Career success can be influenced by many factors. Could these include name characteristics?

In this study, online sources were used to collect biographical information and bibliometrics of all consultant paediatric surgeons working in the United Kingdom (N = 192). Excel formulas and online name analysis tools were used to collect many forename and surname characteristics.

Shorter forenames were associated with having graduated from a top university for their medical degree, having a higher academic age and h-index, and more citations. Those who graduated from a non-top university for their medical degree had a longer number of consequent consonants in their surname. The number of consonant sequences in the first name was higher in those currently affiliated with a top university. A higher consonant-to-vowel ratio was found in paediatric surgeons who a) are currently affiliated with a non-top university (this was found only for the forename), b) had graduated from a top university for their medical degree or started publishing early following medical school graduation (these were found only for the surname). Those with an initial plosive in the forename had more first author publications, whereas those with an initial plosive in the surname were more likely to have graduated from a non-top university for their PhD. Paediatric surgeons with more popular names were more likely to have obtained their medical degree from the United Kingdom.

This study revealed that associations exist between certain name characteristics of consultant paediatric surgeons in the United Kingdom and their career success.