The Psychology of Names: An Empirical Reexamination1

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Four studies were conducted to examine how a first name might impact the way a person is perceived when varying amounts of information about the person are available. In Study 1, first names that are used more often today than in the past (young‐generation names) were preferred to first names that have never been used often (not‐common names), which in turn were liked more than first names that were used more often in the past than they are today (old‐generation names). In Study 2, these names were evaluated in the context of résumés and personal ads. Old‐generation names received the least favorable reactions, but inconsistencies were obtained between the other two classifications of names. Study 3 suggested that the results of the first 2 studies cannot be attributed to the use of a college‐age sample. Study 4 demonstrated that people tend to infer a variety of characteristics from these three classifications of names. Results are discussed with respect to first‐impression formation and ageism.