A naming expert says picturing your kid as a CEO before naming them can backfire. She recommends these 33 names for success.
- Sophie Kihm is the editor in chief at Nameberry.
- She says the so-called "CEO test" for names falls short.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sophie Kihm, the editor in chief at Nameberry. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Parents all want their kids to be successful. When they hear I run a baby naming website, people often ask me about the names that will spell out success for their yet-to-be-born children.
Some parents start with the CEO test: seeing whether they can picture an executive or a Supreme Court Justice with a certain name. That test might be a good benchmark, but it's flawed, because it's hard to imagine something we've never seen before.
Because of that, the test naturally favors classic names (usually those associated with white Christian men) while neglecting newer names. Of course, widely popular names like John, William, and Elizabeth are more likely to show up on any list, including one of CEOs or Senators.
Luckily, there are better ways to think about names for the next generation of execs, a group that will no doubt include popular names like Liam, Noah, Amelia, and Luna. Here's how to find a name that will all but guarantee success.
Global names
Business is increasingly global, so future leaders will need a name that "travels light." These are short and easy to understand in different languages. They're multi-cultural and dynamic but familiar around the globe.
For girls, this can include names like:
- Clara, meaning "clear, bright, or famous"
- Mila, meaning "favored" or "miracle"
- Luna, meaning "moon"
- Leni, meaning "light"
- Asha, meaning "one that lives well"
For boys:
- Felix, meaning "happy" or "fortunate"
- Hugo, meaning "intellect"
- Milo, meaning "merciful"
- Kai, meaning "sea"
- Leo, meaning "lion-hearted"
Names that mean success
Another option is to choose a name whose very meaning reflects a quality that CEOs or leaders need. Choosing a name that means fortune or victory could give your child the inner strength to hold his or her own in the boardroom.
For girls:
- Florence, meaning "flourishing"
- Odette, meaning "wealthy"
- Gloria, meaning "glory"
- Cleo, also meaning "glory"
- Aisha, meaning "alive and well"
- Colette, meaning "victory"
For boys:
- Otto, meaning "wealth"
- Derrick, meaning "ruler of the people"
- Edward, meaning "fortune"
- Rafferty, meaning "prosperous"
- Eamon, meaning "wealthy protector"
Born leaders
Leader names are popular in our Baby Name DNA tool. These are names from all sorts of traditions that have dignity and weight. They're formal and may have been used in your family for generations. There are no cutesy nicknames here, although the potential for pet names is huge!
Leader names for girls include:
- Octavia, meaning "eighth"
- Rose, a floral name
- Eloise, meaning "famous warrior"
- Naomi, meaning "pleasant"
- Celeste, meaning "heavenly"
- Frances, meaning "free one"
For boys:
- Theodore, meaning "gift"
- Atticus, meaning "rugged"
- George, meaning "farmer"
- Asher, meaning "happiness"
- Cyrus, meaning "sun"
- Langston, meaning "long stone"
Of course, no name can guarantee that your child will excel at business or politics. However, giving them a name that will be at home in boardrooms around the globe can help set them up for success early.