‘WE’RE PERCEIVED DIFFERENTLY’

SJ Strum is a unique baby-name consultant and runs the Baby Name Envy podcast with her sister Naomi.

She says: ‘Our names often determine our future thanks to something called nominative determinism, the idea that people gravitate to certain careers that fit their name – such as a plumber with the surname Flood, a florist with the name Rose, or a writer with the surname Page.

How our names are perceived by others can also affect us, [with] regal names like Henry or George alluding to power and evoking respect, and Maisie giving a happy-go-lucky impression.

Classic names like Olivia and Noah are timeless and usually have biblical or royal roots.

Then again, there are always parents who actively want to avoid those traditional names and go for something a bit different, like Bear or Peregrine.

Unique or unusual names are becoming increasingly popular, with thousands of brand-new, never-used-before names being registered each year. And while some parents might worry about bullying, children now tend to be more accepting, with more emphasis on individuality being taught.’