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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.

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Desirability of First Names,Ethnicity and Parental Education

Abstract

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References