Baby Names by First Letter: Which Initials Score Highest in Research

When parents brainstorm baby names, they often start with an initial: names starting with A, names starting with J. But does the first letter actually matter for perception? The Mehrabian dataset on 1,700+ names makes it possible to check.

The Method

For this analysis, names in the dataset were grouped by their first letter. Average scores were calculated for each letter group across all five dimensions. Letters with fewer than 15 names in the dataset were excluded to avoid small-sample distortion.

The Highest-Scoring Initial Letters

J names are the strongest performers overall. Names starting with J average higher on total combined scores than any other letter. The J names include some of the best individual performers in the dataset: James (427 total), Julie (424 total), Jenny (379 total), Julia (350 total), Joel (357 total), and Joseph.

K names are the strongest for girls. Female names starting with K dominate the upper tier: Katherine, Kimberly, Kathleen, Karen, and Kathy all appear in the top-scoring female names. The K consonant carries a decisive quality (Success) alongside an approachable energy (Warmth) that is rare to combine.

R names lead in Success. Names starting with R cluster high on the Success dimension: Robert (91), Drew (92 but starts with D), and names like Roger, Ralph, Raymond, and Richard all project authority.

S names are the most balanced. Steven (417 total), Samantha, Sharon, Susan, and Sarah provide strong coverage across all five dimensions without extreme peaks or valleys.

Letters Associated with Warmth

B and H names tend to index high on Warmth. The B cluster includes Beth (Warmth 113, the highest in the dataset), Beverly, and Bonnie. The H cluster includes Holly (Warmth 98, Cheerfulness 101), Hope (Warmth 107), and Hans (balanced across all five).

What This Means for Naming

The initial letter pattern is a secondary consideration, not a primary one. Individual name scores vary enormously within any letter group. A J name can score 150 or 424 depending on the specific name.

That said, the pattern is useful as a starting point. If you are drawn to names starting with J or K, you are beginning in the highest-probability zones for strong perception scores.

Beyond the Initial

The full phonetic pattern matters far more than the first letter alone. For a deeper understanding of what makes names score the way they do, read the research methodology. To search names by any dimension, use the statistics pages.

Search any name on Name Halo to see its complete five-dimension profile, or compare two names starting with different letters to see the difference directly.