When parents-to-be consider naming their child, various factors may come into play: honoring a family tradition, choosing a name with special meaning, starting with a particular letter, opting for originality, or picking something classic. But, above all, they are looking for a beautiful name.
Although beauty is subjective, science can guide us to names that appeal to the most significant number of people. Professor Bodo Winter, a specialist in cognitive linguistics at the University of Birmingham, conducted a study for the British brand My 1st Years to determine the most beautiful-sounding names.
The research analyzed linguistic and phonetic factors to pinpoint the most pleasant-sounding names to the human ear.
© Laurence MonneretWhat is the most beautiful name in the world?
While Professor Winter's study focused primarily on English names, the top-ranked names have similar versions in other languages, including Spanish.
Sophia is the top girls' name, closely corresponding to the Spanish variant Sofia. Next on the list is Zoe, which is also used in Spanish-speaking countries, and Rosie, which closely resembles Rosi, a diminutive of Rosa in Spanish.
On the other hand, Zayn leads the ranking of the boys' names category, followed by Jesse and Charlie. While Charlie has a Spanish counterpart in Carlos, the pronunciation differs greatly. Jesse, meanwhile, is often considered a feminine nickname for Jessica in Spanish-speaking regions.
Professor Winter's research distinguishes between the most beautiful names in the United Kingdom and the United States. In the U.S., the top boy's name is Matthew, which has a direct Spanish variant, Mateo, though pronounced differently.
Other notable names in the U.S. ranking include Julian and Leo. Julian's main pronunciation difference in Spanish and English is the initial sound, as English uses a postalveolar affricate similar to "J." Despite pronunciation differences, names like Leo and Matthew remain highly popular worldwide, demonstrating that some of Professor Winter's conclusions are widely applicable.
© Guido MiethSophia continues to be incredibly popular, consistently ranking among the most chosen names for girls born in recent years. On the other hand, though historically popular, Rosie remains a classic and enduring choice.
So if parents want to pick a universally pleasant-sounding name, Professor Winter's findings suggest Sophia for girls and Zayn for boys are excellent choices.
