Study shows Peaches is a plum name

Published on Tuesday 25 March 2008 09:13

CELEBRITIES who give their children names such as Princess Tiàamii or Peaches might have done them a favour.

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 6000 people about names, in a study to launch Edinburgh International Science Festival today.

James and Elizabeth are seen as the most successful, Jack and Lucy the luckiest and Sophie and Ryan the most attractive.

Lisa and Brian are the most likely to fail, Helen and John are the unluckiest and Ann and George are the least attractive.

Prof 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; the sexiest males names are short and much harder sounding.”

In the study, 6686 people were asked to rank ten male and ten female names in terms of success, attractiveness and luck.

Prof Wiseman also analysed some unusual names celebrities have given to their children.

Princess Tiamii, Jordan and Peter Andre’s daughter, should be lucky because her name has royal associations and ends with a double-E sound, Prof Wiseman said.

Peaches Geldof, second child of Bob Geldof and Paul Yates, has a soft-sounding name with positive connotations, making it attractive.

Kal-el, the son of Nicolas Cage, has a short, hard-sounding name, the original moniker of Superman, making it sexy and attractive.

The 20th Edinburgh International Science Festival runs from today until April 5.

&#149 For more information visit www.sciencefestival.co.uk or www.nameexperiment.com.