The UK's happiest and gloomiest names revealed from delighted Dave to miserable Mark

Daily Record

21-05-2025

A study into the happiness of those in the UK revealed certain names are associated with cheery or grumpy demeanours.
The UK's happiest and gloomiest names have been revealed following a study into joy across the UK. Brits have a reputation in certain circles of being a bit prim, proper, and rather dull, but we're also known for our sense of humour.
Even though our comedy shows have people across the globe in stitches, a number of our jokes are rather self-deprecating. And while happiness comes down to a number of factors - both nature and nurture - could your name be an indicator of personality?
‌
Parents trying to find the right name for their baby is a hard enough task without having to worry if their moniker will foretell a happy or miserable life. But recent research has suggested that certain names are predisposed to cheeriness, while others are associated with grumpiness.
‌
The study, commissioned by 'Shop & Win' platform Winnrz after their recent launch in the UK, took a deep dive into general joy, with 2,000 responders sharing who the happiest people they knew were.
Topping The Happiness Index was Dave, with a whopping 23 per cent of people saying the cheeriest chap they knew had that name. David Tennant is always good for a cheeky grin, while David Attenborough has brought joy to millions of us over the years with his nature documentaries.
Dave was followed by Katie (17 percent) in second, then Charlie and Emily (both 16 percent) in joint third. While Lucy, Poppy, Ben, and Muhammed also made the top 10.
On the flip side, Brits feel like Victor is the most miserable name, scoring 17 per cent. This could easily have been influenced by telly sourpuss Victor Meldrew, played excellently by Richard Wilson in One Foot in the Grave.
‌
Far-right Reform MP Nigel Farage may also have influenced the poll, with his name coming in joint second on 15 per cent, alongside Susan and Karen, a name which has become a mocking slang term in recent years usually referring to an entitled and demanding middle-class woman.
Elsewhere on the glum list, Mark and Jeremy both scored (10 percent), suggesting there may have been some Peep Show fans in the research group, with Hassan (9 percent) and Brian (8 percent) also in the top 10, which was male-dominated.
Away from names, The Happiness Index also found that Northerners were the happiest in the UK, despite the 'grim up North' stereotype. Almost half (44 percent) of those polled thought Northerners were generally cheery, compared to just 17 per cent who said Southerners had the most to smile about.
‌
In terms of our 'happy place', a whopping 51 per cent said it was lazing on a beach while on holiday, with a third (35 percent) finding peace in their garden on a sunny day.
For those that like home comforts, 32 per cent said their most joyous spot was snuggling on the sofa with a Friday night takeaway. And Friday at 5pm was rated as the happiest time of the week too.
‌
Among the other things to make us crack a smile were winning prizes (31 percent), long walks in the countryside (32 percent), and meeting your pals in the pub (29 percent).
And in terms of who brings Brits joy, our partners (35 percent) and kids (32 percent) topped the list quite comfortably. Mums came next, with 18 percent, while dads were just 4 percent. Maybe that's why Father's Day presents are never quite as good.
‌
Having close friends (57 percent) or being in love (55 percent) were seen as the most important factors in bringing us happiness, but having happy kids (45 percent) wasn't far behind. As a nation of pet lovers, it's not a shock that 29 percent of us get most cheery around our furry friend.
Unsurprisingly, almost nine in 10 (87 percent) would be delighted with an unexpected cash injection, while just having any disposable cash was seen as a serotonin boost to 52 per cent.
Winnrz, part of the Idealz Holding brand, launched on May 12 and carried out their survey throughout this month. One lucky participant, Riya Kansara, was given £100,000 for free today as a thank you for answering the questions.
‌
Jad Toubayly, Founder and CEO of Winnrz and Idealz Holding said: 'It's great to see from the research that overall we are a glass half full nation, with Northerners being officially crowned the happiest in the UK.
'It's no surprise though with the current climate that almost all of us think that a cash injection would make us feel a little happier. Whether it is a big or small win, the excitement, disbelief, joy and happiness that comes from an unexpected prize can be amazing… something that our 10,000 plus winners who have claimed more than £85million in prizes have already experienced themselves!
'Winnrz's platform offers something truly unique that combines the joy of shopping with the thrill of life changing prizes so that everyone wins.'
‌
Scroll down to see the full list of Britain's cheeriest and gloomiest names.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Top 10 Happiest Names in the UK
Dave (23%)
Katie (17%)
Charlie (16%)
Emily (16%)
Lucy (14%)
Poppy (14%)
Ben (13%)
Jack (12%)
Tom (11%)
Muhammed (9%)
Top 10 Most Miserable Names in the UK
Victor (17%)
Susan (15%)
Nigel (15%)
Karen (15%)
Mark (10%)
Jeremy (10%)
Clive (9%)
Hassan (9%)
Geoff (9%)
Brian (8%)