By Aimee Chanthadavong
Sarah and Daniel are the most popular staff names in the Australian retail sector, according to a study conducted by people identification providers Signal Advantage.
Nine out of the top ten names overall were female. This coincides with the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ findings that 56 per cent of people employed in retail are female.
The five most popular names for women in retail are Sarah, Jessica, Michelle, Emily and Laura. The most popular names for men in retail are Daniel, Alex, David, Michael and Ben.
People identification expert Graham Budinger from Signal Advantage said the most important thing about names in the workplace is being able to see them and use them.
“Names are important for relationship building, so it is vital for retail customers to see the name of the staff member who is helping them,” he said.
“A name badge isn’t just there to differentiate a staff member from the public; it provides a passive introduction and creates a positive and professional impression of the organisation.”
According to a name research report by Kabalarian Society, people named Sarah are easy going and refined and are successful in situations where they can use their skills of diplomacy in handling people.
Meanwhile, people named Daniel are driven with a strong inner urge to be of service. They have high levels of empathy and make people feel at ease because of their willingness to offer constructive advice and assistance.
The Signal Advantage name study examined 3,000 of its most-recent orders for name badges from the retail industry in Australia. The study was conducted on November 1, 2013 and analysed orders from small shops and restaurants through to department stores and national franchise operations.
Top 10 Female Names
- Sarah
- Jessica
- Michelle
- Emily
- Laura
- Maria
- Rebecca
- Stephanie
- Emma
- Rachel
Top 10 Male Names
- Daniel
- Alex
- David
- Michael
- Ben
- John
- Tim
- Luke
- Matthew
- Christopher