I think he meant that it’s sad to see anyone locked up.
I taught high school in Georgia '84-2010. Had one Kunta Kinte and one Kizzy go through over those years.
Any increase in the number of Levar’s?
Here in America we name our dogs Indiana.
“We named the dog Indiana!” - Professor Henry Jones
Plus Dakota is part of two US state names as well (North and South), so it’s extra-boring in that respect too.
Working in personnel I’ve noticed a lot more ethnic names among the younger employees. Instead of Mary, Alice, Kate we get Lashawn, Latrice, Tanisha. Instead of Bob, Tom, Bill we get Lamarr or DaJon, Le-Vaughn.
That whole Roots thing definitely had an impact.
Unless your middle name is Wayne; then you’re gonna grow up to be a serial killer.
Don’t pit me no mo’ massah! I be a good slave!
ducks and runs
I have a cough friend who called her daughter Dakota, but their surname means south-land, so technically she has specified which state she’s named after. 
And Dakota’s also a rather good song by the UK band The Stereophonics, so I can see why people would use it as a name (wikipedia also says it means “friendly”, which is quite sweet)
Back on topic, I’ve never met any Kuntas or Kizzys, but when I was working at a British Uni, a lot of our study abroad students from Sub-Saharan Africa had really colonial names like Nelson and Winston. Yeah, let’s name our sons after the empire that raided our culture, nice one!
Look on the bright side. I have never heard of a serial killer called Dakota.
That’s because they’ve never managed to catch one - yet!
For those who may be getting lost here, that one is likely in reference to young actress Dakota Fanning.
Interesting, but none of the serial killers I’ve known personally have been named Wayne.
Lord I love the Dope.
Qadgop, given your experiences working in a prison, can you comment on the “Wayne as the middle name of convicts” meme? There are at least a few places where I have seen snarky/funny lists which provide a round-up the petty crimes of stupid criminals who happen to have Wayne as a middle name.
My other comment about this thread: Interesting that there was a noticeable, if small, uptick in Kuntas and Kizzys. But what about **Madison **for girls - originating from/popularized by Splash?? Talk about a name that was introduced in the same timeframe that remains hugely popular to this day. Jeez, there are more Madison’s in my kids’ classes than Madeleine’s.
I know one Kunta.
Just thought I’d mention that.
It’s tough to meaningfully research this, but here’s what I’ve found.
I searched our data base for people who have been convicted of crimes for those with the middle name of Wayne. According to the Baby Name Wizard, Wayne was a somewhat but not extremely popular name for babies over the crucial birth years. Now this site records first names, not middle names, but I’m assuming (perhaps in error) that such popularity rates ought to carry over.
I compared that to the number of folks with the middle name Henry, whose popularity during the critical birth years approximated that of the name Wayne. And I contrasted that to Robert as a middle name, a much more popular name during those critical years.
Wayne: 372 individuals in the criminal database with the middle name of Wayne. (200 to 600 named Wayne per 1 million babies during period from 1960’s to 1990’s.)
63rd most popular name in the 1960’s
112th most popular 70’s
181st in 80’s
345th in 90’s
Henry: 137 individuals in the criminal database with the middle name of Henry (circa 500 named Henry per 1 million babies during the 60’s to 90’s)
95th most popular name in the 1960’s
120th in 70’s
134th in 80’s
141st in 90’s
Robert: 644 individuals in the criminal database with the middle name of Robert. (4,000 to 8,000 named Robert per 1 million babies during the 60’s to 90’s)
5th most popular name in the 1960’s
7th in 70’s
8th in 80’s
20th in 90’s
What can we conclude?
Well, Wayne does seem to be represented about 2.5 x more often than the similarly popular name of Henry, for one thing.
Also, even though Wayne is approximately 1/10th as popular a name as Robert, it’s seen more than half as often as Robert as a middle name among criminal offenders.
Conclusion: It seems that for people convicted of criminal offenses in my state, the middle name Wayne is appearing significantly more often than I would expect.
The study has many flaws, clearly more research is needed. Anyone want to fund me to do it?
Qadgop - I’ll provide a jar of vegemite. Is that sufficient?
StG
I’ll take an unfunded social scientist stab at the Wayne question… I would surmise that if you look at certain populations (think Southern, working class-to-poor) you will see that name at higher proportions. The only Waynes I’ve ever known were from when I lived in the Florida panhandle, and they were definitely Southern, working class.
Looking at the 2007 incarceration rate data by region and state, the South by far has the highest rate. State-wise, it’s Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas FTW.
I would wager that Waynes are prevalent in the lower socioeconomic classes in these states. But I’d also bet there is a propensity of Waynes who are star prep athletes from these regions too.
Oh, FWIW… as one of the Dope’s Official Black Guys, I have never known anyone named Kunta or Kizzy. Roots names were usually used to mock people. I’ve known plenty of people who got called “Kunta” playing the dozens. 
Hippy Hollow - You’re black? Are you sure? I’d like to see your Official Dope Black Guy certificate, please.
StG
I’m so Black, I could be navy.