Amid Royal Baby Name Wait, Asking if Names Affect Life

Psychologists probe the fascinating ways our names impact us.

The new prince's father, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, was named William Arthur Philip Louis at birth. His father, Charles, Prince of Wales, was called Charles Philip Arthur George by his royal parents.

That's a pattern that bestowed four "first" names and no "last" or surname. Each of those first names was chosen to honor past monarchs and royal relatives in a long line of the House of Windsor.

For commoners, however, there is a great deal more flexibility when it comes to names.

Some parents choose to name their offspring after their interests, such as ESPN (pronounced Espen) or Jed I. Knight. (Note: These are both real names.)

Psychologists have also noticed that some people take up professions that seem somewhat

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