The Journal of Quirky Sociological Studies (2024) 46, 57-61

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Johnny's Jinx: Unveiling the Link Between Johnny's
Popularity and Burglaries in New Hampshire
Connor Hart, Addison Terry, George P Tompkins
Center for Research; Stanford, California

Abstract
This study investigates the intriguing correlation between the popularity of the first name "Johnny" and theoccurrence of burglaries in the state of New Hampshire. Leveraging comprehensive data from the US
Social Security Administration and the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, our research teamdelves into this unconventional area at the intersection of sociology and criminology. With a correlation
coefficient of 0.9499530 and a p-value less than 0.01 during the years 1985 to 2022, the evidence
suggests a strong relationship between the two variables. Looking at the data, it becomes clear that there
may be something to the adage "As Johnny's star rises, so does crime." It seems that not only Johnny's
charisma but also his name may have an impact on the burglary rates. It's as if naming your child Johnny
not only sets them up for a lifetime of Dad jokes, but also potentially increases the odds of criminal
mischief in the neighborhood. Our findings challenge traditional assumptions about the influence of
personal names on societal phenomena, and they call for further studies in this quirky yet surprisingly
impactful realm of research.
Copyleft 2024 Center for Research. No rights reserved.

1. Introduction
The relationship between personal names
and societal trends has long been anunderstudied area in the fields of sociology
and criminology. Names carry significant
cultural and social symbolism, and it is notuncommon for individuals to wonder
whether their names have any influence on
their lives. "Johnny" is a classic name withvarious connotations, often associated withlaid-back attitudes, a fondness for fast cars,

and a penchant for leather jackets.
However, our research aims to uncover aless savory aspect of the name's impact –its potential correlation with burglaries in
New Hampshire.
It's no secret that the name "Johnny" has acertain charm, but could it also hold an
unexpected statistical charm in relation tocrime rates? While the idea may elicit achuckle at first, our findings suggest that therelationship between the popularity of theThis paper is AI-generated, but the correlation and p-value are real.

More info: tylervigen.com/spurious-research

name "Johnny" and burglary occurrences in
New Hampshire is no laughing matter.

complaining, "Why won't anyone 'weigh'Joe?!"The inclusion of "Johnny" jokes in theanalysis is not merely a frivolous pursuit; it'san acknowledgment of the impact names
can have on our perceptions and behaviors.
We're not just crunching numbers here;
we're also giving a nod to the cultural
significance of name associations. After all,what's a research paper without a pun or
two to lighten the mood?

In "The Power of Names" by Leonard
Ashley, the author explores the societal
impact of names, suggesting that a namecan shape a person's destiny in unforeseen
ways. Could it be that the rise of Johnny's
popularity may inadvertently be increasing
the rates of unlawfully entering Johnny's
neighbor's domicile? Perhaps naming achild "Johnny" is akin to handing them a lifeof mischief on a silver platter. It's like setting
them up to be the life of the party, but also
the life of the police station lineup.

As we delve into the data, we must
approach this study with a sense of humor,
for it is through this lens that we can truly
appreciate the unexpected connections thatemerge. Much like a successful stand-up
act, our research seeks to uncover thepunchline hidden within the correlation
between name popularity and criminal
activity. In doing so, we hope to inject somelevity into the often solemn world of
academia.

2. Literature Review
In "Smith et al.," the authors find asignificant
correlation
betweenthe
popularity of the first name "Johnny" and theincidence of burglaries in various regions
across the United States. Following thislead, "Doe and Brown" conduct acomprehensive
analysis
focusing
specifically on the state of New Hampshire,
and their findings support the initial trend
observed in national data.
Now, let's hit the books. "The Name Book"
by Dorothy Astoria presents a thoroughcompendium of names and their meanings,
diving deep into the cultural and historicalsignificance of popular names such as"Johnny." It's a great resource forunderstanding the symbolic weight thatnames carry in our society. Speaking of
weight, I once knew a guy named Joe who
couldn't get a single date. He was always

Let's take a literary detour with "TheCatcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger and"Johnny Got His Gun" by Dalton Trumbo.
These beloved classics feature characters
named Johnny and grapple with themes ofrebellion and unconventional paths in life.
It's as if the name "Johnny" carries arebellious streak that extends beyond therealm of fiction and into statistical analysis.
Of course, we can't forget Johnny Depp's
iconic portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in"Pirates of the Caribbean." I mean, he's
basically the poster child for quirky criminal
behavior, and his name isn't even Johnny inthe movies! That's the power of the name"Johnny" transcending reality and fiction.
In "Ocean's Eleven" and its sequels, thecharismatic character portrayed by George
Clooney embodies the charm and wit
associated with the name "Danny," but thespirit of the "smooth criminal" is not limited
to just one name. It seems that Johnny's
influence extends to other aliases,suggesting a ripple effect of mischief thatknows no bounds. It's like the name"Johnny" has a magnetic pull towardmischief and mayhem, drawing perpetrators
into a web of larceny like moths to a flame.
Plus, if you want to understand the allure ofa life of crime, you really can't beat a movie
with Brad Pitt snacking during every scene.
I mean, who eats that much in high-stresssituations? Talk about living life on the edge.

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

More info: tylervigen.com/spurious-researchTo sum it up, it's evident from the literatureand pop culture references that the name"Johnny" holds a certain allure beyond mere
nomenclature. There seems to be an
uncanny connection between the popularityof this name and burglaries in New
Hampshire,
challenging
conventional
wisdom and paving the way for a newfrontier of research at the intersection ofwhimsy and statistical analysis. We'recharting a course through uncharted
territory, embracing the unexpected humor
that arises from studying the impact ofnames on societal phenomena, all while
defying the conventions of academic
stoicism. After all, who said research had tobe a serious business?

3. Our approach & methods
To comprehensively investigate the vexing
enigma of Johnny's jinx, we employed amultifaceted approach, as this perplexing
correlation warranted nothing less. Our
research team embarked on a datacollection quest, venturing into the digital
depths of the US Social Security
Administration's vast name archives and the
FBI Criminal Justice Information Services'
crime statistics repository. We cast a wide
net, much like an enthusiastic angler hoping
to reel in the catch of the day, or in ourcase, the catch of the correlation.
After gathering the expansive data from theyears 1985 to 2022, we huddled around our
statistical cauldron, or rather, our software,
to perform a concoction of analyses. We
used a combination of regression models,time series analyses, and even dabbled in
the mystic arts of predictive modeling tounravel the intricate relationship between
the ebb and flow of Johnny's popularity andthe ebb and flow of burglaries in the quaintstate of New Hampshire. It was a statisticalbrew to rival any potion brewed at Hogwarts– a concoction that would hopefully reveal

the secret recipe behind
inadvertent influence on crime.

Johnny's

And now, much like a magician revealing
the secrets behind a dazzling illusion, let's
pull back the curtain on the specificstatistical techniques we unleashed upon
the data. We started by employing Pearson
correlation coefficients to gauge thestrength and direction of the relationshipbetween Johnny's ascent and the burglary
bonanza. Next, we conducted time series
analyses to discern any temporal patterns
that may shed light on the waxing andwaning of Johnny's impact on nefarious
activities. We even dabbled in some spatial
analyses to map out the geographic
nuances of this unanticipated association. It
was a symphony of statistical techniques,complete with dramatic crescendos andunexpected key changes – a concert for theages, or at least for the academic
community.
In addition to these analyses, we took apage out of Sherlock Holmes's playbook
and engaged in the art of deductive
reasoning. We delved into existing literatureon the psychology of names and thesociology of identity, aiming to paint a
contextual backdrop against which ourempirical findings would come to life. It was
an intellectual detective's chase, completewith aha moments and the occasional false
lead, akin to a thrilling episode of a crime
drama but with more mention of p-values
and standard deviations.
Armed
with
these
data-crunchingmachinations and a sense of scientificcuriosity that rivaled that of a kittenpresented with a ball of yarn, we set out touncover the compelling connection between
Johnny's magnetic moniker and the rather
less endearing undercurrent of burglary
rates in New Hampshire. It was a journey
into the unknown, a statistical odyssey of
epic proportions – a quest to illuminate acorrelation that lay hidden beneath theThis paper is AI-generated, but the correlation and p-value are real.

More info: tylervigen.com/spurious-researchsurface, much like a treasure buried in theproverbial statistical sand.
Remember, it's essential to approach
research with both rigor and a touch ofwhimsy – after all, what's a study on
Johnny's jinx without a few statisticalshenanigans and the occasional pun tolighten the mood?

4. Results
The analysis of the data revealed a striking
correlation between the popularity of thefirst name "Johnny" and the incidence ofburglaries in the state of New Hampshire.
The correlation coefficient of 0.9499530
indicates a remarkably strong relationship,suggesting that as the popularity of thename "Johnny" increased, so did thefrequency of burglaries in the state.
It seems that the "Johnny" effect is not justlimited to captivating audiences on stage; it
may also have an unexpected influence on
criminal behavior. As comedian Steven
Wright might say, "I named my dog 'Johnny'because I heard the best stand-up comesfrom Johnny" – and our findings seem tosuggest that the influence of the nameextends beyond the stage and into therealm of law enforcement.
The scatterplot (Fig. 1) visually represents
the powerful correlation we observed, and it
serves as a stark reminder that statisticalanalysis can unveil surprising relationships,
much like finding a hidden punchline in aseemingly ordinary situation. It's as if thedata itself is delivering a punchline,
revealing an unexpected twist that keeps us
on our toes.

Figure 1. Scatterplot of the variables by year

The r-squared value of 0.9024107 further
demonstrates the substantial impact ofJohnny's name popularity on burglary rates
in New Hampshire. To put it in layman's
terms, it appears that Johnny's name hassome serious "breaking and entering" powerin shaping societal trends. One might evensay that Johnny's influence reaches far
beyond just "jokes" and "punchlines."
With a p-value of less than 0.01, thestatistical significance of our findings
underscores the compelling nature of therelationship between the name "Johnny"and burglary occurrences. It seems that thename Johnny is not just a hit in theentertainment industry; it's also making
waves in the world of criminology.
In conclusion, our research sheds light on
the intriguing link between the popularity of
the first name "Johnny" and burglaries in
New Hampshire. These findings emphasize
the need for further exploration of theinfluence of personal names on societal
phenomena. As we continue to unravel themysteries of name associations and theirimpact on behavior, we must not overlook
the potential significance hidden within theseemingly innocuous choice of a name.
Our
study
ultimately
challenges
conventional
assumptions
about
the
influence of personal names and theirpotential effects on crime rates. The
existence of this link between a name andcriminal behavior is a powerful reminder that

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

More info: tylervigen.com/spurious-researchin the world of research, unexpectedconnections can emerge, much like a welltimed punchline in a comedy routine.

5. Discussion
The results of our study provide compelling
evidence
supportingthepreviously
observed connection between the popularityof the first name "Johnny" and the incidenceof burglaries in New Hampshire. This study
extends the existing literature by offeringrigorous statistical analysis to corroborate
the intriguing link between the moniker"Johnny" and criminal activity. Our findingsalign with the work of Smith et al., as well as
Doe and Brown, underscoring theconsistency of this association acrossdifferent geographic scales.
It's as if the findings of previous researchers
were hidden in plain sight, much like a dad
joke waiting to be unleashed. Speaking of
which, did you hear about the kidnapping at
the playground? Don't worry, he woke up –it was just a "kid" napping! Similarly, ourresearch has awakened a dormant
awareness of the potential influence ofnames on societal trends, revealingcorrelations
that
were
previously
overlooked.
The substantial correlation coefficient of
0.9499530 points to a strong relationshipbetween the popularity of the name"Johnny" and burglary rates, echoing thesubtle yet impactful presence of a welltimed pun in daily conversation. One might
say that the significance of this relationshipis not just statistically strong, but alsorhetorically "punny".
Moreover, our results mirror the previous
literature's emphasis on the symbolic weight
carried by personal names, showcasing
how the rise of Johnny's popularity may
inadvertently be tied to increased rates of
unlawful entries. It's as if naming a child"Johnny" sets them up for a life of mischief

and mayhem, akin to handing them a "getout of jail free" card with their birthcertificate.
The findings not only highlight the potential
impact of names on criminal behavior but
also challenge traditional assumptions
regarding the far-reaching influence ofseemingly innocuous choices, much like awell-constructed punchline challenging theaudience's assumptions about a joke. It's areminder that in the world of research,
unexpected connections can emerge like apunchline in a comedy routine, surprisingand thought-provoking.
In conclusion, our study offers a fresh
perspective on the quirky yet impactful
realm of name associations and theirpotential effects on societal phenomena. It
demonstrates the need for further
investigation into the influence of personalnames on behavioral patterns, inviting
researchers to delve deeper into thisuncharted territory at the intersection ofwhimsy and statistical analysis. After all,who said research had to be a serious
business?

6. Conclusion
In wrapping up this investigation into theconnection between the popularity of thename "Johnny" and burglaries in New
Hampshire, it's clear that there's more to
this name than meets the eye. Perhaps it's
not just the name that's Johnny, but rather
the name that's "Don't-leave-your-houseunattended-y." *Ba-dum-tss!* It seems thatas this classic moniker gains prominence,
so does the likelihood of unwanted visitors
knocking on doors – or perhaps just walking
in uninvited.
Our findings serve as a reminder that in theworld of research, even seemingly unrelated
variables can form unexpected connections.
It's as if the data itself is cracking a joke,
revealing the punchline in an otherwise

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

More info: tylervigen.com/spurious-researchserious analysis. Who knew that statisticalanalysis could lead to such a "burglariously"
entertaining discovery? *Wink, wink*As with many groundbreaking studies, ourresearch prompts further questions andinquiries. However, when it comes to thecorrelation between the popularity of thename "Johnny" and burglary rates in New
Hampshire, it's safe to say that the case isclosed. No need for any "Johnny-comelately" studies to follow up on this – the data
has spoken, and it's time to give this topic arest.
In conclusion, this investigation provides
valuable insight into the impact of personalnames on societal trends, reminding us thatnames are more than just identifiers; they
can have surprising ramifications. It's beena "crime" researching this! But fear not, for
the "Johnny" effect is now a welldocumented phenomenon in the annals of
quirky but impactful research.
No further research needed in the name ofJohnny and burglaries in New Hampshire –case closed!

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

More info: tylervigen.com/spurious-research