It's all in a name - Celeb children with strange names 'luckier in life'
http://www.thelondonpaper.com/cs/Satellite/london/news/article/1157151106198?packedargs=aid%3D1157151106198%26suffix%3DArticleController
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Celebrities who call their children strange names such as Princess Tiaamii or Peaches might have actually done them a favour, according to a new study.
Certain sounds in a name or links with royalty can make people seem more successful, lucky or attractive, according to psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman.
His team polled more than 6,000 people to determine their perception of certain names, as part of a study to launch Edinburgh International Science Festival today.
People called James and Elizabeth are seen as the most successful, Jack and Lucy the luckiest and Sophie and Ryan the most attractive.
But Lisa and Brian are the most likely to fail, Helen and John are the unluckiest and Ann and George are the least attractive.
Mr Wiseman said: "Traditional names with royal associations are viewed as highly successful and intelligent.
"Attractive female names tended to be soft-sounding and end with the 'ee' sound, whereas the sexiest males names are short and much harder sounding."
During the study, 6,686 people were given a list of 10 male and 10 female names and asked to rank them in terms of success, attractiveness and luck.
Mr Wiseman also analysed some unusual names celebrities have given to their children.
Princess Tiaamii, Jordan and Peter Andre's daughter, should have a lucky life because her name has royal associations and ends with a double 'e' sound, according to Mr Wiseman.
Peaches Geldof, Bob Geldof and Paul Yates' second child, has a soft sounding name with positive connotations which make it attractive.
Kal-el, the son of Nicolas Cage, has a short, hard-sounding name which is also the original moniker of Superman, making it sexy and attractive.
