'David' tops list of high earners
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-01 10:03

TOP-EARNING NAMES
Male
1. David
2. John
3. Michael
4. Peter
5. Paul
6. Andrew
7. Richard
8. Robert
9. Mark
10. Stephen

Female
1. Susan
2. Elizabeth
3. Sarah
4. Jane
5. Helen
6. Patricia
7. Jacqueline
8. Alison
9. Anne
10. Nicola OTHER NEWS

Perhaps David Beckham's success has nothing to do with his ball skills after all.

The England superstar has made his name as a footballer with his performances for Real Madrid and Manchester United, but he may owe some of his good fortune to his parents.

According to a survey of bank customers in the UK, men called David are more likely to enjoy lucrative careers than those with other names.

Among female names, women called Susan were the top earners, followed by Elizabeth, Sarah, Jane and Helen.

Traditional British names also dominated the male list with John, Michael, Peter and Paul completing the top five.

The survey was compiled by Barclays Bank, which analyzed the names of 60,000 of its premier customers earning more than ￡100,000 ($180,000) a year.

"If you want your newborn to keep you in the manner to which you have become accustomed in your old age you should consider the latest list of high earners' names," said Mark Till, marketing director for Barclays Premier Banking.

"My mother is slightly disappointed that I only make number nine."

The list however mainly appears to reflect names that were popular when today's career high-fliers were still learning to count, rather than contemporary fashions.

David and Susan were the commonest names for babies born in 1964, the Independent newspaper reported.

Neither of last year's most popular baby names in the UK -- Jack and Emily -- appeared in the top 20 on Barclay's list and other popular names such as Ellie, Sophie, Joshua and Thomas were also missing.

"I've always thought of Susan as being old-fashioned so I am surprised to hear it has topped this list," said Susan Concannon, a managing director for the Halifax bank's retail stock-broking business.

"I suppose it is because I am of a certain age. In 20 years it will probably be Kylie."

Nor does it seem very likely that David Beckham and ex-Spice Girl wife Victoria appreciate the benefits of a plain, straightforward name -- having called their children Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz