The “Karen” Effect: How Memes Kill Name Popularity
How a Name Turned Into a Meme and Disappeared Back in the 1960s, “Karen” was the name everyone knew. The girl next door, your favorite teacher, your mom’s best friend, all Karens. In 1965, it ranked as the third most popular name in America. It felt classic, solid, and everywhere. Jump ahead to the 2020s, […]
The Resume Bias Reality: How Your First Name Silently Affects Hiring
You’ve done everything right. The degree? Check. Solid experience? Nailed it. Your resume is polished and ready to go. You find a job that looks perfect, hit “Apply,” and then nothing happens. It’s easy to shrug it off and assume someone else was simply a better fit. But research keeps showing an uncomfortable truth. Your […]
The Bouba-Kiki Effect: How Your Name’s Sound Shapes First Impressions
When you hear someone’s name for the first time, your mind immediately starts forming a picture of them long before you ever meet. Most people assume these snap judgments come from memories or cultural bias, but something deeper is happening. The sound of a name alone can shape how someone is perceived. This subtle phenomenon […]