Names with rare Chinese characters and mental ill-being

Abstract

This paper presents causal evidence that having rare Chinese characters in people’s names negatively impacts their mental health. We draw on data from the 2019–2022 Jiangsu College Freshmen Mental Health Survey in China, and obtain within-twin estimates of the impacts of rare characters, revealing that they significantly reduce psychological well-being. Students with rare characters in names are more likely to experience mental health issues, including higher depression levels and UPI (University Personality Inventory) scores. Additionally, rare characters are associated with weaker perceived social support and a higher likelihood of adopting negative coping strategies. These findings highlight the psychological disadvantages of having rare characters in names and offer valuable guidance for parents and policymakers.