Chimney Sweep in Johns Island, SC

Although Olivia and Liam are the two most popular names for newborns right now, according to data from the Social Security Administration released Friday, another name is rising in popularity, especially in red states. That name is Oaklee, or Oakley, or Oakleigh or a similar variant. The name is usually, but not always, given to girls.

"Clearly, there's a pattern," says Dallin D. Oaks, an English linguistics professor at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, who has written about names, especially among Latter-day Saints. He has reviewed data from red and blue states, as ranked politically by the International Business Times.

"Every one of the top ten red states had either an Oaklynne or an Oakley or both, or something in the top 100 names," he said. "On the other hand, and in comparison, they were only represented in two of the bluest states I sampled."

None of this is surprising to Cleveland Evans, a professor and former president of the American Name Society. He clocked the Oaklee trend a few years ago.

"That one is one of those things that is coming out of Utah," he said. "Utah is sort of an early warning system for things that are going to become popular. This has to do with Latter-day Saint culture, or Mormon culture. They are people who use unusual names."

Examples include Jaden and Kaden as well as Oaklynne and Oakleigh, he says. And as to why so many popular ones have emerged from LDS culture?

"I could speculate," says Oaks. "We have more kids than some other states."

Also, he joked, possibly more online influencers. Oaks points out that oak-based names are rising in popularity not just in red states, but across the country, and the most popular names tend to be similar, state-to-state. But an affinity for oak-based names in more conservative parts of the country is clear.

"I'm staring at a huge live oak tree out my window right now," says Tyson Oak Carver, who lives in Canyon Lake, Texas. He was born in 1982, which makes him something of an elder Oak. "We've got them all over the place. So that is something that people see around here, is these large oak trees."

Carver says his parents liked nature-based names. And there's something stately and established about oaks. Their roots run deep. When Oaklee Grant was growing up in Hardtner, Kan., in the 1990s, her main associations with her name were the sunglasses brand and gunslinger Annie Oakley. But she says she was named after her grandfather and an uncle.

"We love to keep these names in the family," she said, adding that she also loves that oak trees stand for sturdy, steadfast faith. "Oak can be used as a metaphor for God's people planted by Him to display His glory. I like that. I like that a lot."

Oaklee Grant says she has always been proud of her name, even when hers was the only oak-based name she knew. Now, she sees lots of other people naming their children Oaklee, Oakley and Oakleigh. But when it came time to name her own child, Grant picked something a little bit more uncommon. Her daughter's name is Nova.

JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - A new advanced academy program will expand resources on Johns Island, addressing a growing need for student retention across neighborhood schools.

The St. Johns High campus was built in 2003 across roughly 24 acres of land. The facilities cover 120,581 square feet and are the stomping grounds to around 336 Mighty Islanders. It is the only high school within close reach of Johns Island families.

The remaining four facilities are Angel Oak Elementary, Edith L. Frierson Montessori, Mount Zion Elementary and Haut Gap Middle. The community is expected to welcome another elementary school on River Road in August.

Educators, parents and community members grow concerned about how to keep students on the island past primary education. Several said it is common to see older students leaving the island for academic, athletic or artistic resources in non-neighborhood schools.

Principal Jermaine Joyner intends to combat the issue by expanding its feeder network for students. The school will implement an advanced academy system and make facility changes in the next year.

Joyner said the suggestion was made possible with support from the Weighted Student Formula.

40 students have applied for the program, which was offered to families through School Choice. The opportunity was open to students zoned to attend the school and are within District 9. Students are eligible if they are considered “academically gifted students prepared for college level coursework as early as freshman year.”

Joyner also hopes to provide students with better access to tennis, football or other athletic programs. The administration plans to look at additional changes to its theater and arts resources.

The school is currently set up to allow spaces for students to explore careers in culinary and the fire department, among other special fields. Over the next few months, Joyner expects facility changes to move those access points forward.

“Grabbing those kids at the middle school and getting them connected with the school will hopefully help connect them and keep them here when they transition into high school,” Joyner said.

The advanced academy program will start in the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.

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