Forget the handshake, for a lot of people the real first impression starts even before that when an introduction is made. According to new research, one in five Americans admit they judge other people by their first name alone.
A survey of 2-thousand adults across the country reveals that 18% say they make assumptions about someone based only on their name.
- Gen Z (29%) and millennials (21%) are the most likely to jump to conclusions about someone’s name.
- Of course, some names seem to set people off much more than others. When asked which first name has the most negative connotations to them, Karen wins by a landslide.
- Chad comes in a distant second, with Donald, John and Damien rounding out the top five.
- The research also reveals a lot of Americans have a complex relationship with their own names.
- Overall, 42% of respondents don’t feel like they “embody the spirit” of their first name.
- But younger Americans were more likely to feel strongly connected to their name, as 44% of Gen Zers and 40% of millennials polled strongly identify with their first name. Just 29% of baby boomers and 31% of Gen Xers feel the same.
- Some would even go as far as getting rid of the name they didn’t choose themselves, including 20% who admit they wish they could change their first name.
- When asked what name they would use instead, Jessica was the most popular option, followed by Amira, Caroline, Lisa, and Natalie.
- There were also some alternatives that are far less traditional, like Quandale Dingle, SirCartier, Purple Shay, Furnace, Sapling, Legacy, Cipher, and Indigo.
Source: Talker