How many names are enough? Identifying network effects with the least set of listed contacts

•This note addresses a practical question inherent to designing a name generator.•We analyze network association with achievement by adding names to generator list.•We conclude five names to be cost effective.•Network association with achievement weakens with fewer names.

How many names are enough to reveal network effects using a name generator for network analysis? We analyze network data from two large organizations varying in complexity. We ask how much the network association with achievement is strengthened by adding another name to the recorded list of each person's sociometric citations. We conclude that five names is the cost effective number of sociometric citations to record. The network association with achievement weakens quickly with fewer names, especially in the more clustered network.