diff --git a/src/qrules/particle.py b/src/qrules/particle.py
index 8ab68755..7a39d853 100644
--- a/src/qrules/particle.py
+++ b/src/qrules/particle.py
@@ -202,18 +202,11 @@ def __attrs_post_init__(self) -> None:
                 ")"
             )
 
-    @property
-    def name_root(self) -> str:
-        name_root = self.name
-        name_root = re.sub(r"\(.+\)", "", name_root)
-        name_root = re.sub(r"[\*\+\-~\d']", "", name_root)
-        return name_root
-
     def __gt__(self, other: Any) -> bool:
         if isinstance(other, Particle):
 
             def sorting_key(particle: Particle) -> tuple:
-                name_root = particle.name_root
+                name_root = _get_name_root(particle.name)
                 return (
                     name_root[0].lower(),
                     name_root,
@@ -256,6 +249,14 @@ def _repr_pretty_(self, p: PrettyPrinter, cycle: bool) -> None:
             p.text(")")
 
 
+def _get_name_root(name: str) -> str:
+    """Strip a string (particularly the `.Particle.name`) of specifications."""
+    name_root = name
+    name_root = re.sub(r"\(.+\)", "", name_root)
+    name_root = re.sub(r"[\*\+\-~\d']", "", name_root)
+    return name_root
+
+
 ParticleWithSpin = Tuple[Particle, float]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_particle.py b/tests/unit/test_particle.py
index 66736ab9..9fca863e 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_particle.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_particle.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
     Particle,
     ParticleCollection,
     Spin,
+    _get_name_root,
     create_antiparticle,
     create_particle,
 )
@@ -118,44 +119,6 @@ def test_gt(self, name1, name2, particle_database: ParticleCollection):
         pdg = particle_database
         assert pdg[name1] > pdg[name2]
 
-    def test_name_root(self, particle_database: ParticleCollection):
-        name_roots = {p.name_root for p in particle_database}
-        assert name_roots == {
-            "a",
-            "B",
-            "b",
-            "chi",
-            "D",
-            "Delta",
-            "e",
-            "eta",
-            "f",
-            "g",
-            "gamma",
-            "h",
-            "J/psi",
-            "K",
-            "Lambda",
-            "mu",
-            "N",
-            "n",
-            "nu",
-            "Omega",
-            "omega",
-            "p",
-            "phi",
-            "pi",
-            "psi",
-            "rho",
-            "Sigma",
-            "tau",
-            "Upsilon",
-            "W",
-            "Xi",
-            "Y",
-            "Z",
-        }
-
     def test_neg(self, particle_database: ParticleCollection):
         pip = particle_database.find(211)
         pim = particle_database.find(-211)
@@ -472,3 +435,42 @@ def test_create_particle(
     assert new_particle.width == 0.5
     assert new_particle.baryon_number == template_particle.baryon_number
     assert new_particle.strangeness == template_particle.strangeness
+
+
+def test_get_name_root(particle_database: ParticleCollection):
+    name_roots = {_get_name_root(p.name) for p in particle_database}
+    assert name_roots == {
+        "a",
+        "B",
+        "b",
+        "chi",
+        "D",
+        "Delta",
+        "e",
+        "eta",
+        "f",
+        "g",
+        "gamma",
+        "h",
+        "J/psi",
+        "K",
+        "Lambda",
+        "mu",
+        "N",
+        "n",
+        "nu",
+        "Omega",
+        "omega",
+        "p",
+        "phi",
+        "pi",
+        "psi",
+        "rho",
+        "Sigma",
+        "tau",
+        "Upsilon",
+        "W",
+        "Xi",
+        "Y",
+        "Z",
+    }