Names and Careers

[Glindathegoodwitch]

I often read on here & see people commenting on the posts along the lines of

'He/She would never get taken seriously in the professional world'
'Imagine Dr Such and such name'
'Imagine going for a job interview with that name'

Are people genuinely serious when posting this? Or is it just a jibe they feel that they can use at a name they don't personally like?

If I were in a position to interview somebody, which I have been in the past, it wouldn't even be on my radar to take their name into consideration. I mean, I may raise an eyebrow at a name, pull a face (in my head) at a name or more than likely it would intrigue me. But never in a million years would I stop a clearly capable person or perfect candidate for a job on the basis of their name that they didn't choose for themselves? A name doesn't define character or capability surely?

And if Dr Princess Consuela Bananahammock wanted to save my life or someone close to me's life by performing open heart surgery, I wouldn't say 'Sorry. No, I just cant take you and your name seriously!'

In equal measure, I would not name a child 'Richard', 'Bill' or 'Alan' presuming that will mean they will become a multi billionaire entrepreneur....

I just want to know if people genuinely believe what they are saying???

I think you've missed the point entirely.

Princess Honeybell Pantyface isn't going to get the chance to be a Dr in the first place, she isn't going to get the chance to be taken seriously. Not only is she 99.99% likely to be from a socio-economic background to never have even aspirations of medical school, let alone an actual hope of it, she's not going to be treated in a way that gives her those kinds of opportunities.

Have you heard of self fulfilling prophecies, the Pygmalion effect? When you give a child a silly inconsequential name, you're giving them, and everyone else, a picture of them, a path for them. IT's just the start of a long road that means no, she's not going to be a High Court Judge.

You didn't really think people were saying that its simply that everyone is the same but at some point someone would just look at a name and decide not to let them do the heart operation, did you.

I get this with DD who is called Poppy. Apparently nobody is going to take her seriously with this name and she will never get an Interview or a decent job. Her future qualifications, skills and experience don't matter of course, her (normal) name is all that will decide her future. Really annoying

Urethra - that is unbelievably one of the most insane statements I have ever read. Your preconceptions of socio-economic background a person's aspirations are so disappointing to come from somebody in this day and age. I think you should go and see Dr Princess Honeyball Pantyface for some therapy. Odd human.

As a professional myself, I have a fairly unusual name, I have done very well for myself, considering I started out the first 7 years of my life on a council estate. I got the chance, and I worked hard for it.

And no, that was obviously taking the piss...

Poppy is a beautiful name confused I cant wait until she kicks people like our friend Urethras ass!

Wow - she actually believes it!

Agree with fairy confused - nothing wrong in the slightest with Poppy!

There is a huge amount of research that backs it up, its not my opinion.

You are really naive if you think otherwise.

Ok so 'research' vs my actual life?

But it's your attitude that 'backs up' the findings Urethra

People make snap judgements (usually class based) around certain names. That is a fact.

And yes my point about the doctor and the open heart surgery was a bit of fun... but I do wonder with some of the views I read on here...

Ok so 'research' vs my actual life?

Yes. Haven't you heard the phrase "anecdote is not data"? Statistics work by looking at thousands of people, not individuals.

It's nothing to do with my attitude. Seriously, folks, have you head of Science, Research, Sociology, Psychology....?
Your opinion pales in comparison.

Urethra's post at 14.30 is spot on incidentally.

As for Poppy, is a very popular name. I don't find it particularly cutesy. Now, a name like Lillie-Lou or Molly-Moo, that's a different kettle of fish.

freakonomics.com/2013/04/08/how-much-does-your-name-matter-a-new-freakonomics-radio-podcast/

Just a taster. Do try to at least think outside your own opinion.

I'm glad I live in the real world and not a laboratory full of statistics and stuck up snobs called Jane and Trevor.

The attitude in which you spoke... Not only is she 99.99% likely to be from a socio-economic background to never have even aspirations of medical school, let alone an actual hope of it - particularly snobby, rude, pretentious and plain disgusting!

No offence to any lovely Jane's or Trevor's out there, just picked the plainest names I could think of!

Freakonomics says it all.

But it's completely, objectively true.

I knew of a psychiatrist caller Dr (or Mr?) Madd.

particularly snobby, rude, pretentious and plain disgusting

Yes, its all of those things. Unfortunately, its also the truth. You may live in the real world but you don't know much about it!

Do you know a large scale american study showed that you were 50% more likely to get an interview for a job if your CV had an overtly "white name" as opposed to an assumed "black name"?
Are you suggesting that is some kind of coincidence?

Freakanomics says it all

Ah yes, the fact it has "freak " in the title means it can't possibly be a very popular and accessible dissemination of genuine research

I have to agree a 1000% with Urethea!!

Which is why I gave my child a proper name not bloody Lilly-mai or gracie-rose or some other name that suits no one older than 5 years old!

It's sad but its true.

I would like to see this research too to show people that I'm not just being mean and it is actually fact.

Fairy the real world you live in is the
real world in which these studies exist, sorry. I too think it's unfair but can't argue with facts.

Then I think it should be compulsory to give our kids 'strange' names such as Lilly-mai or Gracie-Rose (completely normal names by the way - I think you are looking into hyphenation a bit much Aoife - and make them the only possible names to give jobs too!

I hope your kids disappoint you all massively and become super successful tattoo artists or some sort of hippie gem stone biotherapeutics.... Imagine your faces

Pop your books down, internet theories and go for a look about

You're not getting it, are you. You're thinking far too small.

I hate to agree with the idea that a name will affect your future but it does. Maybe less so than 20yrs ago, but it still does.

I am a CM just outside of SW London. Some of the names I hear are frankly ridiculous (to me) Lettuce, Rhubarb, Skypod to name a few. But as they are born to parents with millions it doesn't really matter.

Where I am from originally, the Midlands, there are lots of standard names, Emily, tom, Matthew and Jennifer. They don't float my boat at all, but wherever they are, Chelsea or council estate in Wolverhampton, they won't be scoffed at.

Skypod??????

I thought this might be about nominative determinism, where your name decides your job. Such as the weather forecaster whose name is Sara Blizzard (and BTW it is always bad when she turns up, no kidding!)