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Press release
IT’S ALL IN THE NAME!
09 June 2005
LUCKIEST NAMES IN UK REVEAL BOYS ON TOP
Getting ahead in the luck stakes these days could all be down to having the right name. And after two consecutive years at the top, the girls’ luck has finally run out as Matthew replaces Hannah to take the title of the luckiest name in the UK, according to researchı on Premium Bond winners by National Savings and Investments (NS&I).
|
UK’s top ten luckiest names (previous year’s position in brackets) |
|
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
|
Ranking |
Name |
Ranking |
Name |
Ranking |
Name |
|
1 (53) |
Matthew |
1 |
Hannah |
1 |
Rebecca |
|
2 (new entry) |
Adam |
2 |
Philippa |
2 |
Lucy |
|
3 (18) |
Daniel |
3 |
Benjamin |
3 |
Hannah |
|
4 (63) |
Claire |
4 |
Oliver |
4 |
Fiona |
|
5 (160) |
Caroline |
5 |
Lee |
5 |
Emma |
|
6 (6) |
Victoria |
6 |
Victoria |
6 |
Lisa |
|
7 (33) |
Rachel |
7 |
Kathryn |
7 |
Gladys |
|
8 (25) |
Julie |
8 |
Darren |
8 |
Matthew |
|
9 (47) |
Emma |
9 |
Grace |
9 |
Anita |
|
10 (23) |
Anna |
10 |
Ellen |
10 |
Laura |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After being down on their luck for the past two years - failing to make the top 10 in 2003 and only managing to secure four places last year – boys’ have finally struck it lucky with Matthew, Adam and Daniel accounting for the three luckiest names at winning top Premium Bond prizes over the past twelve months.
Matthew, derived from the Hebrew meaning ‘God’s gift’, jumped 52 places to take top spot and Adam, a new entry, stormed straight into second place.
Despite missing out on a hat trick, girls’ names still dominate the league, securing seven out of the top ten places and 90 of the total list of luckiest names for Premium Bond wins. Claire and Caroline topped the list of lucky female names in fourth and fifth place.
Jack and Emily may have been the most popular boys’ and girls’ names in the UK for the last two years² but they don’t appear in the top ten Premium Bond lucky name chart; Jack comes in at 20 while Emily doesn’t feature at all in the lucky name list.
Karen Jones, marketing director at NS&I said: “Over the past year certain names have been especially lucky at winning top prizes, but because the draw is random, whatever your name, anyone who invests in Premium Bonds has a chance to win any of the million plus prizes worth approximately £70 million we give away each month.”
END
Note to editors
1. The National Savings and Investments research into first names was based on analysis of first names with the most Premium Bond wins of £500 and above between June 2004 and May 2005. There are 173 first names featured in this list.
2. Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2004 – Top 100 names for baby boys and girls in England and Wales. Top five girls’ names – Emily, Ellie, Jessica, Sophie and Chloe. Top 5 boys’ names – Jack, Joshua, Thomas, James and Daniel.
2005 Top 10 male and female names of lucky prize winner £500+
|
Ranking |
Male |
Female |
|
1 |
Matthew |
Claire |
|
2 |
Adam |
Caroline |
|
3 |
Daniel |
Victoria |
|
4 |
Steven |
Rachel |
|
5 |
Kevin |
Julie |
|
6 |
Jack |
Emma |
|
7 |
Frank |
Anna |
|
8 |
Trevor |
Georgina |
|
9 |
Stuart |
Joanne |
|
10 |
Henry |
Alice |
Source: NS&I, May 2005
2005 Bottom ten male and female names of lucky prize winner £500+
|
Ranking |
Name |
|
173 |
Doris |
|
172 |
Albert |
|
171 |
Barry |
|
170 |
Diana |
|
169 |
Norman |
|
168 |
Hilary |
|
167 |
Charles |
|
166 |
Eric |
|
165 |
Penelope |
|
164 |
Keith |
Source: NS&I, May 2005
Premium Bonds
- Premium Bonds were launched in 1956 - since then, over 123 million prizes worth over £7.8 billion have been won.
- Currently 23 million people (over 39% of the population) hold 26 billion Premium Bonds#
- Premium Bonds can be bought online at www.nsandi.com, by telephone on 0500 007 007 by post and over the counter at Post Office branches.
There is currently over £23 million in unclaimed prizes. There is no time limit on claiming prizes. Premium Bond investors can check to see if they have won by logging on to www.nsandi.com and using the Premium Bond prize checker.
National Savings and Investments
National Savings and Investments (NS&I) is one of the UK’s largest savings and investments providers with around 26 million customers and £68 billion invested. NS&I provides a wide range of savings and investments, including Premium Bonds, Savings Certificates, Income Bonds, Children’s Bonus Bonds, Guaranteed Equity Bonds and the Easy Access Savings Account. NS&I is able to offer a 100% capital guarantee on all the products it offers because it is backed by HM Treasury. NS&I, formed in 1861, is a government department and an executive agency of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
For further information, digital images, or to arrange an interview call the NS&I media team.
Media team
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