would an english name get you more business?

[mani]

i was reading about james caan (born Nazim Khan)

and thought would a more english sounding name give you a better chance to succeed in business?

bit of an unbelievable story though on how he changed it though.

"I was called Nazim Khan, and it suddenly struck me that I could spell my surname in a different way. I mentioned this to my friends and they started calling me James Caan as a joke. Then I had some business cards printed with my 'new' name on for fun - and somehow the name stuck. Presenting myself as James Caan was a great opener with potential clients, so I used it all the time, eventually changing my name by deed poll some years later, much to my father's disapproval."

more like i felt white people felt more comfortable talking to a james than a nazim.

[mindstate]

laxmi mittal is the top 10 richest person in the world..he didn't feel the need to change his name..most of his business is abroad anyway...

james caan didnt do it to get more business...he liked this name better...he sounded more 'cool' sporting a new name...as james caan (the actor) was a very popular actor in the 70s

[-M0E-]

In terms of being successful, I think it does help. Although I would like to think it doesn't but we just have to look at politician(s) i.e. michael 'hecht' howard, the music industry- jay sean, vehicle conversions - kahn project etc.

For smaller based businesses I think sociological factors such as the population of ethnic minority groups in the area plays a part as they are most likely to have a foreign non-christian names.

In asian populated areas I've noticed businesses will keep an asian name to draw custom for example, solicitor firms - Khan solicitors, and if you look at asian owned firms based outside asian populated areas they tend to have a more traditional English or Jewish names. It seems to be working for them so I suppose it does matter...?

[PaKi PwInCeSs]

COCONUT... Thats what he is.

[mindstate]

if you are the product/service like most entrepreneurs are then i guess ur name will have an effect on ur business...

point is...i don't think many people even know the names of the creators of google...

[Evil_Genious]

Well James Caan made his cash in UK and Mittal started out in India. So there was no need to change his name, he was already rich before he came out...

Plus Mittal has more power than Caan especially as he's dealing with raw material, which people will ALWAYS want. And Caan was selling a professional service, and needed to attract people and companies to him. But at the end of the day if Caan doesn't do it, someone else will.....

[xXxshortyxXx]

To Be honest i dont think it really matters.. As Long as you know whats the score.. English Name O Asian Name dont make a different!!.. Especially when it comes to business..

[mani]

EG - yeah i was gonna say the same point - mittal's business isnt as face to face dealings as caan's.

i guess it also depends on who your selling it to - if you've got khan solicitors i guess your market is asians. if you know that alot of your clientelle will be non-asian then i think it would pay dividends

[Pretzel]

People like my name, my first name that is... my name won't hinder me in anyway i think.

[mani]

maybe an asian name which also sounds english would be ideal!!

sairah or sommet like that.

[Voodookid]

If you are going to be dealing with a lot of english clients then it can be a good idea to change your name.

Your name isn't bad, Khan is a common name and i don't think it would be necessary to do so.

When i first started my business, some 8 years ago now, i did consider using an alias for business, but decided not to. Main reason was that i was confident enough in my talent to know it wouldn't matter what my name is, my work would speak for itself.

When i cold-call companies and introduce myself it does make have an effect when they realise i'm an asian.. But thats part of being in business.. But once they see my portfolio of work, and its a massive portfolio, it speaks louder than anything i can say or do..

[mani]

i'm thinkin of calling myself michael J Jackson

like michael j fox but a bit more browner.

[Pretzel]

Originally Posted by mani maybe an asian name which also sounds english would be ideal!! sairah or sommet like that.

An asian name thats easy to pronouce and sounds less like vomit...

[Red_Chillies]

Interesting. Maybe we make subconscious judgements based on names.