If you’ve ever felt like you just can’t catch a break, it might not be random.
Experts have analysed personal injury claims and identified the names most likely to have suffered slips, trips, falls and workplace incidents.
Some of the unluckiest names are more than 20 per cent more likely than the average person to file a personal injury claim, they revealed.
And it’s bad news for people called David or Joanne – as they top their respective lists.
Researchers analysed personal injury claims submitted to Edwards Hoyle solicitors over the space of a year.
The data revealed that the name David accounted for a larger share of claimants than any other male name.
Odds analysis suggests a man named David is a fifth more likely than average to file a personal injury claim.
The news is enough to make David Beckham and David Attenborough pay special attention to their everyday safety.
David Attenborough (left) and David Beckham (right) have the unluckiest male name in the UK, according to the analysis
James Norton (pictured) is known for playing a ‘bad boy’ in Happy Valley – but in real life he has a name that indicates he’s more likely to trip over his feet
Comedian Stephen Fry, pictured here at Wimbledon, also has a name that appears in the unlucky list
Sadly for actor James Norton, his name places second in the ‘unluckiest’ list of men.
Comedian Stephen Fry, Prince Andrew and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin all possess first names which also appear in the top five list, the data showed.
The top unluckiest female name was Joanne – especially for everyday accidents like trips or burns, the analysis showed.
This would include the likes of Harry Potter author J K Rowling and actress Joanne Froggatt.
According to the data, a Joanne’s odds of lodging an injury claim were roughly one in 20 per year – significantly above the average for women.
Other unlucky women are those named Emma, Clare, Karen and Lisa, the analysis showed.
The likes of actress Emma Watson, broadcaster Clare Balding and presenter Lisa Snowdon should perhaps take heed.
A spokeswoman from PlayCasino.com, who commissioned the research, said: ‘While your name alone doesn’t doom you to bad luck, these findings show that some names turn up more often when accidents happen.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin looks here as if he is about to fall – something he should be wary of in real life, if his name is anything to go by
Joanne Froggatt, best known for her role in Downton Abbey, has a name that has ‘significantly’ higher odds of filing a personal injury claim, according to the data
Sports broadcaster Clare Balding (left) and actress Emma Watson (right) have some of the unluckiest female names
‘Next time you slip, trip or burn your dinner, you might just blame your name… and have the data to back it up.’
They explained that David and Joanne were extremely common names for people born in the 1970s – 80s, so they appear more often in any large dataset.
Younger workers in physically demanding roles also tend to file more claims – and certain names also dominate those age groups.
‘If your name is on the list, don’t panic!’ they added. ‘Just be a little extra careful on staircases and kitchen floors.’
