The International Journal of Fuel Fashions (2024) 37, 55-72

Available online at www.tylervigen.com

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The Thomas Trend: Exploring the Pump-ularity ofGasoline in France
Cameron Hamilton, Ava Thomas, Gemma P Tate
Center for Research; Madison, Wisconsin

KEYWORDS"Thomas name popularity France, gasoline consumption correlation, Thomas name statistics,
fuel consumption patterns France, Thomas name influence on gas demand, unconventional
relationship energy consumption, Thomas popularity fuel economy"
Abstract
This paper examines the intriguing correlation between the popularity of the first name "Thomas" and thevolume of gasoline pumped in France. By leveraging data from the US Social Security Administration andthe Energy Information Administration, our research team delved into this unconventional relationship,
uncovering a surprising connection. Our findings boast a correlation coefficient of 0.9856517, with astatistically significant p-value of less than 0.01 for the years spanning from 1980 to 2022. Amidst ouranalyses, it became evident that the name "Thomas" holds an uncanny influence on the fuel consumption
patterns in France, raising the question, "Are individuals with this moniker driving the demand forgasoline?" It seems that Thomas is not only "tankful" in terms of popularity, but also in driving the fueleconomy – talk about a gas-tly impact! This study sheds light on the whimsical interconnectedness ofseemingly unrelated variables and opens a door to contemplating the synergistic interplay between
personal nomenclature and energy consumption.
Copyleft 2024 Center for Research. No rights reserved.

1. Introduction
Attention all pun enthusiasts, data
aficionados, and curious minds alike! Buckleup and get ready to embark on a journeyinto the world of correlations andconjectures, where seemingly disparate
variables converge in unexpected ways. In

this paper, we venture into the peculiar
realmsofnomenclatureandfuelconsumption, dissecting the enigmatic
association between the first name
"Thomas" and the gasoline pumped inFrance.

This paper is AI-generated, but the correlation and p-value are real.

More info: tylervigen.com/spurious-researchThis study ventures to answer the questionthat might have been lurking in the minds of
many: "What do the first name Thomas andgasoline consumption in France have incommon?" Well, friends, brace yourselves
for a "fuel" of surprises because we haveuncovered a correlation so striking that itmight just leave you "gasping" for more.
But first, let's address the elephant in theroom – why did the scientist install aknocker on his door? Because he wanted to
win the No-bell prize! Alright, alright, let's
refocus our attention on the matter at hand– the Thomas trend and its influence on thegasoline pump-ularity in France.
As we dive into this fascinating exploration,
we not only aim to unveil the statistical
relationships between "Thomas" andgasoline
consumption
butalsotodemonstrate the potential ripple effect ofnaming conventions on seemingly unrelated
aspects of daily life. Are you ready toembark on this whimsical and thoughtprovoking journey? If so, let's "fuel" up our
curiosity and explore the unexpected
nuances of this intriguing correlation.

2. Literature Review
In their seminal work, "The Thomas Effect: A
Name to Fuel Connection," Smith and Doe
investigated the potential influence of thefirstname"Thomas"ongasoline
consumption
patterns.
Throughanexhaustive analysis of birth records and fuelconsumption data, the authors found a
curious correlation, sparking widespreadinterest in the peculiar relationship between
personal nomenclature and energy usage.
As they delved deeper into their research,
they offered a perceptive insight: "Perhaps
the Thomas trend extends beyond mere
popularity and transcends into the realm of
everyday habits, including the demand forgasoline."

Speaking of demand for gasoline, have youheard about the petroleum puns? They'requite fuel-larious!
Jones and Williams further delved into thiscaptivating subject in their article, "Thomas,
Throttle, and Tank: Unraveling the Enigma."
Their study focused on the socio-economic
implications of the Thomas phenomenon,
positing that the widespread adoption of thisname could potentially sway consumer
behaviors, even in the realm of fuelconsumption. The authors highlighted, "TheThomas trend may not be a mere
coincidence but a compelling factor in
shaping energy consumption patterns."
On a related note, have you everconsidered why the name Thomas is socommon? Because it's a "trains" name, andit keeps "engine"-ering its way into
popularity!
Turning to non-fiction literature thatconverges on the subject matter, "TheEnergy Dilemma: From Thomas toTransportation" by Emily Smith delves into
the intricate interplay between personal
identities and energy dynamics. While thebook
primarily
addresses
broaderenvironmental concerns, it sparks curiosity
about the potential implications of naming
trends on specific sectors like transportationand fuel usage.
In the realm of fiction, the novel "Fuelled byThomas: A Name-Changing Odyssey" by A.
C. Diesel presents a whimsical tale of aprotagonist named Thomas whose actions
mysteriously seem to impact gasoline
consumption in a fictionalized version ofFrance - talk about a creative spin on
correlating names and fuel!
Furthermore, social media platforms havenot been immune to discussions on thiscaptivating correlation. A tweet by@PunnyDriver quipped, "Who would havethought that the name Thomas could have a'fuelly' impact on French gas stations?

This paper is AI-generated, but the correlation and p-value are real.

More info: tylervigen.com/spurious-research

Maybe it's time for a statistical study onJohn and petroleum jelly sales next!"

trails that might lead us to the doorstep ofthe enigmatic "Thomas" trend.

In conclusion, the literature surrounding theinterconnectedness of the first name
"Thomas" and gasoline consumption in
France encompasses an intriguing blend of
scholarly inquiry, light-hearted humor, andunexpected connections. This body of work
serves as a testament to the endlesswonders of statistical analysis, all whileleaving the reader with a chuckle or twoalong the way.

Speaking of Thomas, did you hear about
the mathematician who’s afraid of negative
numbers? He will stop at nothing to avoid
them! Now, where were we? Ah, yes, let's
shift our focus to the captivating journey weembarked on to unfold the popularity of thename "Thomas." We delved into the annalsof the US Social Security Administration's
records, skillfully extracting the historical
trends of the first name "Thomas." Our data
scrapping escapade provided us with awealth of insights into the ebbs and flows of"Thomas" throughout the years, illuminating
the intriguing trajectory of this timelessmoniker.

3. Our approach & methods
To unravel the mystifying connection
between the name "Thomas" and thevolume of gasoline pumped in France, ourresearch team employed a quirky blend ofanalytical methods that were as diverse asa full tank of fuel options at a gas station.
We harnessed the power of data scraping,
trend analysis, and statistical modeling tonavigate through this delightful maze ofnomenclature and energy consumption. To
ensure the robustness of our findings, we
meticulously gathered data spanning from1980 to 2022, aiming for a comprehensiveunderstanding of the evolving dynamics
between the popularity of the name
"Thomas" and the gasoline demand inFrance.
In a bid to extract the trend of gasoline
consumption in France, we indulged insome data scrapping antics that seemstraight out of a heist movie – but rest
assured, our intentions were purely
academic! We extracted the historicalvolume of gasoline pumped in France fromthe Energy Information Administration's
treasure trove of information, taking
meticulous care to sweep through the datawith the finesse of a name detective
searching for clues in a mystery novel. Our
aim was to map the patterns of gasoline
consumption and trace any unexpectedWith our arsenal of data at the ready, weembarked on the exhilarating journey oftrend analysis. Like detectives following a
trail of breadcrumbs, we scrutinized thefluctuations in gasoline consumption
alongside the undulating tides of "Thomas"
popularity. Through the power of statisticalmodeling, we sought to quantify the strengthof the relationship between these seemingly
incongruent variables, teasing apart theintricate dance of names and gas in a waythat would even impress a petrol-loving
poet.
Into the statistical modeling realm weventured, armed with a cornucopia ofanalytical tools suited for uncoveringcorrelations and statistical significance. Our
quest was to unearth the hidden gems ofconnection between "Thomas" and thegasoline pump-ularity in France. With batedbreath and penchants for puns, we
scrutinized correlation coefficients and pvalues, striving to distill the essence of thistantalizing nexus between human names
and the liquid gold that fuels our machines.
Our journey through the methodologicalmaze was as twisting and thrilling as a roller
coaster ride, navigating the twists and turnsof data scrapping, trend analysis, andThis paper is AI-generated, but the correlation and p-value are real.

More info: tylervigen.com/spurious-researchstatistical modeling in our quest to illuminate
the interplay between the name "Thomas"
and the gasoline consumption in theenchanting land of France.
Well, that's the methodology in a nutshell –or should I say in a fuel tank? As the saying
goes, "I told my wife she should embrace
her mistakes. She gave me a hug." All jokes
aside, buckle up, because the findings are
just around the corner – and they're sure tofuel your imagination!
Figure 1. Scatterplot of the variables by year

4. Results
The results of our investigation into thecorrelation between the popularity of thefirst name "Thomas" and the volume ofgasoline pumped in France from 1980 to
2022 left us positively charged! We found arobust correlation coefficient of 0.9856517,
with a staggering r-squared value of
0.9715093, and a p-value of less than 0.01.
These numbers not only speak to thestrength of the association but also leave
little room for doubt – this connection is asreal as it gets!
Fig. 1, the scatterplot illustrating therelationship between the first name
"Thomas" and gasoline consumption in
France, paints a clear picture of the striking
correlation that left our research team, quite
literally, a-gas!
Now, onto the punchline: why don't
scientists trust atoms? Because they makeup everything! Speaking of making up
everything, the "Thomas" effect on gasoline
pump-ularity seems to hold true acrossthose 42 years. This raises the question, isthere more to this than just a statisticalfluke, or are there hidden factors at play?
It's pun thing to consider, at the very least!

Our findings suggest that there might
indeed be an intriguing connection between
the popularity of the name "Thomas" andthe gasoline consumption patterns inFrance – perhaps Thomas the Tank Engine
is not just a beloved character fromchildhood, but a subtle influencer in therealm of energy consumption! This
correlation opens a veritable Pandora's boxof questions, leaving us pondering thepotential impact of personal nomenclature
on consumer behaviors.
In conclusion, the results of this study
indicate a compelling association between
the first name "Thomas" and gasoline
pump-ularity in France. These findings not
only affirm the presence of an unexpected
correlation but also beckon further inquiry
into the quirky interplay of personal names
and societal trends. So, next time you meeta Thomas, thank them for keeping the gas
pumps humming – it seems their namecarries more "fuel" than meets the eye!

5. Discussion
Our study unveils a captivating link between
the popularity of the first name "Thomas"
and the volume of gasoline pumped inFrance.
Theimpressivecorrelation
coefficient of 0.9856517, along with a pvalue of less than 0.01, aligns with the prior
works of Smith and Doe and Jones andWilliams, further solidifying the notion that

This paper is AI-generated, but the correlation and p-value are real.

More info: tylervigen.com/spurious-research

the Thomas effect extends beyond a mere
statistical curiosity. This revelation leaves us"fuelin' pumped" about the implications ofnomenclature on energy consumption.
The "Thomas" effect appears to hold its grip
over the years, leading us to ponder, is it
merely a statistical fluke, or is there adeeper connection at play? It's aconundrum akin to the timeless question,"Why can't you give Elsa a balloon?
Because she will let it go!" Letting it go is
not an option when it comes to unravelingthis enigma.
Our findings resonate with the heart ofSmith's musings in "The Energy Dilemma:
From Thomas to Transportation," as they
underscore the interconnectedness of
personal identities and energy dynamics.
This correlation raises sociological andpsychological queries as to whether
individual names hold sway over broader
societal behavior – or perhaps "Thomas" isindeed the name that keeps the Frenchengines revving!
As we dig deeper into the potential
influences of personal nomenclature, we are
faced with a "nomenclatural dilemma" – punintended. Through the comical lens of@PunnyDriver's tweet, we are remindedthat the correlation between the first name
"Thomas" and gasoline consumption in
France is as "fuelly" as they come andinvites us to wonder about the unseen
forces at play.
In light of these revelations, further researchis warranted to delve into the underlying
mechanisms behind this unexpected
correlation. Future investigations could
explore the psychological and behavioral
motivations linked to the Thomas effect. Our
study leaves us with a lingering"fuelosophical" question – is there
something inherently compelling about thename "Thomas" that sways individuals'
inclinations, or are we merely scratching thesurface of a complex phenomenon?

In conclusion, our findings bolster the priorresearch on the correlation between thepopularity of the first name "Thomas" andgasoline pump-ularity in France. They open
doors to a universe of inquiries andunderscore the unexpected ways in which
seeminglyunrelated
variables
canintertwine. So, here's to the name
"Thomas," for keeping the gas flowing andleaving us with a "tankful" of questions toponder!

6. Conclusion
As we wrap up this whimsical journey into
theserendipitousintersectionofnomenclature and fuel consumption, it
becomes abundantly clear that the“Thomas” trend is no mere coincidence –it's as real as the gasoline we pump! Our
findings not only reveal a substantial
correlation between the popularity of thename "Thomas" and the volume of gasoline
pumped in France but also incite a wave ofcontemplation on the unseen influences thatpermeate our daily lives.
In light of our research, it seems that thenext time you meet a Thomas, you ought tothank them for their role in keeping the gas
pumps bustling – after all, they may just befueling more than vehicles with their name!
Now, who would have thought that a simple
name could hold such "tank"-ular power?
With such definitive results in hand, it's safe
to say that no more research is “fuel”-ly
needed in this area. The correlation is asclear as day, and the jokes, well, it turns out
they might just be "gas"p-worthy after all!

This paper is AI-generated, but the correlation and p-value are real.

More info: tylervigen.com/spurious-research