LinkedIn Analysis Finds Peter and Deborah are the Top Names for CEOs

Posted on April 27, 2011

LinkedIn has released LinkedInsights data that reveals dateabout the top names of CEOs. The LinkedInsights data also found that CEOs in the United States often have four letter names (like Jack and Fred). Howard was the top CEO name in the U.S.

According to the LinkedInsights data, the top five names for male CEOs globally are:

  1. Peter
  2. Bob
  3. Jack
  4. Bruce
  5. Fred
The top five names for female CEOs globally are:
  1. Deborah
  2. Sally
  3. Debra
  4. Cynthia
  5. Carolyn
LinkedIn also found that ales professionals tend to have short names, around four letters (like Chip, Todd and Trey), while engineers tend to have longer names, around six letters (like Rajesh, Jeremy and Andrew). U.S. professionals in the food and restaurant industry tend to have longer French names (like Thierry, Philippe and Laurent).

Dr. Frank Nuessel, the editor of Names: A Journal of Onomastics and a professor of classical and modern languages at the University of Louisville, says, "It's possible that sales professionals in the U.S. and male CEOs around the world use these shortened versions of their name as a way to be more approachable and accessible to potential clients. Interestingly enough, female CEOs appear to prefer to use their full names and not nicknames, which could signify that they want to be taken more seriously and want co-workers to think of them in a more professional light."

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