How we read a name
Heirloom is built on Pythagorean numerology — a deterministic mathematical system attributed to the 6th-century-BCE Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras of Samos. Unlike astrology or tarot, the numbers we compute are arithmetic — given the same name and date of birth, every reader on earth will arrive at the same numbers. The numbers are not opinion. The narrative we wrap around them is.
The letter-value table
Each letter of the Roman alphabet is assigned a value 1–9 according to its position in a 9-column grid. This is the Pythagorean (or “Western”) cipher:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I |
| J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R |
| S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | — |
The five numbers we compute
1. Soul Urge Number (vowels)
Sum the values of every vowel in the full name, then reduce to a single digit (or to 11, 22, 33 — the “master numbers”). The Soul Urge represents the inner motivation — what the person reaches for before they have words for it.
Example. AMELIA → A(1) + E(5) + I(9) + A(1) = 16 → 1 + 6 = 7. Soul Urge 7 is the Mystic — analytical, introspective, draws meaning from solitude.
2. Personality Number (consonants)
Sum the values of every consonant, then reduce. The Personality represents the outer self — what the world sees first.
3. Expression / Destiny Number (full name)
Sum all letters (vowels + consonants) of the full name, then reduce. The Expression represents the natural talents and the arc the person is most naturally suited to live.
4. Life Path Number (date of birth)
Sum every digit of the birth date (month + day + year), then reduce. Master numbers (11, 22, 33) are preserved. The Life Path describes the central lesson of the lifetime — the experiences the person is most likely to encounter and the qualities they will be invited to develop.
Example. 2026-08-15 → 2+0+2+6+0+8+1+5 = 24 → 2+4 = 6. Life Path 6 is the Nurturer — drawn to family, beauty, healing, and harmony.
5. Last-name resonance (0–100)
Our proprietary fit score. We compute the Expression number of the first name and the Expression number of the last name, then evaluate three relationships: numeric distance, shared resonant numbers, and master-number alignment. A 92/100 means the first name reinforces the last name's natural frequency; a 41/100 means they create dissonance that the bearer will spend energy reconciling.
What we don't do
- We don't invent numbers. The numerology engine is pure TypeScript; the same inputs always produce the same outputs.
- The LLM never sees raw names without numbers. Claude receives the computed numerology as structured JSON. Its job is to write warm, grounded narrative around the numbers — never to invent or override them.
- No astrology. No star signs, no planetary alignment, no birth time. Numerology stands alone.
- No fear-mongering. Karmic numbers (13, 14, 16, 19) are noted as growth themes, not warnings.
Why parents choose this over a name-meaning site
A name-meaning page tells you what the name used to meanin Old English or Hebrew. Useful, but it doesn't help you choose. Our reading tells you what each name on your shortlist will do — how it will feel inside, how it will resonate with your last name, and how the world is likely to receive it. We give you the numbers, and then a narrative grounded in those numbers, so you can choose with clarity instead of vibes alone.
Reading further
- The Complete Book of Numerology — David Phillips, 2005.
- Glynis Has Your Number — Glynis McCants, 2005. Practical introductory text.
- Numerology: The Complete Guide— Matthew Goodwin, vols. 1 & 2, 1981. The canonical practitioner reference.
“Numbers rule the universe.” — attributed to Pythagoras