ZOE

RESULTS: The Right Baby Name uses the term "Uniqueness" to describe the combination of ratings for "Memorability", "Frequency", "Cyclicality", and "Fad". Ranked by these factors, this name scores in the bottom 50%, but near the middle of the pack. Around 50% of all names currently in use are more unique than this name.

DEFINITION: Uniqueness quantifies how special a name is. The more unique a name is, the more it will stand apart from others, often leading children to garner more recognition, as well as over-achieve in areas of academics, sports and arts.

RECOMMENDATION: Depending on the setting, this name may not be unique enough to set your child apart from the crowd; on the flip side, this name will be easy to recognize for most people. In considering the uniqueness of a name, this one is a sound choice.

RESULTS: This name scores in the bottom 40% of all names in terms of memorability--some people will have a hard time remembering it.

DEFINITION: Memorability refers to the "perceived" frequency of any given name. A name that is memorable is one that works well with the wiring of our brains, is easier for us to remember, and appears to be more frequent than it actually is. "Memorability" is not directly linked to actual frequency: that is, we perceive some names to be more more common than they actually are. Thus, perceived frequency reflects what we think the actual frequency is.

RECOMMENDATION: The factors that determine memorability are complex. Based on the most recent scientific research, this name will be hard for most people to remember . If this name’s actual frequency is also low, people who interact with your child on an occasional basis may tend to forget his or her name, potentially limiting opportunities for social interactions. You may want to reconsider this choice in favor of a name that is easier for people to remember.

RESULTS: This name is given quite frequently. It is in the top 40% of names most frequently given, making this name relatively common.

DEFINITION: Frequency is how often any particular name is given. This is the most common feature of baby name materials, almost all of which provide a list of "The Most Popular Baby Names"; any name that tops these lists is by defintion not very unique. Having a unique name increases the likelihood that your child will stand apart from the crowd, leading to better recognition in academics and in his or her career, which can in turn prompt your child to achieve at higher standards.

RECOMMENDATION: This name is relatively popular. Consequently, your child may share this name with another child in his or her class at school. You may want to reconsider this choice in favor of a more unique name.

RESULTS: The popularity of this name is very cyclical. It scores in the bottom 20% in terms of cyclical stability, which means that 80% of all the names currently in use exhibit lower cyclicality than this name.

DEFINITION: The frequency of a name, or how often a name is given, rarely stays constant over time. More often than not, names go in and out of fashion. This frequency follows a clear pattern: first, the higher socioeconomic classes discover a rare and unusual name; then the middle to lower classes adopt the name, making the name extremely popular; and finally the name drops out of favor because everyone is using it. Over time, this name will once again become rare and unusual, at which point the cycle of popularity begins anew. If a name has high cyclicality, going in and out of fashion frequently, you run the risk of dating your child to the time period in which he or she is born. Therefore, a name with a relatively stable level of popularity is generally a safer bet than a name that is highly cyclical.

RECOMMENDATION: This name exhibits very high cyclicality, fluctuating frequently and dramatically in terms of popularity. For that reason, it is not timeless, and may lead to your child feeling dated. You may want to reconsider this choice in favor of a more stable name with a history of greater stability.

RESULTS: This name is definitely not a fad; in fact, it is less of a fad than 90% of all names currently in use.

DEFINITION: A fad occurs when something passes in and out of fashion suddenly. Name fads happen quite often. They are easy to recognize by a sudden spike in popularity, followed by an equally sudden downfall in popularity. The result is a name that will not only be shared with many people of a particular age group, but one that will leave that individual feeling dated.

RECOMMENDATION: This name shows no potential of becoming a fad. Choosing this name for your child will probably avoid the negative aspects associated with fad names.

RESULTS: This name does not score very well relative to other names in terms of goodwill. Around 60% of all names currently in use impart a greater sense of goodwill than this name.

DEFINITION: Goodwill is based on the unconscious reaction people have to a given name. This factor gives you an idea of how the general public may perceive your child based on his or her name alone. The Right Baby Name uses the term "GoodWill" to describe the combination of ratings for "Class", "Income", "Education." Therefore, people who come into contact with your child may automatically feel that your child will be successful academically and professionally based solely on the goodwill they associate with his or her name.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Based on scientific research of common cultural experiences, a majority of people will not have a strong positive reaction to this name. This does not mean that the name will impart "badwill", only that most other names impart a greater sense of goodwill. Therefore, if goodwill is an important factor for you in choosing a name for your child, you may want to reconsider this name choice.

RESULTS: This name implies a middle class status, scoring in the middle of the pack in terms of class. In other words, 50% of all names currently in use imply a higher class than this name.

DEFINITION: This measure of "class" is based upon the concept of social hierarchy. Different societies use different "status symbols" to indicate class. Like physical symbols such as cars or clothing, names can be an indicator of social status or class. Over time, we unconsciously connect a concept of higher social status with names that appear frequently among the upper classes. When it comes to choosing a name for a baby, most people try to "name up". Scientific studies have shown that people with names that are associated with a higher class often receive preferential treatment, with the result that they are presented with better opportunities and experience greater success in life.

RECOMMENDATION: While this name tends to be associated with a middle class status, your child will not enjoy the benefits of sharing his or her name with the more affluent people within our society. Therefore, class implication is important to you, you may wish to reconsider this choice in favor of a name that is used more often with the more affluent and, in turn, reflect a higher class.