Desirability of First Names, Ethnicity and Parental Education

Abstract

The relationships between desirability of first names and both parental education and parental ethnicity were studied. Parental education and ethnicity data were collected from about 1700 children in Grades 2 through 6. Desirability of first names was rated by a somewhat larger sample which also included students in Grades 8 and 11. Both mothers' and fathers' educational levels were unrelated to desirability of children's first names. The first names of Afro-American boys were liked significantly less than names of boys from 7 other ethnic groupings. First names of Afro-American girls were liked significantly less than names of children from 2 of 7 other ethnic groupings. No other differences were found. Findings suggest that ethnic group membership should be taken into account in studies of effects of first names on personal characteristics.