RICK RIORDAN

IKEA expanded to other countries, Norway in 1963, Denmark in 1969. Over the next decade, IKEAs spread to countries like Germany, Japan, Australia and Canada.

There is a system to the unusual product names. Beds have names of places in Norway. Sofas are named after towns in...

Likeable people make certain they use others’ names. Research shows that people feel validated when the person they’re speaking with refers to them by name during a conversation.

Make remembering people’s names a brain exercise if you have trouble with names.

• People with softer, sonorant names like Marla or Samantha (names that flow from the tongue easily) are perceived to be more agreeable and warm.
• Names that sound sharp and abrupt like Eric or Kirk are perceived to have a cold nature.
• Name...