Have you ever pondered whether your name gives you an advantage in life or holds you back?
A new survey from Resume.io reviewed over 3,000 LinkedIn profiles to determine whether a person’s first name influences their success in achieving corporate leadership positions. It appears that certain names occur more often among those holding authority roles.
Related: Naming Babies Has Become Lucrative. Advisors Are Demanding Up to $10,000 for Selecting the Ideal Moniker. .
The research examined the names of individuals holding high-ranking executive roles in the U.S., ranging from CEO to manager levels, as listed on LinkedIn. It revealed that John ranks as the “most successful name in the corporate sphere.” Coming second was Michael, with David following closely at third place.
Robert and Mark completed the list as the top five in terms of frequency. Individuals named John held the majority of CEO positions, whereas Michael took precedence in CFO roles. Additionally, David was frequently seen in managerial capacities.
Just one feminine name appeared in the top ten rankings (Jennifer), claiming the sixth position. Among the profiles examined by Resume.io, only approximately thirty-three percent represented females.
Amanda Augustine, a certified career coach and expert at Resume.io , said the report "highlights a long-standing trend in corporate leadership."
Many prominent roles are often occupied by individuals with certain common names, highlighting underlying social and professional prejudices," Augustine stated. "Even though competence and history should determine advancement, subconscious bias might affect recruitment and elevation choices, advantaging people with traditionally American, male-sounding names.
A recent report from the World Economic Forum discovered that 36.4% of women secured leadership roles in 2024, which is a slight decrease from the 36.9% who were appointed to such positions in 2023.
Among feminine monikers, "Kimberly" ranked somewhere in the middle range, whereas "Kim" emerged as the most prevalent name for executives holding a "director" position.
Jennifer, Lisa, and Mary led the rankings.
Click here For the complete Resume.io report.
