In a world where first impressions matter, could your name play a role in shaping your career trajectory?
To find out, we conducted an in-depth analysis of all the names that most frequently appeared at the top of America’s corporate ladder. Along the way, we uncovered the reality of the gender disparity in senior leadership positions such as CEOs, COOs and Managers - shedding a light on who truly holds the most authority in the corporate world.
What we analyzed
For this study, we collected and analyzed 3,046 LinkedIn profiles from the U.S., specifically focusing on individuals in leadership roles. By examining the data in detail, we identified patterns in names commonly associated with executive and presidential positions within companies.
Our methodology involved reviewing profiles with titles such as “CEO,” “COO,” “CTO,” “CFO,” “President,” “Vice President,” “Director,” and “Manager.” We also categorized the results by gender to evaluate disparities in leadership representation.
What we discovered
- In the United States, John is the most successful name in the business world, followed by Michael and David
- Only 36% of women hold positions of corporate leadership in comparison to 64% of men
- Jennifer was revealed as the top-ranking name among the women in leadership positions and was the only female name in America’s overall top 10 most successful names
John revealed as the most successful name in America
In American corporate leadership, certain names stand out, reflecting a clear trend of male dominance at the highest levels of success.
Our study reveals that the most common names in senior leadership positions—so if yours is on the list, you may be one step closer to reaching corporate success.
If your name is John, you’re in good luck as it’s the most common name among CEOs and senior leadership positions overall in America. Followed by Michael, David, Robert and Mark.
However, this data highlights another striking trend that all but one name on the list belongs to a man. This emphasises the stark reality that gender representation at the highest levels of corporate success still remains significantly unbalanced.
The dominance of male names in this list is not a coincidence but merely a reminder of the systemic barriers that women face in attaining senior leadership positions in the corporate world. This trend serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to foster greater inclusion and diversity in corporate hiring practices.
Only a third of leadership positions are held by women
Our research revealed that overall, only one-third (36%) of the profiles analyzed are women. Therefore a staggering 64% of those in positions of power in America are men. This once again underlines the gender representation imbalance of corporate leadership.
Whilst it is clear that more progress needs to be made, it is essential to recognize the women who are breaking these barriers and paving the way for greater equality in corporate leadership. Below we will highlight the names of the most successful women in the corporate world, whilst celebrating their role in diversifying the senior leadership in companies.
When it comes to female leadership in America, it is clear that one name stands out among the rest - Jennifer. With 28 overall appearances, Jennifer takes the top spot as the most common name among women in executive roles and even ranks sixth overall among all leaders, regardless of gender.
Following closely behind is Lisa, Mary and Karen who all share second place with 14 appearances each. Meanwhile, Julie secures third place with 11 appearances. Rounding off the top five are Michelle, Kimberly and Emily.
The most prominent names in each position of leadership
Our analysis also uncovered which names were the most prevalent in each position from CEO to managers.
- CEO: “John” is the most common name.
- CFO: “Michael” leads the financial function.
- COO: “John” stands out in operations.
- CTO: “John” appears again, this time in technology.
- President: “Michael” is the most common for this position.
- Director: “Kim” represents a notable exception, standing out among female names.
- Manager: “David” stands out among managers.
It is no surprise that male names continue to dominate each leadership position, with John and Michael making frequent appearances at the top. This again highlights the underrepresented of women in these positions of power in America.
However, there is one standout in this list - Kim. At the Director level, Kim takes the lead as the most common name implying progress in breaking through these barriers. While there is still a long way to go toward gender balance in leadership, names like Kim making the leaderboard show that change is happening, one step at a time.
Prepare to lead
If you’re considering a career change or aiming for a leadership position, it’s essential that your application materials showcase your skills and ambitions. Our resume builder makes it easy to create a polished resume, while our resume templates and resume examples provide inspiration to help you stand out from the crowd.
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Methodology
For our study on names and power, we selected and analyzed 3,046 LinkedIn profiles of professionals in America. We focused on key titles that indicate leadership positions, including 'CEO', 'COO', 'CTO', 'CFO', 'president', 'vice president', 'director' or 'manager. We classified the profiles by gender to assess female and male representation in these positions. This process allowed us to identify the most common names in positions of power and analyze gender disparities, shedding light on the power dynamics in American companies.
Data recorded: February 2025
