Why Kevins don't get girlfriends: Potential partners less likely to click on 'unattractive names' on dating websites
Finding love online can be tough – especially if you’re called Kevin.
Researchers say that people using dating websites are less likely to pursue a relationship with someone called Mandy, Justin, Chantal or Kevin, because the names are all associated with troublemaking.
Alexanders, Charlottes and Jacobs fare far better, they said.
Named and shamed: Harry Enfield character Kevin (left) epitomises the bad image bestowed on people of that name; not even Justin Bieber (right) has popularised his first name. Both names are associated with trouble-making
Psychologists at the Humboldt
University in Berlin reached the conclusions after testing how often
47,000 dating site members would open messages from English-sounding
suitors.
They were sent without pictures – just names, ages and postcodes.
Those from people with ‘less attractive’ first names received significantly fewer clicks.
‘Mails sent from an Alexander were clicked on 102 per cent more times than those from a Kevin,’ said the study’s leader, Jochen Gebauer.
‘Single people would seem to prefer to remain alone than meet up with someone called Kevin or Chantal.’
THE BEST AND WORST NAMES FOR ONLINE DATING
| WORST | BEST |
| Kevin | Jacob |
| Justin | Alexander |
| Marvin | Charlotte |
| Dennis | Emma |
| Mandy | Hannah |
| Celina | Max |
| Chantal | Marie |
| Jacqueline | Peter |
| Mark |
A further two studies involving around 4,000 and 6,000 people being offered a greater selection of names produced similar results.
The researchers said it was ‘likely’ that people with names that carry negative connotations would suffer more setbacks in life than those with positively regarded names, affecting their confidence and self-esteem into the bargain.
Two years ago, researchers at the University of Oldenburg conducted a study proving that teachers showed prejudice against children with 'lower class' names such as Kevin or Mandy.
-
More than 230 die in Brazilian nightclub fire as survivors...
-
Ann Curry 'not allowed to appear live on NBC' as she...
-
North Korean parents 'eat their children' after being driven...
-
Lonely and desperate, how Grace Kelly tried to escape her...
-
What do you do if your son is your daughter (or a prodigy,...
-
Sounds of silence is a hit as recording of empty 12th...
-
Wonder-chef, 14, who started cooking 'because he didn't like...
-
Woman who fears husband is poisoning her writes to Elle...
-
Their Royal Hockeynesses: Together on the sports field, Kate...
-
Fine wine, antiques and Mickey Mouse themed haute cuisine -...
-
Inside the 'moderately deluxe' �40million life on offer to...
-
Boy, 7, dies after he is BURIED ALIVE by his little brother...
People are so shallow; I don't care what a girl's name is.
- Geoff the Chef , London, 03/1/2012 16:24
Report abuse