ABSTRACT
Names are so common, we tend to take them for granted without understanding their influence on our perceptions or purchasing habits. Onomastics, the study of names, rarely is addressed in school curricula even though students encounter names daily. Businesspeople, among other groups, are keenly aware of the importance of names. Real estate developers also know the importance of names. As Bill Bryson points out, a name change "can give property values an instant boost of up to 15 percent." There are several categories of names. Anemonyms, for example, are names of storms and winds. Hurricanes' names are chosen by the World Meteorological Organization. Names of especially destructive hurricanes, such as Katrina, Hugo, and Gloria, are never used again. Pseudonyms are false names for people or places. Pen names are pseudonyms selected by writers to hide their real identity. An eponym is a word named after a person or a figure in mythology.
