Distinctively Black Names and Educational Outcomes

Abstract

Names can convey information about race or ethnicity and therefore can be used to discriminate against protected groups; many researchers have demonstrated as much through audit studies. Yet few studies link life outcomes with names using observational data. We use administrative data from over 3 million Black students to ask whether those with more statistically Black names have differential educational outcomes. We find that while test scores, college enrollment, and college completion are negatively correlated with Black names net of background characteristics, this relationship is absent when we compare across siblings within households.