How Name Halo's perception scores are derived and what they measure
Name Halo's perception scores are based on published psychology research by Albert Mehrabian, Professor of Psychology at UCLA. Mehrabian's work, detailed in his book The Name Game, systematically measured how names shape the first impressions we form about people before we ever meet them.
In the study, participants rated over 1,700 names across multiple perception dimensions. These weren't opinions about people they knew. Participants evaluated the names themselves, measuring the associations each name triggers in listeners. The results were remarkably consistent across raters, indicating that name perceptions are a shared cultural phenomenon, not random individual preferences.
This research was conducted with US-based participants and published in peer-reviewed academic literature. Name Halo presents these findings in an accessible format so parents, writers, and anyone curious about names can explore the data.
Each name in the dataset is scored on five core personality perception dimensions. These measure how a name sounds to others, not the actual traits of people who carry that name.
How ambitious, intelligent, and creative a name sounds. Names scoring high in Success tend to evoke impressions of professional accomplishment and intellectual capability. The highest-scoring name, James, scores 109 on this dimension.
How caring, kind, and generous a name sounds. High-Warmth names create impressions of approachability, empathy, and emotional openness. Beth leads this dimension at 113.
How trustworthy, honest, and ethical a name sounds. This dimension captures perceived integrity and moral character. Moses scores highest at 121.
How confident, athletic, and popular a name sounds. This dimension correlates with perceptions of physical vitality and social confidence. Brooke leads at 104.
How friendly, playful, and optimistic a name sounds. High-Cheerfulness names create an impression of positivity and fun. Stacy tops this dimension at 105.
In addition to the five personality dimensions, each name is scored on a Masculinity-Femininity spectrum. This measures how masculine or feminine a name sounds, independent of the gender it is typically assigned to.
A high masculinity score indicates the name sounds more traditionally masculine. A low score indicates it sounds more traditionally feminine. This dimension is tracked separately from the five personality scores and is not included in overall averages or comparisons.
Scores are presented on a 0 to 100+ scale. Due to the original research methodology, some exceptional names exceed 100 (for example, Moses scores 121 on Morality). Name Halo presents the original scores unmodified.
The average score across all 1,700+ names is approximately 50 for each dimension. About 13% of names score 70 or above (Very High) on any given dimension, making high scores relatively uncommon.
These scores reflect US-based perceptions. The research was conducted with American participants, and name associations vary significantly across cultures, languages, and regions. A name that sounds successful in the United States may carry entirely different connotations in other countries.
Scores measure perception, not reality. A high Success score means the name sounds ambitious to others. It does not predict or determine the actual intelligence, career success, or personality of someone with that name. Names create starting impressions that can be confirmed or overridden by experience.
Perceptions evolve over time. Name associations shift as culture changes. A name that sounded successful in one decade may sound dated in another. The scores represent a snapshot of perceptions at the time the research was conducted.
Individual variation exists. While the research shows strong consensus across raters, any individual may react differently to a name based on personal experience, people they have known with that name, or cultural background.
Name Halo presents Mehrabian's research data without modification. We do not adjust, normalize, or editorialize the scores. The tools available on the site include:
Ratings are provided for informational and entertainment purposes. We encourage parents and users to consider perception research as one input among many when exploring names.