“Jamira? Where do you hail from?”
“New York.”
“And your name? Where’s that from?”
“It’s Arabic; my father is Muslim.”
“Oh, how…interesting!”
I can’t count the number of times I’ve had variations of this exchange in my life. After revealing the Arabic roots of my name, I often receive a nod of understanding, as if the other person intuitively grasps that there’s a deeper story behind it. The consistent follow-up question, “Where are you from?” indicates a lingering assumption: surely, an uncommon name can’t belong to someone from the U.S. Spoiler alert: I’ve never traveled outside the country, despite my “ethnic” name.
When people discover that my father, originally from Brooklyn, converted to Islam around two decades before I was born, a lightbulb seems to flicker. It cannot be that my parents simply liked the name! No, that’s apparently off the table. Growing up with a “distinctive” name can be challenging, and the complications are often magnified for individuals of color.
Media Representation
In Season 3 of ABC’s mixed-ish, an entire episode tackles the dilemma faced by black parents who want to name their child something that reflects their heritage. Andre is set on naming his newborn son DeShawn, but others question how a name like that fits among siblings with more common names like Zoey and Junior.
Bow, familiar with the struggles of having an unconventional name, expresses concerns, convinced that a name like DeShawn might hinder his son’s opportunities. This notion is echoed when Andre’s colleague, Kevin, admits he’d be hesitant to board a plane piloted by someone named DeShawn. Harsh, but sadly not unusual. Eventually, they settle on the more “acceptable” name DeShawn Matthew Johnson, so he has a fallback for social situations.
Cultural Perceptions
Why is DeShawn perceived negatively while a name like Amara isn’t? The answer lies in cultural perceptions. Amara and similar names are often seen as trendy and unique, while names like DeShawn, Tremaine, or even Jamal are viewed as “ethnic” and thus carry more stigma. It’s as if Ryken is destined for the corner office while Tremaine might only ever find work in retail or, if lucky, as a professional athlete.
Pilot Inspektor (yes, that is a real name), who sounds like a character from a cartoon, could easily have a successful career, while a name like Uzoamaka might struggle to even land an entry-level interview, despite being highly qualified.
Research on Name Bias
Evidence of bias against those with “different” names can be hard to pinpoint in real time; hiring managers are unlikely to admit that they passed over Le’Kendrick solely because of his name. However, research supports this phenomenon.
Marianne Bertrand and Sendhil Mullainathan, researchers at the National Bureau of Economic Research, conducted a study titled “Are Emily and Greg More Employable than Lakisha and Jamal? A Field Experiment on Labor Market Discrimination.” Their findings are likely unsurprising to anyone who has faced discrimination based on their name.
In their experiment, they submitted resumes in Boston and Chicago that featured either distinctly black or distinctly white names. Unsurprisingly, candidates with white-sounding names were 50% more likely to receive callbacks. Even when resumes were upgraded, those with white names still had a 30% higher chance of being contacted than those with black-sounding names.
As an adult with a unique ethnic name, I often ponder how much it might have hindered my job search. When I applied for a receptionist position in a predominantly white area, I noticed a stark contrast between the number of applications I submitted and the interviews I received. I knew I was qualified, but would potential employers prefer the first name their clients encounter to be Jamira over something more conventional like Grace? Based on the data and my experiences, it seems likely.
Societal Biases
We seldom reflect on our biases tied to names. A name like Rain may evoke thoughts of a free-spirited lifestyle, while Zolten might imply eccentric parenting. But hearing a name like Shaniqua may lead to unfounded assumptions of being “ghetto,” while Hakim might immediately be labeled a “thug.” Such preconceived notions are ingrained in our society, whether we acknowledge them or not, and they are often baseless.
Parents shouldn’t have to consider how society will perceive their child based on their name. Yet, we must recognize that these biases exist. They manifest in the experiences of countless individuals, like LaTanya, who struggle to secure jobs despite having impressive qualifications. Ignoring this issue only perpetuates the cycle.
Resources for Expecting Parents
If you’re on the hunt for the ideal name, our comprehensive baby name section can offer insightful guidance. For more on pregnancy and home insemination, check out this excellent resource on in vitro fertilization. Additionally, for those interested in at-home options, visit this post on insemination kits.
In summary, my unique name has undoubtedly shaped my life experiences in profound ways, revealing the complex layers of societal bias that persist in our world today.