We all want to give our kids a head start. Some parents do it with Montessori flashcards in utero. Others choose kale over cake and enroll in Mandarin immersion by age two. But one of the most powerful, underappreciated tools in the toolbox? The name you put on your child’s birth certificate.
Yes, the name.
It’s the first signal your child sends into the world even before they say a word, apply for a job, or even start preschool is their name. And while we’d love to live in a world where a name is just a name, a stack of research says otherwise.
The Science of First Impressions Starts With First Names
In a study out of NYU, and published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, researchers found that people with easier-to-pronounce names were consistently rated more positively. Not smarter. Not more skilled. Just… easier to say.
It’s called the Name Pronunciation Effect, and it taps into our brain’s love of cognitive ease. We like what’s familiar. We trust what rolls off the tongue. Which means that yes, sadly, people might assume more competence from a “John” than a “Xzavian” before ever meeting either of them.
And this unconscious bias doesn’t stop at first impressions. Studies have shown teachers form expectations based on names, which can influence how they treat students. Meanwhile, hiring managers are less likely to call back resumes with “ethnic-sounding” names, even when the qualifications are identical. (Bertrand & Mullainathan, 2004)
That’s not a reflection of your child. It’s a reflection of the system. But it’s a system we still have to help them navigate.
So, What Should Parents Do? Sell Out and Name Them Brad?
Absolutely not.
There are excellent reasons for choosing less mainstream names. For instance, maybe you’re honoring a beloved ancestor, celebrating your culture, or reclaiming a name that was once dismissed. These are good, grounded and well thought out reasons. They connect your child to identity, belonging, and purpose, all of which are just as powerful as perception.
But it’s important to walk in with eyes open.
If you name your daughter Siobhán (pronounced “Shi-vawn”), she might spend half her life correcting people. That’s not a flaw - it’s an opportunity. With the right support, she’ll learn to assert herself early, speak clearly, and claim space in a world that sometimes asks her to shrink.
But here’s the kicker: if you’re going the meaningful route, own it. Name boldly, but prepare thoughtfully. Coach confidence. Guide your child through moments of mispronunciation or misunderstanding. It’s not about avoiding difficulty — it’s about preparing them to rise above it.
(We cover this in more depth in our article on mentoring vs managing, because your job isn’t to bulldoze the road, it’s to teach them how to drive on all kinds of terrain.)
What About Creative Spellings?
Let’s just say this: if your motivation is to give your child a unique name, spelling “Jessica” as “Jezziqua” or “Richard” as “Rhychyrd” might not be the flex you think it is - unless your wealth and influence is akin to X Æ A-Xii's father. Unusual spellings can be confusing, off-putting or, in some unfortunate cases, perceived as a red flag by teachers, future employers, or other parents who assume it says more about you than your child.
Think of it this way: if a name already has 14 vowels and a silent ‘Q,’ adding a ‘y’ where it doesn’t belong won’t make it special. It’ll make it spell-check resistant and potentially credibility-compromising.
The CEO Name Effect (and Why It’s Not the Whole Story)
LinkedIn, with its wealth of names and occupational history ran a study on the most common CEO names. Predictably, they were short, common, and gendered. Lots of Davids. Plenty of Sarahs. (Source)
Why? Because short names are easy to say, remember, and associate with leadership. Again it’s not necessarily because people named “John” are inherently better managers - it’s about perception. Thought provoking right?
But let’s not confuse correlation with causation. A name like “Aarav” or “Leilani” isn’t a barrier - it’s a brand. With the right guidance, your child can use their name to stand out instead of blend in.
The takeaway? Choose with love, but lead with strategy.
Questions to Ask When Naming (or Renaming) Your Approach
If you’re still picking:
- Does this name honor someone or something meaningful? That’s a plus.
- Can most people say it after hearing it once? If not, prepare for a lifetime of teaching.
- Will it wear well on a resume, as a judge, or on a Nobel Peace Prize certificate? It doesn’t need to be bland, it just needs to be viable.
- Is the spelling helpful or confusing? Silent letters are cool. Twelve of them? Less so.
If you’ve already named your child:
- Teach them to say it with pride. Help them correct people without apology.
- Offer optionality. A good nickname can be a confidence tool or a cultural decoder ring.
- Coach around bias, don’t ignore it. They’ll thank you when they’re older.
Final Thought: Your Child’s Name Isn’t Their Destiny, But It is Their Introduction
A name won’t guarantee success. Yet, a name can absolutely affect how people respond to your child, how your child sees themselves, and how they navigate a world full of assumptions. With care and context, any name can carry success. But names built from thoughtful intention, rather than trend-chasing or attention-seeking, start with a headwind instead of a head start.
So name with love. Name with foresight. And whether your child ends up running a startup, solving climate change, or just being a good human - make sure their name, and the story behind it, is something they can carry with pride.
Looking for name insights backed by real-world data?
Try our Success Name Analyzer Tool - it uses actual career, industry, and trajectory data to help you understand what your child’s name might signal to the world. Not to define their future - but to make sure it starts off heard.