What’s In A Name?
Trying to think of ideas for a name? If you’re looking to name your child or your business, know that a name can have some interesting psychological effects.
Researchers conducted a study which reports that MBA students with names that start with A or B tend make better grades than those with names that start with C or D. What’s more, someone with a “C” name won’t mind making a C grade as much as someone with an “A” name. Does this tell us something about a name, or is this just plain coincidence? It’s definitely possible that there is an unconscious attraction towards letters that we have in our own name, especially the first name. My name is Landon, and I still get a strange sense of pride whenever there is an L in a Wheel of Fortune puzzle. What does that say about me?
There is also some psychological happenings with business names. In this case, it’s the sound that makes the difference? An interesting article made by the company Namebase says that an “e” or “i” sound has a weaker connotation than an “o” or “a” sound. There are also sounds that sound “light” and “dark”. In addition, certain plosive sounds (such as “P”, “T”, or “K”) makes for a more noticeable noise since the letters causes air pressure to build up and forcefully pronounce the sound.
So the next time you hear a name, think about what it makes you think of. Is it a strong name, or weak? Does it sound like something full of darkness, or full of light? Is it a name that you are personally attracted to, or not? Whatever a name makes you feel, it appears obvious that there is a lot in a name.
