Given Names: A Neglected Social Variable

Effects of social stimulus value on academic achievement and social competence: A reconsideration of children's first-name characteristics.

“…However, in the Busse and Seraydarian studies, ethnicity was defined by nationality (e.g., German, Irish, Italian) rather than by minority-group status, except for an Afro-American group, which was identified by unspecified "physical characteristics" obtained from an unspecified data source. Thus, although the hypothesized negative impact of having an unusual or undesirable first name has been accepted as common wisdom by many teachers, parents, and researchers (e.g., Albott & Bruning, 1970;Carlson, 1981;Garwood, 1976;Lobsenz, 1982;Marcus, 1976), the more appropriate conclusion is that one simply cannot make accurate predictions about academic or social competence (or at least those aspects of competence addressed here) on the basis of an individual's first name.…”

Psychological impact of women's name change at marriage: Literature review and implications for further study

“…Some limited research suggests that names are significant to people and may indeed have an emotional and behavioral influence on them (Albott & Bruning, 1970). ( I9 1 3-19 14) discussed the regard that primitive peoples, children and civilized adults have for their names.…”

“…Albott and Bruning ( 1970) comprehensively reviewed research on the assignment of given names and the impact of particular given names on the bearers. Lawson (1971Lawson ( , 1973Lawson ( , 1974 and Bruning and Liebert (1973) studied first-name stereotypes.…”

The psychopathology of everyday names

“…By contrast alveolar, sibilant, multi-syllabic, long vowelled names are associated with softness and timidity (Bruning & Husa, 1972). For a review of the literature on the impact of the given name on its bearer see Albott & Bruning (1970).…”