Ya it's crazy how syntax can impact popularity like that. ReasonML is the same compiler, sample semantics, just a different coat of paint and it's already gaining more popularity than OCaml in the same timespan.
Have to consider the context though, I’d point to it being a front end NPM compatible language from the same FAANG that React is from (vs a language from French academics that’s used in less popular domains) before curly braces.
Elm uses a more traditional ML syntax and AFAIK is more popular than Reason, though that’s complicated by it not using React and both of them being dwarfed by Typescript.
Elm uses a more traditional ML syntax and AFAIK is more popular than Reason, though that’s complicated by it not using React and both of them being dwarfed by Typescript.