Attribute-based-categorical-popularity-assignment apparatus and method

A system is disclosed for determining the popularity of elements within categorized data according to a category to which they pertain based on the popularity of element attributes. The categorized data may be a list of products, where the elements may be products classified by product categories and the attributes may be brand names. Key words may be associated with such brands and/or their products. The key words may be words used when referring to the brands and/or their products with respect to their product category. These key words may be applied to additional data from an external source providing an on-line service, where service user-text is recorded in the additional data. Popularity scores may then be assigned to the products based on indications of references to the brands and/or their products, with respect to their product category, derived from the application of the key words to the additional data.