The first digit (FD) phenomenon i.e., the significant digits of numbers in large data are often distributed according to a logarithmically decreasing function was first reported by S. Newcomb and then many decades later independently by F. Benford. After its century long neglect the last three decades have seen huge growth in the number of relevant publications. However, notwithstanding the rising popularity the two independent proponents of the phenomenon are not equally acknowledged an indication of which is disproportionate number of citations accumulated by Newcomb (1881) and Benford (1938). In the present study we use citation analysis to show that the formalization of the eponym Benford's law, a name questionable itself for overlooking Newcomb's contribution, by Raimi (1976) had a strong adverse effect on the future citations of Newcomb (1881). Furthermore, we identify the papers published over various decades of the developmental history of the FD phenomenon, which latter turned out to be amongst the most cited ones in the field. We find that lack of its consideration, intentional or occasionally out of ignorance for referencing by the prominent papers, is responsible for a far lesser number of citations of Newcomb (1881) in comparison to Benford (1938).

翻译：首位数字现象，即大数据中数字的显著位数常服从对数递减分布，最初由S.纽康报道，数十年后又由F.本福德独立发现。在经历长达一个世纪的忽视后，过去三十年间相关出版物数量急剧增长。然而，尽管该现象日益受到关注，其两位独立提出者并未获得同等程度的认可，这体现在纽康（1881）与本福德（1938）论文所积累的引用次数存在显著失衡。本研究通过引用分析表明，雷米（1976）对所谓“本福特定律”的正式命名（该命名本身因忽视纽康的贡献而存疑）对纽康（1881）论文的后续引用产生了严重的负面影响。此外，我们识别了首位数字现象发展历程中各十年间发表的关键论文，这些论文后来成为该领域被引频次最高的文献。研究发现，重要论文在引用时——无论是出于故意还是偶然的疏忽——未能充分考虑纽康的贡献，导致纽康（1881）的引用次数远低于本福德（1938）。