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ArchivesHow are hyphenated names counted in the popularity statistics?
Let's say I name my daughter Mary-Jane.
Does it get counted as Mary only or is it counted as Maryjane?
Just wondering because there is a popularity statistic for Maryrose, Maryanne, Maryellen, Maryjane etc. is it just for Maryrose, Maryanne etc. or does it include Mary-Rose, Mary-Anne etc.? I guess not? Because my guess is some of the more popular combos (Maryanne) would have ranked higher if Mary-Anne was counted in?
Please rate my list: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/6232
Does it get counted as Mary only or is it counted as Maryjane?
Just wondering because there is a popularity statistic for Maryrose, Maryanne, Maryellen, Maryjane etc. is it just for Maryrose, Maryanne etc. or does it include Mary-Rose, Mary-Anne etc.? I guess not? Because my guess is some of the more popular combos (Maryanne) would have ranked higher if Mary-Anne was counted in?
Please rate my list: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/6232
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My understanding for the SSA (US Social Security Administration) is that hyphens are omitted, and double names without a hyphen are recorded as first name, middle name.
So Mary-Jane would be recorded as Maryjane, and Mary Jane would be just Mary. The SSA doesn't include any middle names in its popular-names listings.
Informally, I have observed that double names without a hyphen are very common, more common than the hyphenated versions and often more common than the combined versions: Mary Ann, Mary Jane, Mary Lou, Ann Marie, Jo Ann, Jo Ellen, etc. These would have been counted as Mary, Ann, Jo. I think this helps explain why a name like Jo was so high on the list through the 1960s.
So Mary-Jane would be recorded as Maryjane, and Mary Jane would be just Mary. The SSA doesn't include any middle names in its popular-names listings.
Informally, I have observed that double names without a hyphen are very common, more common than the hyphenated versions and often more common than the combined versions: Mary Ann, Mary Jane, Mary Lou, Ann Marie, Jo Ann, Jo Ellen, etc. These would have been counted as Mary, Ann, Jo. I think this helps explain why a name like Jo was so high on the list through the 1960s.
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This is correct for the SSA, however some other national agencies do include hyphens and/or diacritics in their data.
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