As I've talked about before, I have now been exposed to meltable cultural regions. I was born in Michigan then moved to Tennessee and grew up there. I'm now in Miami for college. My mother was born in raised on Long Island while my dad had a nomadic growing up due to his father's job in the geology industry. So I "get" the Northeast, Midwest, and South. Each of these regions is obviously very different in their own ways.

People in each of these regions proudly identify themselves with these areas and hopes that their children can have the same beliefs to carry on. Many families will feed their children bratwurst a deep dish in the Midwest, or let their children explore the subway at an early age in the Northeast, or play country music in the house in the South. Arguably the biggest differences between the areas are something that we take for granted- names.

While many names, such as Austin or Caroline, are universal, several names are more common in certain areas of the country than others. I've noticed by paying closer-than-normal attention to my friend's names both here in Miami and back home in Nashville.

One of the most southern aspects of a first name is something known as a "double-name." Ones I've known are Mary Margret, Mary Lauren, Mary Kate, Jack Parker, Gracie Belle and of course the classic Jim Bob. Even people who don't have this southern staple often adopt a double name by using their middle name. For example, my friends back home use their middle name in social media profiles, unlike my current college friends. Monograms, most popular in the Southern US, reflect this with all three letters personalizing an item. The name Grace, be it a first or a middle name, is very popular in the Bible Belt due to its religious association.

The University of Miami is extremely geographically diverse, but nobody will argue with the fact the Northeastern student's make up a huge chunk of the population. So that brings a whole new set of unique names around me. The Northeast is historically the strongest melting pot of the nation and continues to be at a lesser extent, so names often are relative to this diversity. Italian decedents, which make up one of the largest immigrant groups in the I-95 corridor, often name their female children names that mix elements from both cultures, such as Alexa and Daniella. Both names are not super common in Michigan and nearly obsolete in Tennessee, but popular in New York and at UM. Many Jews live on the East Coast, therefore Cohen and Siegel are common last names.

Furthermore, names are more than just words. They are a way that parents make sure and pass small, but significant parts of their culture down to the children, who will live on and spread their own identity to others.