By John Elder
Usain Bolt, fast on his feet. William Wordsworth, man of letters. Tony Abbott, perhaps never left the seminary. These are examples of what scientists call "nominative determinism" -- the idea that our names influence what we do and who we are.
On Friday, The Telegraph in Britain reported that new research is being carried out into this phenomena, citing a paper from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology entitled Why Susie Sells Seashells by the Seashore: Implicit Egotism and Major Life Decisions. The paper was actually published in 2002 -- but the idea keeps popping up.
When friends of Melbourne grandmother Kristina Love googled her name, they found it had been taken on "by a large number of Russian prostitutes".Credit: Nicki Davey
When friends of Melbourne grandmother Kristina Love googled her name, they found it had been taken on "by a large number of Russian prostitutes".
Mrs Love -- who loves her name is one of 100 people named Love listed in the Greater Melbourne phone book. We were calling to ask how the Loves of the world live up to their name.
Illustration: Matt Golding
"I suppose I would be prepared to go on public record saying, yes I am romantic," says Kristina Love. "Rather than a big, grand gesture on Valentine's Day, I go for little daily indications of concern, affection, inquiring after my partner's well-being. To me these are more meaningful and sustaining."
The name Love itself, however, appears to have a magic-making influence wherever it's aired. "It makes people smile. When you go to the bank, people always comment on it."
Philip Love, has been a science teacher of boys for 30 years. "They pay out a bit, call me Dr Love and things like that."
Philip, 51, has been married to Cara (Italian for "darling") for 16 years, Philip thinks its important "we keep our romance alive. We always talk to one another, find time for one another, she's a teacher too, so I can empathise with what her day's been like."
For this Valentine's Day they'll open a bottle of champagne "or something like that" and reminisce on what has been a good life. "One year on Valentine's Day it was 40 degrees and we were about to go out to dinner to Monsalvat, where I'd proposed, when our infant daughter threw up on us. That was 12 years ago. I guess we'll remember those sort of events."
For Victoria Love romance means "flowers, candlelight and a big smile." But love - and attendant wonder - is tied up in the two small children she's had with husband David. "We see in their faces a mixture of us, and their grandparents, others who they never met. It's amazing."
As for Valentine's Day, "I believe my husband has done something for the first time in 10 years... I think he's organised some flowers. I saw the invoice on the bank statement. Which you do."
Barbara Love, 82, of Beaumaris, has been by herself for 40-odd years "and the romance has gone a bit out the window."
She feels that she has become more romantic as she's aged. "I was a Depression baby and there wasn't a lot of time for romance for young people. Now when I see couples who are happy and affectionate, I think how lucky they are... how I'd like to be that way. But life doesn't always work out the way you'd like it to."
Brian Love, 33, Lilydale, has an acquired brain injury for nine years. Five years ago was Brian's most romantic moment, when he proposed to his girlfriend and she said yes. They never got around to it, although they had two "beautiful young daughters".
The relationship didn't work out but Brian believes "I'll be in love again one day, of course."
Chloe Love, 27, Hughesdale, has been married for two years to Cameron, her high school sweetheart. The romance continues to run hot because Cameron does a lot of the housework, which sets Chloe's heart racing harder than a bunch of roses. For her part, Chloe's most traditionally romantic gestures occurred 10 years ago. "We were still in high school and my husband went to boarding school for a year. I used to make him big massive cards with poems and pictures and decorations. Sometimes I'd make a video."
Chloe took her husband surname - "and I found that since I changed my name people remember it more".
Brian, 61, retired wharfie of Hoppers crossing, remembers everyone wanting to belt him 50 years ago at school. So he never saw his name in rosy terms. As for romance, "we don't do things like that any more. I might have bought my wife (Suzanne, 60) a bunch of flowers 30 years ago". He also thinks shows like the Bachelorette and Farmer Wants a Wife are a"bunch of crap".
But when it comes to real life and the love it takes to make it sweet, "we're good, I still tell her I love her. We wouldn't be together if we didn't love one another. It's not a marriage of convenience."