Final Letter Compared with Final Phoneme in Male and Female Names

Abstract

First names of male and female residents in the United States in 1950 and 1990 were divided into three categories: the 100 most frequent names in 1950 and also in 1990, in 1950 only, and in 1990 only. The final letter more often than the final phoneme was associated with the same sex. The finalleUer was associated with the same sex more often for male than female names and therefore was more often predominantly male. Names that were the 100 most frequent in 1990 only had a final phoneme that was associated with the same sex more often for female than male names and therefore were more often predominantly female.