One in 10 Brits hate their name, with Gary, Carol and Tracy the least impressed by their given title.
A study found a whopping 12 percent of UK adults loathe their given name – with two in five moaning it’s too outdated and a fifth complaining it makes them sound like a commoner.
But nearly a fifth of Brits give their children ‘traditional’ names, while 14 percent pass on the name of an older family member.
Half of those polled – some 48 percent – admit forming first impressions about people based upon their name.
More than one in five wish they were named after a celebrity, while eight percent are named after a parent’s favourite pop star, sports icon or actor.
Nearly a fifth of Brits give their children ‘traditional’ names, while 14 percent pass on the name of an older family member (file image)
More than one in five wish they were named after a celebrity, including Michael Jordan , Julia Roberts and Dwayne Johnson (pictured)
Respondents to the study, carried out by Czech beer firm Budweiser Budvar, included Michael Jordan, Julia Roberts and Dwayne Johnson.
Michael, from Hertfordshire, who shares his name with the Chicago Bulls legend, said he was banned from playing basketball at a kids’ summer camp.
Bedfordshire-based Julia was named after the Pretty Woman actress because her older brothers convinced their parents, who hadn’t seen the film, to choose the name Julia as ‘a prank’.
And Dwayne, from Glasgow, who as a youngster was a fan of the wrestler-turned-Hollywood actor, says having the same name as ‘The Rock’ can be tricky for his recruitment job because candidates reckon he’s a scammer or a wind-up merchant.
Three quarters of folk surveyed would rather not be named after a famous person, with 22 percent admitting they would get sick of constantly being compared with their namesake.
Separate research found names including Barry and Gary for boys and Tracy and Cheryl for girls have fallen out of favour in recent years.
They are among monikers that have failed to make the top 100 most popular baby names since 1994, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Other male names that have become unfashionable in the past 30 years include Dale, Keith, Nigel, Clarence, Claude and Clifford.
Three quarters of folk surveyed would rather not be named after a famous person, with 22 percent admitting they would get sick of constantly being compared with their namesake (file photo)
And female titles such as Annette, Bertha, Beryl, Carol, Maureen and Phyllis have been shunned in recent decades, found an analysis of ONS figures by language learning firm Babbel.
Budweiser Budvar UK marketing chief Claire Sharpe said: ‘We are a completely independent Czech lager and we know what it’s like to live with an American namesake.’
Psychologist Dr Jane McCartney, commenting on the findings, added: ‘Sharing your name with someone in the public eye can have its frustrations, such as having to explain when someone asks you for the hundredth time that you are not actually related to the well-known person.
‘But despite its challenges, it is also a unique experience, as blending your own personal identity with a touch of celebrity recognition can be fun.
‘The recognition and attention that come from this connection can positively impact how you perceive yourself in social interactions, making you feel more significant or memorable.’
