How Sexy Is Your Name?

How Sexy Is Your Name?

What a popular name says to men
Do you know gazillions of girls with the same name as you? If your name is Ashley, Stephanie, Amanda, Jennifer or Jessica-some of the most common names of women ages 18 to 35 -- you probably do, and Wattenberg, author of "The Baby Name Wizard," says that's not a bad thing. Many guys are "really drawn to the names that are popular and fashionable in their own age group," she says. "There's something approachable about the familiar -- it doesn't make him stop and wonder."

Talk about popular, the name Jennifer really gets around: Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly…

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What an uncommon name says to men
A unique name can also work in your favor. Though riskier, these names can be more memorable and are more likely to make you stand out.

We're not sure if Bjork's (pictured) name or her unique style makes her stand out more, but she's certainly original.

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What a name that ends in an a says to men
Many names with Italian origins (think Donatella, Arianna, Gabriella) ooze sex appeal. According to Wattenberg, guys have a strong reaction to the classic femininity of the a ending. They're drawn to the velvety sound.

A name doesn't get much more classically Italian than Donatella Versace (pictured).

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What a French name says to men
For most of us -- both men and women -- the name Gisele equals sexy. And while we may associate it with Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen (pictured), Gisele is actually of French origin. According to Wattenberg, Americans are particularly attracted to sophisticated French names.

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What a fantasy name says to men
Doesn't it seem like exotic dancers always have stage names like Destiny or Angel? It turns out, there's a reason for that: They are names that immediately evoke a fantasy. "But what guys look for in a fantasy is not necessarily what they look for in reality," says Wattenberg. "And if what you want is to be reality, then you don't need to worry that your name isn't Heaven."

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What a girl with a guy's name says to men
"Parents sometimes give girls masculine-sounding names because they think it sounds stronger, but that's not necessarily the case," says Wattenberg. "You don't meet a Peyton and assume she's stronger than a Margaret." But having a manly name, interestingly, can be very sexy to men. "It suggests that you're very American, very modern." And if you're a girly-girl with a masculine name, that juxtaposition can be intriguing to men.

Blake Lively (pictured) is the perfect example of seemingly girly-girl with a traditionally male name.

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What a name ending in ie says to men
The ie ending evokes a response similar to that of the common name. "The sort of cute nicknames like Jessie or Lexie are approachable," says Wattenberg. "It's a very friendly name. In terms of being somebody who you're willing to talk to at a party, a nickname like that can be very approachable."

Even though she's married to Tom Cruise and goes by Kate now, we'll always think of Katie Holmes (pictured) as the girl-next-door.

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What a name that's the same as his middle-school crush says to men
To guys, the sexiest name you could have is that of the girl he fantasized about in ninth grade, says Wattenberg. "Every guy has his own funny little map of names in his head in which certain names just make him look all dreamy. And that's one you can't control." Which means no Facebooking his high-school flame and changing your name to hers!

We know which name would make Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris melt: Kelly Kapowski (pictured).

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