2010/06/01 by Ernest L. Abel · 13 citations
Social Sciences · Medicine · Psychology · #Names, Identity, and Discrimination Research #Medical and Biological Sciences #Diversity and Career in Medicine #Subspecialty #Medical profession #Family medicine #Psychology #Medicine #Medical education
paper · pdf · doi:10.1179/002777310x12682237914945
published in Names 58(2), 65-74 (University Library System, University of Pittsburgh)
openalex publication_date 2010/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
AbstractThree studies showed that medical doctors and lawyers were disproportionately more likely to have surnames that resembled their professions. A fourth study showed that, for doctors, this influence extended to the type of medicine they practiced. Study 1 found that people with the surname "Doctor" were more likely to be doctors than lawyers, whereas those with the surname "Lawyer" were more likely to be lawyers. Studies 2 and 3 broadened this finding by comparing doctors and lawyers whose first or last names began with three-letter combinations representative of their professions, for example, "doc," "law," and likewise found a significant relationship between name and profession. Study 4 found that the initial letters of physicians' last names were significantly related to their subspecialty, for example, Raymonds were more likely to be radiologists than dermatologists. These results provide further evidence names influence medical career choices.