// length of the first part of a split is equivalent to index-of
RETURN length(split("European Union","pean")[0]); 

START u=node:node_auto_index("fullName:*jay*") 
MATCH (u:User) 
WITH distinct u
RETURN {firstName : u.firstName , lastName : u.lastName, fullName : u.fullName, profilePicture : u.profilePicture, id : u.id} as user
// length of the first part of a split is equivalent to index-of
ORDER BY length(split(toLower(u.fullName,"jay")[0]);