PEOPLE : The Content of Their Character

With Henry Ross Perot out, UCLA psychologist Albert Mehrabian, author of “The Name Game,” figures that--based on name alone--there’d be no contest between Clinton and Bush: “George would be last.”

When it comes to connoting popularity, “George is a so-so name,” says Mehrabian. And Herbert, (as in George Herbert Walker Bush),”is a loser, even weaker than Henry. Kind of wishy-washy, you know.”

How about just plain Bill? Well, Mehrabian says, it’s high on popularity, low on morality. He is intrigued that Clinton opts not to use William, a name identified with success and morality.

Bills, he says, are “popular and cheerful, with a good-guy image, the kind of image a salesperson would want to project rather than a serious leader.”

But, Mehrabian adds, “this may be a sign of the times,” the age of sound bites and “superficial presentation of issues.”

Still, he says, it’s no accident that six Presidents have been named James, only one Jimmy. James connotes morality, intelligence and creativity. (Then again, Millard, Rutherford and Chester made it. But consider that Horatio, Horace and Wendell all lost their bids for the presidency.)

The count so far: We’ve had three Williams and two Georges but no Bills.