HOMEOWNERS and company bosses are turning to TV, radio and literature for ideas on naming their houses and premises, new research has found.

A study by the Royal Mail showed that locations in BBC radio show The Archers were popular, with house names including Honeysuckle, after a farm, and Brookfield, where the Archer family lives.

Gables, from Anne of Green Gables, and Springfield, where TV's The Simpsons live, were also in a list drawn up by the Royal Mail.

Steve Rooney, head of Royal Mail's Address Management Unit, said: "It is clear that literature and popular TV and radio programmes have a huge influence on our lives, so much so that we want to live in the iconic locations that we have grown to love."

The top 10 names were:

  • Gables - farm in Anne of Green Gables - could this have inspired The Gables Hotel in Abbey Road?
  • Springfield - town where the Simpsons live - does Springfield Close on Walney owe its name to the long-running cartoon series?
  • Honeysuckle - Adam Macy and Ian Craig's home in The Archers.
  • Globe - retirement home in The Archers.
  • Phoenix - name of the club in Phoenix Nights - what about Phoenix House in Barrow?
  • Woodbine - Home of the Barford's in The Archers.
  • Brookfield - home of The Archer family.
  • Evergreen - Street The Simpsons live on.
  • Toad Hall - from Wind In The Willows.
  • Acacia - road Bananaman lives on - were bosses of Barrow taxi firm fans of Bananaman?