Would You Value The Message More If My Name Were Joe?

Friday, March 28th, 2008 at 11:17 am

Hi,

This morning I was over at James Brauschs site and read an interesting post – What’s In A Name.

James made an interesting observation:

I used to work a lot with Indian nationals who wanted to break into this business. In fact, a business that has complete run itself for several years now still does work with Indian nationals aspiring to be international Internet business owners.

In that business, I cautioned them to choose a pen name. I showed them how to choose a European sounding name. Why? Because tests showed that everything they did was accepted better with a European sounding name vs. an Indian national traditional name.

The difference was remarkable. Sometimes article submissions would be accepted at a rate 50 times higher from John Carpenter than from Anil Singh. Racism? Nationalism? Just a feeling of being more comfortable with a European name for U.S. residents (which is still the largest English speaking Internet market in the world)?

I have no idea. Test results can tell what works. Testing can’t answer the why question though.

I could cut & paste the entire post here, but I would urge you to read the post as well and draw your own conclusions.

But it did bring up an interesting point – how much does the name of an individual impact their business, business relationships and opportunities?

Would the message I deliver be more accepted if I signed my posts with “Joe” or shortened “Mohamed” with “Mo”? How about I use my nickname “Robert” which was “given” to me when we arrived to Canada? Sort of brings back the era of colonialism, doesn’t it?

Every country went through this – Canada even had its hand when Irish children came to Canada and were adopted – many were given French names since they sounded more “Canadian” – check this out: http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=10165

Perhaps in an ideal world there would be no impact, and you’d be recognized based on your abilities regardless of your name — whether it is Mohamed, Gary, Romuald or James.

It was interesting that James mentioned that when he switch from James Brausch to Diego Norte his increased by 50% (from 23% to 36%). Why? Even he isn’t sure since James is about as “white” (perhaps the word that I should use is caucasian) as you can get [those are my thoughts, not his].

Here is another example – I know of a VP that I worked with in Canada, when he went to work in the US he shortened his last name — and he was as white as you can get as well (his ethnic background was Polish). Why? He probably felt that his Polish last name might limit his opportunities, I don’t know as I never really asked since it is a pretty personal decision.

What is in a name? Does the name Mohamed scare people? Does it evoke thoughts of radical Muslims? Am I radical? Nope. Will I discuss my religous beliefs? No – two things that I don’t like to talk about are politics and religion. I’ve learned form experience that these are discussions that only cause bitterness, and I’m an empathetic person, a humanitarian and it really disturbs me when someone tells me they don’t like me since I’m a pretty friendly guy (at least everyone tells me that I am too nice).

My last name is Bhimji – a traditional Indian name. In fact my grandfather is from the Indian sub-continent from the state of Gujrat. He emigrated to Africas East Coast over 100 years ago.

I guess I could rewrite my last name to be “Benjamin” — so there is my new pen name – Robert Benjamin – don’t think I can get much more caucasian than that. Interesting that the name Robert means “bright fame” in German (see http://www.behindthename.com/name/robert) and the name Benjamin means “son of the south” or “son of the right hand” (see http://www.behindthename.com/name/benjamin).

Would it make a difference if I told you that I’ve lived in Canada for 38 years? That I grew up in this great country? I can not relate to my traditional/ethnic country of India, or even Africa — just because my parents grew up there and my grandfather is from India. Yes, when someone says they are from Africa or India – a certain sense of pride is evoked since I know that my ancestry is from there.

So am I bitter? Nope, not at all. If someone can not see past the name then they are the ones loosing out, not me since that’s one person I’d rather not call a friend.

Here are some great perspectives on names:

I will end with this…

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet“

Meaning

What matters is what something is, not what it is called.

Origin

From Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, 1594:

JULIET:
      ‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
      Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
      What’s Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
      Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
      Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
      What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
      By any other name would smell as sweet;
      So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d,
      Retain that dear perfection which he owes
      Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
      And for that name which is no part of thee
      Take all myself.

(from http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/305250.html)