Last night I was talking to my husband about baby names and figuring out why he and I have different tastes… not sure if that’s it since he likes the names I like, but he’s “scared” to use them…
Anyway, he mentioned that he likes names like [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Anna[/name_f] (classics) and stronger sounding boy names like [name_m]Zach[/name_m], [name_m]Tim[/name_m], [name_m]Tom[/name_m], [name_m]Eric[/name_m], etc. because “classic” or “common” girl names tend to get higher paying jobs, while strong boy names ([name_m]Bob[/name_m], [name_m]Brad[/name_m], [name_m]Mark[/name_m]) do better in life. But I prefer names that aren’t as “common” or “popular” like [name_f]Luna[/name_f] and [name_f]Flora[/name_f], and I love softer sounding boy names like [name_m]Ezra[/name_m] and [name_u]Sasha[/name_u].
I pointed out to him it’s a correlation study which made him laugh because ironically enough he hates correlation studies because they lack a lot of data (he’s a science guy). But now I know why I tend to not like his names at all, and he likes my names, but isn’t in love with them.
I have read studies stating that people with classic, common names are more likely to get called in for interviews, hired, and have higher paying jobs than their peers with unusual names or names with unique spellings. That said, I am not a scientist so I can’t tell you how accurate the studies are. I do think certain names sound more professional than other names. For example, [name_f]Kaylee[/name_f] doesn’t sound as professional as [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] (no offense to anyone who likes that name).
I think its something to keep in mind, but not necessarily deter you from using names you love.
By the time the kids that are being nowdays are grown up, perceptions of names will probably have changed. [name_f]Kaylee[/name_f] will be a mom’s name and [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] might sound dated (probably not, though. [name_f]Catherine[/name_f]‘s a classic). Softer boys’ names are in vogue these days and I think they’d have a chance of being taken seriously as adults, if you don’t go overboard.
Maybe you could compromise. [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] is a classic girl’s name. So is [name_f]Flora[/name_f]. Everrett is both a lassic and strong-sounding boy’s name and they are all on your list
I read such a study, and it was pretty thorough…[name_m]Alexander[/name_m]/[name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] came at/near the top for success in life, so…you could go with either and nn [name_u]Sasha[/name_u]/[name_u]Sacha[/name_u] to cover both of your preferences.
Thanks for the suggestions, but some of those are names I like, not necessarily can use. I have niece named [name_f]Nora[/name_f], so [name_f]Flora[/name_f] is out (too rhymey). I have a 2nd cousin? or is it 3rd? can never keep them straight, but my cousin named her baby [name_m]Alexander[/name_m], so can’t use that.
[name_u]Everett[/name_u] and [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] are still in the running though.
Does anyone have links to any of these studies and how accurate they are? [name_f]Do[/name_f] they keep in mind how educated the parents are and the people getting the jobs? Their work experience? ETC?
I mean I’ve worked with people with the strangest names, usually it’s because their a different ethnicity, but they still have good jobs. I’ve also met people with classic, common names, and aren’t doctors or nurses, etc… so it doesn’t really concern me, but for some reason it bothers my DH (who, himself, has a decent job (programmer) and a soft name: [name_m]Brendan[/name_m])
Honestly, I think this (again) has to do with what kind of home you come from. If your parents named you [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] or [name_m]Andrew[/name_m], chances are you come from a more conservative background and are more likely to go into a classic profession. If your parents named you [name_m]Merlin[/name_m] or [name_f]Lilith[/name_f] you probably come from a more alternative background, and the lines of work you’re interested in probably reflect that.
That study you’re all talking about isn’t about baby names. It’s about black-sounding names. They concluded that employee won’t hire you if you’re black, so I could easily conclude it’s not about baby names. It’s about racism.. End of story.
I doubt future employee of [name_f]Ottilie[/name_f]'s baby or catloverd’s baby would ditch this baby (future worker) if he is promising or have everything needed for job. He could just close the business or ditch half of candidates who could be equally good or better. After all, more and more children get unusual name. He can’t ditch them all.
Freakonomics. Perhaps others, but that book/movie for sure covered that exact topic. “[name_m]Black[/name_m]”-sounding names (however the employer determines that) don’t get call backs.
I read that study a few years ago (I wish I had saved it and could now reference it properly) …
What it came down to wasn’t that uncommon names are bad but that very uncommon names/often
with weird-ass spellings were given to children of lower socio-economic back-grounds.
Most of these kids are “yes” black and come from single parent homes.
However, the study concluded that while people might associate such names with potential trouble makers -
a good, solid resume should convince them otherwise. The reason why people often think this is that many of these kids
(often to no fault of their parents) do not receive the same attention at home and thus don’t do as well in school
and have more time to get into trouble as teens. It’s not causal affect but a correlation that goes with having a single parent who has to work 3 jobs to make ends meet and their ability not to compromise while naming their kid as there is no other parent to please.
I think that by the time your kids are old enough to apply for jobs this will be pretty mute as my boss (aVP as a internationally renowned organization) named his youngest [name_u]Holland[/name_u].
Yeah that makes sense. He’s definitely feeling better about it now and realizes it’s a silly worry, but I was just curious if there might be any truth to it, glad there really isn’t!