Does a person's name influence at all their personality and eventually who they will become in the future?

Answer 1

You can predict certain characteristics of people born in, say, a 5-year time period, from their name.

There are definite patterns in naming children. There are racial patterns, and patterns which stem from education and socioeconomic status.

The names which rich and well-educated people tended to give their children 10 years ago will become the trendy names for less wealthy/less educated people in the present.

And within racial communities, the wealthier and better-educated will tend to (though not always!) give their children more mainstream names.

Meanwhile less intelligent people will tend to give their children bizarre or misspelled names.

Names will hint at who your parents are. And who your parents are will most significantly predict what genes you have (nature) and what environment you're brought up in (nurture).

There's a whole chapter on this in the book Freakonomics, with some fascinating anecdotes (including the stories of kids named Winner, Loser, and OrangeJello). I highly recommend it.

Answer 2

I believe that it is the other way around. A persons name influences the other people around them. When I say the names, Myron, Egbert, Eugene what do you think? Nerds? Geeks? Pencil necks? These guy's never had a chance! Before you even met them you already had your mind made as to what and who these people were. This being the case, molds the person to the implied character. If the person is treated like a geek, he will be a geek.

Answer 3

I don't think the name has anything to do with your personality or what you become. What I do know is that some parents name their children as a joke sometimes and the children pay the price. I think this is mean. For example, I know a man named Joe Blow. He catches it from all sides. Also, Dick Head. It's really a cruel joke on their children. I always wanted to name a daughter Candy. But the middle name was going to be Layne, so I didn't do it.

Answer 4

It does to a certain extent. You can't imagine an executive named Billy Ray, can you? How about a banker named Rob Banks?

When choosing a name, there's two tests you should take. The first is the back door test. Go to your back door and yell the full name three times. If you still like it, it might be good.

The second test involves your child's future. Write the name on stationery. Try variations of the first name with middle and last name, first name with middle initial and last name, etc. Try to picture how your child might sign their adult name.

Having a good professional name can aid your child in his or her career. Can you imagine a guy named Marion Morrison succeeding as an actor? Neither could he so he changed it to John Wayne.

Answer 5

I definitely think it has some effect. For example, someone named Willow Rain Moonbeam would probably have a hard time being respected as a scientist if they chose to be one. Likewise, someone named Melvin Eugene Punymeyer would probably be "expected" to work in math or science and would probably face some difficulty if they chose to be a free-spirited artsy type. Also, I think it's possible that parents choose names with these kinds of things in mind, so someone who names their child Moonbeam would probably have hopes that the child would become an artist or something of the sort, and they would probably try to influence the child in that direction.

Answer 6

There is not way to know for sure, but somehow there does seem to be a name-destiny connection... I guess I believe it. But I also think that all things are in a kind of delicate balance, so if you are worried about your name not providing the destiny you want, I would advise you to trust in the synchronistic web of influences and accidents that make up the universe. Things are ultimately the way they are for good reason, and you can trust the name and life that has been given to you -- that's what I believe!

Answer 7

No, I don't think a person's name will effect their personality. I read a poem about this last year and the author said how they were going to miss all the marthas and ednas who were known for working hard, I think it matters all on the environment you grow up in, not what you name is. Our names do not describe who we are.

Answer 8

Well, obviously it would to some extent, just through the butterfly effect. But if you're talking about some kind of mystical connection between name and personality, then I highly doubt any strong connection exists; any correlations would be due to factors that are already understood.

Answer 9

i think it is possible if you want to and how intelligent you are. for example, let's assume my real name is smug_guy and if i am being tempted to commit an offence, i will say, "no way, because my name is smug_guy".

see, how wonderful it works. in this way, a person's personality and their future can be influence by their name.

Answer 10

It certainly does! That is one reason why I cannot understand people who saddle their kids with potentially embarrassing names. I grew up not liking my name because it was so unusual. Needless to say, I've never realized my true potential. Most kids, as they get older, don't want to stick out like a sore thumb. If I could have done it, I would have changed my name to something like "Mary."