Before theyre even old enough to walklet alone fill out a resumeexperts say the die is cast on a babys career success simply because of their name.

The pressure to name a child is heavy and the choices plentiful--if not endless--with names varying from Bob to Pilot Inspektor (the name of actor Jason Lees son). Even if youre convinced that your cute bundle of joy is destined to be an artist, she also might want to become a CEO, and an unusual name could be the only thing standing in her way.

To some extent the idea that a name will shape your destiny is a very old idea. In the modern day, its simply a fact that one doesnt expect to find a high-powered female executive named Bambi or Britney, says Catherine Connors, spokesperson for Babble, an online parenting magazine.

Connors says that while a person is always free to change their name when they come of age, it's best if parents put some real thought into a name that straddles the fine line between boring and extreme.

You are branding your child. To say that giving your baby a strange name would be a curse is a strong word, but youre definitely going to be hanging an albatross around their neck. At a certain point, if they want to move into a professional field, an oddball name is going to have to be something they address, says Connors. Theyre going to have to make the tough decision of whether to change it completely, adapt the name, or go by their initials only.

Likewise, choosing a name that doesnt pack enough punchlike John Smithparents run the risk of the child getting passed over because the name is too common, says Sharn Lynn Wyeth, author of Know the Name, Know the Person.

If the name is too common, hiring managers are going to think, This person has nothing new to bring to the table, so why hire them? says Wyeth. Unless youre looking for someone for a redundant task who will be seen and not heard, youre going to look at that name and say, This person is just more of the same.

Unfortunately, prejudice against names isnt limited to the initial point of hire, says Connors. Its also possible that a name can mean your child gets passed over for promotions.

If your name is extremely odd or extremely flashy, its almost like wearing a low cut dress or glittery pumps to a business meeting, says Connors. People dont take you as seriously, and they may bypass someone named Angel for a promotion over someone named Elizabeth.

Of course, the impact of a name all depends on the field.

Read the original:
The Baby Brand: Naming for Success… or Failure