What is name numerology?
Name numerology gives every letter a number and reads the totals as parts of your character. It belongs to Pythagorean numerology, the same system as the life path number, which comes from your date of birth. A name gives three main numbers: the expression number, also called the destiny number, which comes from all the letters; the soul urge number, also called the heart's desire, which comes from the vowels; and the personality number, which comes from the consonants.
The numbers are a tool for reflection. They describe talents, motives and the impression you make, and they are not a verdict or a prediction.
How the letters are counted
In the Pythagorean system the letters of the alphabet are numbered from 1 to 9 and then start again. A, J and S are 1. B, K and T are 2. C, L and U are 3. D, M and V are 4. E, N and W are 5. F, O and X are 6. G, P and Y are 7. H, Q and Z are 8. I and R are 9.
The vowels are A, E, I, O and U. The letter Y counts as a vowel when it stands on its own as the vowel sound of a syllable, as in Mary or Lynn, and as a consonant next to another vowel, as in Kayla or Joyce. Accents are ignored, spaces and hyphens separate the words, and anything that is not a letter is skipped.
How the three numbers are worked out
Add the values of the letters you want, then add the digits of the total until you reach a single digit. A total of 11, 22 or 33 is kept as a master number.
Take John Smith. All the letters add up to 44, and 4 + 4 = 8, so the expression number is 8. The vowels, O and I, add up to 15, and 1 + 5 = 6, so the soul urge number is 6. The consonants add up to 29, and 2 + 9 = 11, a master number, so the personality number is 11. The calculator above shows the same steps for any name.
Which name to use
Numerologists usually start with the full name as it appears on the birth certificate, because it is the name you were given. Many also read the name you use every day, such as a nickname or a married name, as a second and more recent influence. Try both and notice which one feels closer to you.
Two ways to add a name
This calculator adds all the letters of the name and reduces the total once. Some numerologists reduce each name separately first and then add the results. The two methods always agree on the base number, but they can differ on whether a master number shows up. If your result is a master number, read about its base number as well.
Name numerology and your date of birth
A name and a date of birth answer different questions. The name numbers describe your talents, your inner drive and your outer image. The life path number describes the general direction of your life, and the Destiny Matrix turns your date of birth into a chart of 22 energies. Many people read them side by side.
Is name numerology accurate?
There is no scientific evidence that the letters of a name shape a person's life, and numerology cannot predict events. People use it to reflect on themselves, and it works best that way. Take what helps you and leave the rest.
