Affective and Personality Characteristics Inferred from Length of First Names

Abstract

The Name Connotation Profile was used to investigate judgments made about another based on that person's given name only. Nicknames were excluded to avoid confounding of name length with given name versus nickname effects. Longer names, because of their greater substance or "mass, n were expected to convey characteristics associated with a high social position (successful moral). Shorter names, with their ease of use and greater informality, were expected to convey approachable qualities (popular; cheerful, warm). Except for the length/warmth hypothesis, all hypotheses were supported for men. Also as hypothesized, subjects inferred greater masculinity (less femininity) for men with shorter names-a result corroborated by an additional finding showing that male names were shorter than female names. Only one of the preceding hypotheses was sup ported for women's names: shorter names connoted greater warmth.

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