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I'm pretty sure that would be "a life expectancy chart". It's pretty unlikely that your name has any impact on your life expectancy. But, since name popularity

I'm pretty sure that would be "a life expectancy chart". It's pretty unlikely that your name has any impact on your life expectancy. But, since name popularity is influenced quite a bit by social/cultural status, and those do affect life expectancy, you'd probably see some differences along those lines.

deleted 12y ago
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hluska 12y ago
Great comment! In case anyone is interested, there have been some studies done where researchers send in two identical resumes. The only difference is that one has a traditionally 'white' sounding name, whereas the other has a name more associated with minorities. The 'white' sounding name performs better in these types of tests. http://www.slate.com/articles/business/the_dismal_science/2005/04/a_roshanda_by_any_other_name.html http://www.slate.com/articles/business/the_dismal_science/20... ^ This article gives some more information, including an interesting story about two brothers named Winner and Loser. The most relevant quote, however, comes right at the end: "The data show that, on average, a person with a distinctively black name—whether it is a woman named Imani or a man named DeShawn—does have a worse life outcome than a woman named Molly or a man named Jake. But it isn't the fault of his or her name. If two black boys, Jake Williams and DeShawn Williams, are born in the same neighborhood and into the same familial and economic circumstances, they would likely have similar life outcomes. But the kind of parents who name their son Jake don't tend to live in the same neighborhoods or share economic circumstances with the kind of parents who name their son DeShawn. And that's why, on average, a boy named Jake will tend to earn more money and get more education than a boy named DeShawn. DeShawn's name is an indicator—but not a cause—of his life path." (Levitt and Dubner, "A Roshanda by any other name")

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

hluska 12y ago

Great comment! In case anyone is interested, there have been some studies done where researchers send in two identical resumes. The only difference is that one has a traditionally 'white' sounding name, whereas the other has a name more associated with minorities. The 'white' sounding name performs better in these types of tests. http://www.slate.com/articles/business/the_dismal_science/2005/04/a_roshanda_by_any_other_name.html http://www.slate.com/articles/business/the_dismal_science/20... ^ This article gives some more information, including an interesting story about two brothers named Winner and Loser. The most relevant quote, however, comes right at the end: "The data show that, on average, a person with a distinctively black name—whether it is a woman named Imani or a man named DeShawn—does have a worse life outcome than a woman named Molly or a man named Jake. But it isn't the fault of his or her name. If two black boys, Jake Williams and DeShawn Williams, are born in the same neighborhood and into the same familial and economic circumstances, they would likely have similar life outcomes. But the kind of parents who name their son Jake don't tend to live in the same neighborhoods or share economic circumstances with the kind of parents who name their son DeShawn. And that's why, on average, a boy named Jake will tend to earn more money and get more education than a boy named DeShawn. DeShawn's name is an indicator—but not a cause—of his life path." (Levitt and Dubner, "A Roshanda by any other name")