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The Knicks are changing people's baby-naming habits

Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Save all of your jokes about how bad the New York Knicks are, because nothing is going to be funnier than this reality: The Knicks are so bad they're changing how Americans name their children.

Before you scoff, consider the history of male baby names in the United States. The 80s saw a rise in the name Jordan. The 90s, Shaquille. The early 2000s, Kobe. And around the time Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony hooked up as members of the Knicks in early 2011, both first names spiked in usage.

That marriage wasn't exactly successful, with the Knicks winning a single playoff series in five seasons with the duo, Stoudemire getting bought out this season and Anthony getting shut down with a knee injury.

The public has taken notice, and the names Amar'e (Amare, really) and Carmelo – as well as Isiah – are among the top-20 male names that decreased in popularity from 2013 to 2014.

But don't worry, Knicks: Langston was one of the up-and-coming names, as was Clyde, so it's not all bad for the franchise.

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