Having a 'Spiky' Name Is Bad for Job Interviews—How to Tell if Yours Is One

Job candidates with names that sound smooth and soft may have a surprising edge in the hiring process, according to a new study that explored how sound symbolism leads to hiring biases.

Researchers at Carleton University found that people with names like Renee, Liam or Noelle—which include soft, flowing consonant sounds—were more likely to be favored for certain roles over people with names like Greta, Tate or Krista, whose names contain harsher sounds.

The study is the latest to show how seemingly irrelevant cues—such as the way a candidate's name sounds—can shape perceptions during hiring, even when employers have limited information about a particular applicant.

It adds to growing evidence that name-based biases extend beyond class or race stereotypes and into the realm of phonetics.