Image:Three initial monograms - mariafresa.net
Baby middle names, according to whattoexpect.com, carry more significance than you may think.
Middle names are often an afterthought when it comes to naming your baby. But according to a new study, published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, parents could put their little one on the path to success if they choose to give her a middle initial(s).
"The display of middle initials increases the perceived social status of...people, and positively biases inferences about their intellectual capacity and performance," said psychologists Wijnand A.P Van Tilburg, of the University of Southampton and Eric R. Igou, of the University of Limerick. Am I the only one who finds it funny that one of the authors has multiple middle name initials?!
Van Tilburg and Igou conducted seven tests in an effort to understand how middle initials play into the perception of a person. The most interesting test, in my view, involved presenting participants with three articles, one written by David Clark, the second by David F. Clark, and the third by David F. P. R. Clark. Even though the content of the articles was the same, participants decided that David F. P. R. Clark was the best writer.
The authors of the study believe that middle initials are looked upon favorably due to doctors, lawyers and other 'high status' professionals often using them.
Meanwhile, I've always considered multiple middle names to be a bit excessive. Who wants an overly long name? I mean, when I meet a teeny, tiny baby with a name like John Marshall Steven Smith, I think the name feels out of proportion with the little guy. But maybe I should reconsider, given this study's findings.
Giving your baby more than one middle name is a trend we may see take off over the coming years. In fact, perhaps actress Uma Thurman was on to something when she named her daughter Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence Thurman-Busson. Maybe one day Rosalind A. A. A. F. Thurman-Busson will do something really, really impressive, or at least we may perceive it to be impressive...as long as she displays all of her initials.
You may find this study to be irritating, especially for those of us who don't have one more more middle initial in our name, but regardless of this research, choosing your baby's middle name (or even deciding to give her one!) is a personal decision on you and your partner can make.
Baby middle names, according to whattoexpect.com, carry more significance than you may think.
Middle names are often an afterthought when it comes to naming your baby. But according to a new study, published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, parents could put their little one on the path to success if they choose to give her a middle initial(s).
"The display of middle initials increases the perceived social status of...people, and positively biases inferences about their intellectual capacity and performance," said psychologists Wijnand A.P Van Tilburg, of the University of Southampton and Eric R. Igou, of the University of Limerick. Am I the only one who finds it funny that one of the authors has multiple middle name initials?!
Van Tilburg and Igou conducted seven tests in an effort to understand how middle initials play into the perception of a person. The most interesting test, in my view, involved presenting participants with three articles, one written by David Clark, the second by David F. Clark, and the third by David F. P. R. Clark. Even though the content of the articles was the same, participants decided that David F. P. R. Clark was the best writer.
The authors of the study believe that middle initials are looked upon favorably due to doctors, lawyers and other 'high status' professionals often using them.
Meanwhile, I've always considered multiple middle names to be a bit excessive. Who wants an overly long name? I mean, when I meet a teeny, tiny baby with a name like John Marshall Steven Smith, I think the name feels out of proportion with the little guy. But maybe I should reconsider, given this study's findings.
Giving your baby more than one middle name is a trend we may see take off over the coming years. In fact, perhaps actress Uma Thurman was on to something when she named her daughter Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence Thurman-Busson. Maybe one day Rosalind A. A. A. F. Thurman-Busson will do something really, really impressive, or at least we may perceive it to be impressive...as long as she displays all of her initials.
You may find this study to be irritating, especially for those of us who don't have one more more middle initial in our name, but regardless of this research, choosing your baby's middle name (or even deciding to give her one!) is a personal decision on you and your partner can make.