Does the length of a table name affect performance?
Table names have to be stored just like any other data (in the system catalog pg_class to be precise), and there are multiple objects that are typically named matching the table name (constraints, indexes, sequences, ...) so there is a marginal cost for longer strings. But you will not be able to notice any difference in performance. Internal references are implemented with oid numbers (object identifier types), so independent of the string used as name.

The more important consideration is that your code becomes longer and harder to read and type. Typos more likely. Aliases are nice, but you still have to spell out the name in many places. So the rule of thumb should be:


As short as possible.
As long as necessary to be clear.