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Help[Opinions] Re: What caused Duane to be considered a redneck name?
in reply to a message by Wish Fish
Well, first off, hardly anyone in real life is actually ever named Cletus. It got used by authors and such for stereotypical redneck characters, the one on the Simpsons is not the only one.
I didn't know Becky was ever considered a redneck name, it's just too common across the board. In fact, in Isaac Asimov's humor books, he uses Jake and Becky as stereotypical Jewish names in his jokes.
I think in general you can attribute those names' vibes to pop culture of older generations. Tammy is very popular in general from the 1950s to the 1970s, but in the late fifties there was a series of movies with Doris Day playing a corny southern character named Tammy. And then along came the country singer Tammy Wynette.
Not sure offhand where Duane started being thought of as a redneck name. Maybe Duane Allman, the southern-rock/blues musician?
Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you criticize him, you're a mile away and you have his shoes!
Steve Martin
I didn't know Becky was ever considered a redneck name, it's just too common across the board. In fact, in Isaac Asimov's humor books, he uses Jake and Becky as stereotypical Jewish names in his jokes.
I think in general you can attribute those names' vibes to pop culture of older generations. Tammy is very popular in general from the 1950s to the 1970s, but in the late fifties there was a series of movies with Doris Day playing a corny southern character named Tammy. And then along came the country singer Tammy Wynette.
Not sure offhand where Duane started being thought of as a redneck name. Maybe Duane Allman, the southern-rock/blues musician?
Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you criticize him, you're a mile away and you have his shoes!
Steve Martin
Replies
About Tammy -- yes, that series of films are what popularized the name but Doris Day was not in them! The first one starred Debbie Reynolds, then there were two starring Sandra Dee, and the last one starred Debbie Watson. Tammy Wynette was born Virginia Wynette Pugh and record producer Billy Sherrill renamed her as Tammy Wynette specifically in reference to the first "Tammy" film.
As for Duane -- it's one of several male names which started out being given by fairly well-educated families in the Northern USA in the early 19th century but which then spread into primarily rural and more Southern areas and got a "hick" image. Duane originally became a common given name in New York state because of James Duane, who was first mayor of New York City (1784-1789) and after that a federal judge. Of course the "redneck" status of Duane and Dwayne was a stereotype way before "The Rock" became famous.
As for Duane -- it's one of several male names which started out being given by fairly well-educated families in the Northern USA in the early 19th century but which then spread into primarily rural and more Southern areas and got a "hick" image. Duane originally became a common given name in New York state because of James Duane, who was first mayor of New York City (1784-1789) and after that a federal judge. Of course the "redneck" status of Duane and Dwayne was a stereotype way before "The Rock" became famous.