The Secret Universe of Names : The Dynamic Interplay of Names and Destiny

by Roy Feinson

Charisma. Power. Sex appeal. Wealth. What does the sound of your name say about you? How do these syllables affect not only your self-image but, even more importantly, the expectations that others have of you? The Secret Universe of Names explains, in fascinating detail and name-by-name example (over 10,000 names), how the sound of a name evokes basic, gut reactions, and what this means for you and yours. Why are people whose names begin with the letter J 250 per cent more likely to become millionaires than people with names beginning with the letter N? Why are I people becoming doctors at four times the rate of O people? Why do the Keiths of the business world statistically outperform the Nigels by almost 300 per cent? What mechanisms explain why the name Emma evokes stronger romantic feelings than the name Kate? Accompanying each of the more than 300 entries is a short biography of a well-known personality who exemplifies the name attributes, with a rating of their charisma, power, sex appeal, and wealth potential. The Secret Universe of Names is a book to give, to amuse and educate, to speculate about, and to keep forever.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, New Age, Psychology

512 pages, Hardcover

First published January 28, 2004

Reviews

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing book which has people scrambling to look up everyone of their loved ones' and friends' names.
I'm not about to put stock in the scientific aspect of how a name can affect your life or destiny (unless perhaps your name is Bunny or something).

The thing I found most ironic:
The description of my character based on my current name (Gloria) was not at all me. Not even close. While the description of the name given me at birth (Jacqueline) was spot on.
Figure that one out...

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is it real? Probably not to the extent this book purports. But I do think "ie" names sound sweet and friendly while others sound strong. And I bet, over time, we grow to fill in the shape of our name, that it lends itself to our identity. (Bitsy is probably not a going to be a cut throat corporate lawyer). If nothing else it was just to read, just like a horoscope.

[Grace Augustine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful resource book for authors. The names hold true to the characters!

[Kimberlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book on a discount shelf and just thumbed through it out of curiosity. It's set up sort like a book on astrology... you read your sign and that of one or two people you know and then you never read a word of the rest of it. So, I read what it had to say about my name and my family members and I thought it was surprisingly interesting.

For my friends who know me well, you can decide. Here's what it had to say about me and my name. (This is just a snippet; each name is a full-page description.)

KMBL - Thoughtful, strong-minded, talented, closed, pushy, two-faced. Complex names are a sign of complicated personalities, particularly true when you consider that [they] have the option of the more accessible Kim or Kimber...; suggesting they consider themselves worthy of a more complex name. (LOL! My family/close friends know me as Kim, but I introduce myself to new people as Kimberlie.)

K initializes these names with a forcefully masculine presence but is in direct opposition to the maternal letter M: the symbol of all things merciful, mild, and matronly. A second set of competing influences comes into play with the belligerent, brave, and the bullying letter B's connection with the languid, lazy, life-loving letter L. These two sets of contrasting forces hint at the dichotomy that is the KMBL, and explains why she's able to exhibit a wide range of emotional states; ranging from light-on-her-feet ingenue to a woman of pig-iron grit.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My friend & I sat in a book store to kill time and flipped through this book. We read our names & our husbands. It was right on. Then we read our parents and siblings, right on. So for $5 we bought the book for entertainment. Over the years I have flipped through it at read into the names of friends and have been amazed at how accurate it is. In fact, of the dozens of names I've read only once have I read into a name that was no where near the personality of a certain friend. When we named our children we ran our favorites through this. While we didn't choose names based off the profile, we did toss a couple because we didn't like the profile.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great silly fun - (although I think the book takes itself seriously) - you look up your name and see what it means for you - sort of like astrology via name. Everyone I know grabbed this out of my hand and looked themselves up first, then their husbands and boyfriends, then their family and so on.

[Dayna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so I didn't read this straight through. I read the beginning and then the entry for myself and some of those for my favorite people...I think it is entertaining at least. The facts about names/naming trends were a lot more interesting than the individual entries, which just as other reviewers have said, are a little like reading horoscopes.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't actually believe that names can be generalized, boiled down into personality traits, or that they decide your "destiny." With all that said, this book was interesting to sift through.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

fascinating. It was kind of like reading horoscopes, but it was so unique and fun. I love the premise of it, and it's definitely one I'll read again.

[Matty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating descriptions of names and accounts for each letter. One name/page with wealth of very interesting info.

Very interesting information about the alpha-bet.

[SmarterLilac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe not as good as The Art of Baby Nameology, but still entertaining. I wish the author had said more about his research methods.

[Gaile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and fun read about names.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite reference books!