Pretty Dainly and Gold Lemon Have Made It: Names from the 2023 Licensure Examination for Dentists

Of the 1,668 who completed the November 2023 Licensure Examination for Dentists, 732 (43.88%) passed.

Excluding the three people whose sex I failed to determine from a quick search of social media or news articles, the passers included 545 women and 184 men.

The Women

Among the women, 158 (28.99%) had only one given name, 359 (65.87%) had two, and 28 (5.14%) had three.

First Given Names

The most popular initials for the first given name are M (86, 15.78%), J (65, 11.93%), A (64, 11.74%), K (44, 8.07%), and R (40, 7.34%). No one had a first given name that started with O, U, X, or Y.

Table 1(a). Most popular first given names among women.

Bearers	Name
17	Maria
14	Ma.
10	Patricia
6	Mary, Rochelle
5	Frances, Thea
4	Angelica, Christine, Hanna, Karen, Nicole, Princess, Rose
3	Almira, Alyssa, Ana, Anna, Anne, Hannah, Ivy, Jessa, Joyce, Kimberly, Marie, Marielle, Rachelle, Samantha, Sandra, Veronica
2	Andre, Angela, Angelika, April, Beatriz, Chelsea, Clarissa, Hazel, Jan, Janine, Jean, Joan, Joanna, Justine, Karla, Kate, Kathleen, Kristina, Kristine, Madeleine, Marianne, Mariel, Marinel, Maryam, May, Mia, Monique, Nathalie, Pamela, Pauline, Rea, Sheena, Sittie, Sophia, Theresa, Therese

Table 1(b). Most popular first given names among women (combined spellings).

Bearers	Name
31	Maria (Ma.)
10	Patricia
8	Christine (Cristine, Kristine, Kristene), Hanna (Hannah, Hana)
7	Rochelle (Roshell)
6	Ana (Anna), Angelica (Angelika), Mary
5	Frances, Karen (Caren), Marielle (Mariel), Thea
4	Alyssa (Allysa), Crystal (Christille, Kristelle, Krystle), Ivy (Aivee), Kimberly (Khimberly), Nicole, Princess, Rachelle (Rachel), Rose
3	Aira (Airah, Airra), Almira, Anne, Hazel (Heizel), Jan (Jann), Janine (Janyn), Jean (Jeane), Jessa, Joan (Joanne), Joyce, Kate (Khate), Kathleen (Kathleene), Marie, Marinel (Marienelle), May (Mae), Pauline (Paulene), Samantha, Sandra, Veronica
2	Alliah (Alleiah), Andre, Angela, April, Beatriz, Carmela (Karmela), Chelsea, Clarissa, Clarisse (Clariz), Denise (Denisse), Diane (Dianne), Erica (Erika), Jamie (Jaimee), Jane (Jayne), Jillian (Gilliane), Joy (Joi), Justine, Karla, Kassandra (Kazandra), Kristina, Lea (Leah), Leanne (Lianne), Madeleine, Marianne, Marinella (Marienella), Maryam, Mia, Monique, Nathalie, Nica (Nikka), Pamela, Rea, Roan (Ro-Ann), Sheena, Sittie, Sophia, Stephanie (Steffani), Theresa, Therese, Tracy (Tracie)

Second Given Names

The most popular initials for the second given name are M (74, 19.12%), A (62, 16.02%), J (46, 11.89%), C (28, 7.24%), and L (22, 5.68%). No one had a second given name that started with O, U, Q, W, or X.

Table 2(a). Most popular second given names among women.

Bearers	Name
26	Mae
16	Marie
12	Anne, Joy
11	Ann
10	Grace, Rose
7	Nicole
5	Jane, Kate, Louise
4	Camille, Mari
3	Angela, Beatrice, Beatriz, Claire, Dominique, Faith, Isabel, Jean, Joyce, Mariz, Patricia, Pauline, Victoria
2	Alexis, Alyssa, Apple, Ara, Bernadette, Christine, Cristina, Faye, Janine, Jasmine, Johanna, June, Lauren, Liza, Lou, Marielle, May, Rica, Sofia, Stephanie

Table 2(b). Most popular second given names among women (combined spellings).

Bearers	Name
29	Mae (May, Mhay)
23	Anne (Ann)
20	Marie (Mari)
12	Joy
10	Grace, Rose
7	Nicole
5	Isabel (Ysabel, Yzabel), Jane, Kate, Louise
4	Camille
3	Angela, Angelica (Angelika, Angeleika), Beatrice, Beatriz, Claire, Dominique, Faith, Janine (Jhannine), Jean, Joyce, Lauren (Lorren), Mariz, Patricia, Pauline, Rica (Rika), Victoria
2	Alexis, Alyssa, Andre (Andrei), Angelie (Anjeli), Antoniette (Antoinete), Apple, Ara, Belle (Bell), Bernadette, Carmela (Karmela), Christine, Cristina, Faye, Gen (Genn), Janine, Jasmine, Johanna, June, Lauren, Lianne (Liane), Liza, Lou, Marielle, Mika (Mikka), Sofia, Stephanie, Yvette (Ivet)

Third Given Names

The third given names in the sample are Allana, Ana, Anjienette, Beatriz, Chellie, Czarina, Daiyne, Ezra, Faye, Ferrisa, Gracia, Isabelle, Kathrina, Kurstin, Larraine, Lhynch, Louise, Mae, Marie (3x), Milene, Nicole, Noelle, Pauline, Rhizmin, Vianca, and Vince.

Standouts

Some of the names that appeared only once in the sample are E. J. Chardonnay, French, Liansilde, Pretty Dainly, Raegyn Klyre, Salisbury Angel, and Wienslet.

The Men

Among the men, 50 (27.17%) had only one given name, 132 (71.74%) had two, and 2 (1.09%) had three.

First Given Names

The most popular initials for the first given name are J (40, 21.74%), R (18, 9.78%), A (16, 8.70%), M (15, 8.15%), and C (14, 7.61%). No one had a first given name that started with O, Q, U, or Y.

Table 3(a). Most popular first given names among men.

Bearers	Name
10	John
6	Mark
4	Joshua
3	Christopher, Jan
2	Adrian, Allen, Christian, David, Franz, Gerard, Gian, Irvin, Jose, Keith, Mc, Paolo, Renz

Table 3(b). Most popular first given names among men (combined spellings).

Bearers	Name
13	John (Jan)
6	Mark
4	Joshua
3	Christopher, Mc (Mac), Paolo (Paulo)
2	Adrian, Allen, Christian, David, Franz, Gerard, Gian, Irvin, Jose, Justin (Justine), Keith, Kenneth (Keneth), Renz, Sandro (Zandro), Vaughn (Von)

Second Given Names

The most popular initials for the second given name are J (27, 20.15%), M (11, 8.21%), P (11, 8.21%), L (10, 7.46%), A (9, 6.72%), and R (9, 6.72%). No one had a second given name that started with O, Q, or T.

Table 4(a). Most popular second given names among men.

Bearers	Name
7	John
5	Paul
4	Christian, Michael
3	James
2	Carlo, Gabriel, Ian, Jose, Joseph, Miguel, Nico, Paolo, Patrick

Table 4(b). Most popular second given names among men (combined spellings).

Bearers	Name
7	John
5	Paul
4	Christian, Michael
3	James, Nico (Nikko), Paolo (Paulo)
2	Andre (Andrey), Carlo, Gabriel, Ian, Jose, Joseph, Miguel, Nico, Patrick

Third Given Names

The third given names in the sample are Kent and Sundae.

Standouts

Some of the names that appeared only once in the sample are Anfrey Jard, Churchill, Gold Lemon, Mc Earvs, Norisel, Rembrandt, and Xyd Xeuz.

Numerical Suffixes

Three men (1.63%) had numerical suffixes attached to their names. Of these, two (66.67%) were II and one (33.33%) was III.

Reference

Licensure Examination for Dentists (The Philippine Star, January 17, 2024)