What is the name for the study of the supernatural influence of numbers on human life?

The belief that numbers possess a mystical vibration and can reveal core truths about a person's character, life events, and destiny has fascinated humanity for centuries. This practice operates on the idea that everything, including names and dates of birth, can be reduced to numerical values. These numbers are then interpreted to uncover supposed patterns, personality traits, and the path a person's life might take. This specific system of divination is known as numerology.

Its origins are often traced back to ancient civilizations, including those in Babylon and Egypt, but it is most famously associated with the Greek mathematician Pythagoras. He and his followers believed that the entire universe was composed of mathematical patterns and that numbers held the key to understanding reality. Modern numerology synthesizes these ancient ideas, typically assigning numbers 1 through 9 to different letters of the alphabet to calculate key figures like a "Life Path Number" or a "Destiny Number."

While numerology uses systematic calculations, it is important to distinguish it from a formal science. It is considered a pseudoscience because its claims are not based on or verifiable by the scientific method. There is no empirical evidence to support the idea that numbers derived from a name or birth date have a supernatural (Review) influence on a person's life. Despite this, it remains a popular tool for self-exploration and spiritual guidance, much like astrology.