The Career Benefit of Masculine and Feminine Names with English, French, Germanic, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, or Welsh Origins

Some names, especially those with biblical origins, are very popular in the United States. But this then gives rise to an interesting question: Does a good given name lead to a better life and career success? Researchers have shown that the names of job applicants can affect their chances of getting an interview, but there is a lack of evidence to link names with more long-lasting and significant economic well-being, such as salaries. Using a large public salary dataset for Missouri State employees from 2016, this study sought to determine if the origin of a given name was positively associated with employees’ salaries. The authors further investigate the interaction effect of name origins and gender on salaries. The findings from the study support the view that names, especially the origin of the names, impact a person’s economic well-being. While the study, consistent with others, shows gender inequity, it also finds that name origins impact gender inequity