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LUCKIEST FIRST NAMES IN UK REVEAL GIRLS STILL ON TOP

13 May 2004

Whether it's exam results, driving safely, or even living longer, women are on top these days. Today, women are also revealed to be winners in the luck stakes for the second year in a row, with girls' names accounting for six of the top ten luckiest names, according to research on Premium Bond winners by National Savings and Investments (NS&I).

2004 UK's top ten luckiest names (last year's position in brackets) Ranking Name 1 (3) Hannah 2 (25) Philippa 3 (new entry) Benjamin 4 (new entry) Oliver 5 (new entry) Lee 6 (11) Victoria 7 (207) Kathryn 8 (new entry) Darren 9 (new entry) Grace 10 (146) Ellen Source: NS&I, May 2004

Hannah and Philippa were the two luckiest names at winning top prizes over the past 12 months, while Benjamin topped the list of lucky male names at third place, with Oliver and Lee completing the top five. Boys increased their share of luck, compared to last year, when girls' names accounted for nine of the top ten places. Hannah is derived from the Hebrew meaning 'grace' or 'favour', and these fortuitous connotations appear to ring true for Premium Bond holders with that name, as they have moved from third place in last year's survey, to top the table this time round. All the other names are new entries to the top ten this year, with four being new to the list overall. Jack and Emily may be the most popular boys and girls names in the UK*, but they don't appear in the top 50 Premium Bond lucky name chart; Jack comes in at 89 while Emily doesn't feature at all in the 249 name list, nor do any of the other top five most popular boys and girls names for 2003.*

Gill Cattanach, marketing director at NS&I said, "Over the past year certain names have been especially lucky at winning the 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 780,000 prizes worth over £47 million we give away each month.

"From June, the chances of any Premium Bond holder winning a prize will increase, so that someone with £30,000 invested can, with average luck, expect to win 13 prizes per year.'

Ends

Note to Editors

* Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2003 - Top 100 names for baby boys and girls in England and Wales. Top 5 girls' names - Emily, Ellie, Chloe, Jessica, Sophie. Top 5 boys' names - Jack, Joshua, Thomas, James, Daniel.

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 2003 and May 2004. There are 249 first names featured in this list.

Top 10 male and female names of lucky prize winners of £500+

Ranking	Female	Male
1	Hannah	Benjamin
2	Philippa	Oliver
3	Victoria	Lee
4	Kathryn	Darren
5	Grace	Duncan
6	Ellen	Samuel
7	Joanna	Raymond
8	Jessie	Daniel
9	Rebecca	Jeffrey
10	Clare	Patrick

Source: NS&I, May 2004

Bottom ten male and female names of lucky prize winners £500+

Ranking	Name
249	Bridget
248	Stella
247	Howard
246	Penelope
245	Barrie
244	Jason
243	Joyce
242	Edwin
241	Evelyn
240	Cynthia

Source: NS&I, May 2004

2003 UK's top ten luckiest names (this year's positions in brackets)

Ranking	Name
1 (14)	Rebecca
2 (101)	Lucy
3 (1)	Hannah
4 (145)	Fiona
5 (47)	Emma
6 (-)	Lisa
7 (229)	Gladys
8 (53)	Matthew
9 (238)	Anita
10 (-)	Laura

Source: NS&I, May 2003

There are currently around 24 billion Premium Bonds held by 23 million people. The maximum prize is £1 million and the minimum prize is £50. Each month NS&I gives away over 780,000 prizes worth £47 million.

Premium Bond odds are currently 30,000 to 1. From June 1, they will changes to 27,500 to 1.

NS&I media team

For further details please contact:

	Mark Brooks	020 7348 9301	mark.brooks@nsandi.com
	Jonathan Akerman	020 7348 9433	jonathan.akerman@nsandi.com
	Caroline Meyrick	020 7348 9654	caroline.meyrick@nsandi.com
	Wendy Franklin	020 7348 9449	wendy.franklin@nsandi.com
	Fax	020 7348 9755
	Out of hours	All above numbers go to mobile phones staffed 24 hours

Media team
NS&I has a number of spokespeople available for interviews and our experienced radio team is available via our ISDN line: 020 7602 4522.

The numbers below are for media use only. Customers wishing to contact NS&I can find details here.

Gill Stephens		020 7348 9449
		gill.stephens@nsandi.com
Iman Asante		020 7348 9301
		iman.asante@nsandi.com
Angela Mason		020 7348 9433
		angela.mason@nsandi.com
ISDN for interviews		020 7602 4522
Out of hours		All numbers above diverted to staffed mobile phones

 

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