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| William and Kate: whatever you do, don't call him Kevin | William and Kate: whatever you do, don't call him Kevin |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| "What's in a name?" Shakespeare has Juliet ask in Act II, Scene II of Romeo and Juliet. "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet," she says – arguing that a name is merely a label, and a label does not change the essence of a thing. | "What's in a name?" Shakespeare has Juliet ask in Act II, Scene II of Romeo and Juliet. "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet," she says – arguing that a name is merely a label, and a label does not change the essence of a thing. |
| It's a lovely sentiment, but modern psychological science comes to a different conclusion. | It's a lovely sentiment, but modern psychological science comes to a different conclusion. |
| For many in the UK, and indeed around the world, one name that matters a great deal is that of William and Kate's newborn baby. On Monday afternoon, the Associated Press reported that the betting agency Ladbrokes had taken 50,000 bets as the Duchess of Cambridge went into labour. Favourite names were Alexandra for a girl – no longer relevant – and James or George for a boy. | For many in the UK, and indeed around the world, one name that matters a great deal is that of William and Kate's newborn baby. On Monday afternoon, the Associated Press reported that the betting agency Ladbrokes had taken 50,000 bets as the Duchess of Cambridge went into labour. Favourite names were Alexandra for a girl – no longer relevant – and James or George for a boy. |
| Of course, nobody cares about a name more than the child who must live with it for the rest of their life. As children grow up, they are influenced by their names both directly and indirectly. Names have the potential to affect personality, dating habits, self-esteem, and even the likelihood of developing a smoking habit. | Of course, nobody cares about a name more than the child who must live with it for the rest of their life. As children grow up, they are influenced by their names both directly and indirectly. Names have the potential to affect personality, dating habits, self-esteem, and even the likelihood of developing a smoking habit. |
| A study conducted by researchers in Germany and North Carolina found that people whose names are perceived positively are more likely to enjoy positive social interactions, while people with negative names are more likely to suffer social rejection. In Germany, for example, the names "Kevin" and "Chantal" are generally thought of negatively. | A study conducted by researchers in Germany and North Carolina found that people whose names are perceived positively are more likely to enjoy positive social interactions, while people with negative names are more likely to suffer social rejection. In Germany, for example, the names "Kevin" and "Chantal" are generally thought of negatively. |
| The scientists argued in a 2012 paper published in Social Psychological and Personality Science that "initial impressions build a strong basis for processing subsequent information about the person." And a person's name is among the first bits of information we receive when we meet someone new. | The scientists argued in a 2012 paper published in Social Psychological and Personality Science that "initial impressions build a strong basis for processing subsequent information about the person." And a person's name is among the first bits of information we receive when we meet someone new. |
| Previous studies had suggested that social rejection leads to lower self-esteem, increased likelihood of taking up smoking, and lower levels of educational attainment. If negatively perceived names contribute to social rejection, than people with negative names should have lower self esteem, be more likely to smoke, and not as educationally advanced as their positively named peers. | Previous studies had suggested that social rejection leads to lower self-esteem, increased likelihood of taking up smoking, and lower levels of educational attainment. If negatively perceived names contribute to social rejection, than people with negative names should have lower self esteem, be more likely to smoke, and not as educationally advanced as their positively named peers. |
| The researchers looked at tens of thousands of online dating profiles that were created by users with "extremely" or only "somewhat" positive or negative names. As the researchers had hypothesised, those with the more positively ranked names received more interactions on the dating site, while those with negative names received fewer interactions. In other words, online daters with names that were thought of as negative were more likely to be rejected. Favoured names understandably vary according to location and year. However, in this particular study male users with the most positive name in the group ("Alexander") received 102% more visits to their dating site profiles than users with the most negative name ("Kevin"). | The researchers looked at tens of thousands of online dating profiles that were created by users with "extremely" or only "somewhat" positive or negative names. As the researchers had hypothesised, those with the more positively ranked names received more interactions on the dating site, while those with negative names received fewer interactions. In other words, online daters with names that were thought of as negative were more likely to be rejected. Favoured names understandably vary according to location and year. However, in this particular study male users with the most positive name in the group ("Alexander") received 102% more visits to their dating site profiles than users with the most negative name ("Kevin"). |
| Also in line with the researchers' predictions, those with negative names were more likely to have lower self-esteem, to have less education, and regularly smoke. "German-speaking singles apparently prefer to remain single (and continue paying for online dating)" than to consider starting a romance with men named Kevin, the researchers say. | |
| Thanks to his royal upbringing, no matter what name Kate and William's baby is given, it is sure to become popular, even if it isn't already. | Thanks to his royal upbringing, no matter what name Kate and William's baby is given, it is sure to become popular, even if it isn't already. |
| "People's fates are simplified by their names," wrote Bulgarian novelist, playwright, and Nobel Prize winner Elia Canetti. He was right. A rose called by any other name may very well smell as sweet, as Juliet would have it, but this research suggests that nobody would pick the flower to find out. | "People's fates are simplified by their names," wrote Bulgarian novelist, playwright, and Nobel Prize winner Elia Canetti. He was right. A rose called by any other name may very well smell as sweet, as Juliet would have it, but this research suggests that nobody would pick the flower to find out. |
| So how likely are those who have put money on James and George being the new baby's name to win their bets? | So how likely are those who have put money on James and George being the new baby's name to win their bets? |
| Another study, published in the journal Psychological Science in 2011, found that American babies who were born in older parts of the country, such as New England, were more likely to be given popular names. Parents in regions that were once part of the American frontier, such as the Pacific Northwest or the Rocky Mountains, were somewhat less likely to have popular names. | Another study, published in the journal Psychological Science in 2011, found that American babies who were born in older parts of the country, such as New England, were more likely to be given popular names. Parents in regions that were once part of the American frontier, such as the Pacific Northwest or the Rocky Mountains, were somewhat less likely to have popular names. |
| In fact, there was a statistical correlation between the year a state was admitted to the Union and the percentage of infants in that state who had the most popular boys' and girls' names for the year in which they were born. Similar patterns have been seen when comparing baby names among older and newer Canadian provinces and when comparing European nations with countries originally founded by European immigrants, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the USA. | In fact, there was a statistical correlation between the year a state was admitted to the Union and the percentage of infants in that state who had the most popular boys' and girls' names for the year in which they were born. Similar patterns have been seen when comparing baby names among older and newer Canadian provinces and when comparing European nations with countries originally founded by European immigrants, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the USA. |
| The researchers argued that the driving force behind this trend is that people who live in more recently settled regions, compared with those who live in older areas, are more likely to behave in accordance with individualistic values. Such behaviours include not only naming practices but also the likelihood to live alone after age 65 rather than living in a retirement home, to be self-employed, and to become divorced. | The researchers argued that the driving force behind this trend is that people who live in more recently settled regions, compared with those who live in older areas, are more likely to behave in accordance with individualistic values. Such behaviours include not only naming practices but also the likelihood to live alone after age 65 rather than living in a retirement home, to be self-employed, and to become divorced. |
| So the name chosen by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge may be more telling of their own personality traits than those that will eventually emerge in their son. Naturally, the royal family is about as far from being "frontier" as a family can be. This research would suggest, then, that William and Kate will choose a relatively common, popular name – a good thing for those who bet on names like "James" or "George". | So the name chosen by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge may be more telling of their own personality traits than those that will eventually emerge in their son. Naturally, the royal family is about as far from being "frontier" as a family can be. This research would suggest, then, that William and Kate will choose a relatively common, popular name – a good thing for those who bet on names like "James" or "George". |
| Jason Goldman studies behaviour and cognition in humans and animals, and writes The Thoughtful Animal blog for Scientific American. On Twitter he is @jgold85 | Jason Goldman studies behaviour and cognition in humans and animals, and writes The Thoughtful Animal blog for Scientific American. On Twitter he is @jgold85 |