Would you change your name for the sake of your career?
I ask myself this question as I've noticed in the UK a lot of young Asian business people now have very British sounding names. I live abroad and have just started doing business again in the UK. When I lived in the UK about 8 years ago Aisans were commonly called typical Asian type names, usually which were very difficult for non - Asians to pronounce or spell. Nowadays though I've noticed that Asians tend tohave names likeSimon, Steve and Andrew etc.
I also personally know two people who have changed their names for the sake of their careers. One is from China and the other is from Persia. I came accross the following article today:-

Top 20 'Whitest' and 'Blackest' Names

Most Popular Boy and Girl Names


Sept. 21, 2006 — - Studies of resumes have found that people with black-sounding names are less likely to get callbacks.

"20/20" put 22 pairs of names to the test, posting identical resumes except for the names at the top.

Watch "20/20" Friday Night at 10

The resumes with the white-sounding names were actually downloaded 17 percent more often by job recruiters than the resumes with black-sounding names.

What are some of those names? Here's a list from the book "Freakonomics," by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, showing the top 20 whitest- and blackest-sounding girl and boy names.


20 "Whitest" Girl Names


Molly
Amy
Claire
Emily
Katie
Madeline
Katelyn
Emma
Abigail
Carly
Jenna
Heather
Katherine
Caitlin
Kaitlin
Holly
Allison
Kaitlyn
Hannah
Kathryn





20 "Blackest" Girl Names


Imani
Ebony
Shanice
Aaliyah
Precious
Nia
Deja
Diamond
Asia
Aliyah
Jada
Tierra
Tiara
Kiara
Jazmine
Jasmin
Jazmin
Jasmine
Alexus
Raven





20 "Whitest" Boy Names


Jake
Connor
Tanner
Wyatt
Cody
Dustin
Luke
Jack
Scott
Logan
Cole
Lucas
Bradley
Jacob
Garrett
Dylan
Maxwell
Hunter
Brett
Colin





20 "Blackest" Boy Names


DeShawn
DeAndre
Marquis
Darnell
Terrell
Malik
Trevon
Tyrone
Willie
Dominique
Demetrius
Reginald
Jamal
Maurice
Jalen
Darius
Xavier
Terrance
Andre
Darryl


Copyright © 2006 ABC News Internet Ventures

Bollox....no way the following are Black names.....more ghettofabulous names...

• Raven...
• diamond
• Margues or any of those other made up names BLACK!!!
• Rah next I'll hear that Mercedes and BMW is a BLACK name too...

GTFOH

hell no would i change my name

but i wonder if that is something caribean people contend with whenhaving african partners(b i know where all african but you know what i mean)

great topic

Kunjufu wrote: Exactly what I was thinking.

I am sure Charlene/Sharlene and Chantelle are far more popular than Raven or Diamond...I've never even met a diamond!These people take the piss.

Everyone is an expert. Since when did black boys go by the name Dominique (as opposed to Dominic, which isnt even a black name).

DarkCloud wrote: And Demetrius???confused3

Dont even get me started on that one. Sounds like it belongs to some Greek folklore. Like someone who wrestles on Mount Olympus.

lmao@ DC and BB Who in their righ mind would call their child Diamond can you imagine the conversations or

Diamond is a bright young woman whos shine lights up a room, but she is easily distracted by others unlike her sister cubic zirocornia who is calmer and can fit in everyone's budget....





But having said that, havin a 'white name' can work to a disadvantage you may get the interview but not the call back.
As someone who has a frightfully 'white people name' it is very fustrating walking into places when your name is called only to be looked at like you are crazy (for them to repeat the name at you very slowly even though you've already confirmed that it is you) as they already have that image of somebody...

I've never heard the name Tanner being used as a first name!

lmbao @ AAS.I know exactly what you mean. Obviously they can't tell what colour you are when you speak on the phone and when they hear your name, but can't you just hear the sharp intake of breath when they actually clap eyes on you???

Hilarious!

That said, I know I've lost lucrative clients because of my colour, so names don't mean jack.

An_Advanced_Spark wrote:
For real....the same thing happens to me because my name doesn't get any whiter than what it is unfortunately. If you have a 'black'name you're better offIMO.

P.S. - I agree with what the other postershave said lol.

its an american news article eg abc news network so for the yanks that may be true but not here in uk

im sure there is a slight difference in american and brit popular names