Zhareighneile and Nikkoie Have Made It: Names from the 2024 Licensure Examination for Dentists
Of the 1,287 who completed the December 2024 Licensure Examination for Dentists, 873 (67.83%) passed.
Excluding the two people whose sex I failed to determine from a quick search of social media or news articles, the passers included 666 women and 205 men.
The Women
Among the women, 195 (29.28%) had only one given name, 427 (64.11%) had two, 42 (6.31%) had three, and two (0.30%) had four.
First Given Names
The most popular initials for the first given name are M (87, 13.06%), A (80, 12.01%), J (74, 11.11%), K (65, 9.76%), and C (50, 7.51%). No one had a first given name that started with O or U.
Table 1(a). Most popular first given names among women.
| Bearers | Name |
|---|---|
| 16 | Ma. |
| 12 | Mary |
| 10 | Maria |
| 6 | Angelica, Christine, Nicole |
| 5 | Alyssa, Hannah, Jan, Patricia, Samantha |
| 4 | Clarisse, Karla, Kristine, Marie, Micah, Niña, Paula, Princess |
| 3 | Colleen, Dianne, Ella, Erika, Karen, Katherine, Kimberly, Kristina, Rose, Sharmaine |
| 2 | Abigail, Andrea, Angela, Anne, Allysa, Almira, Alyanna, Beatrice, Bianca, Chelsea, Claire, Deborah, Faith, Fiona, Frances, Francine, Henna, Janine, Jasmine, Jessica, Jewel, Jhoanna, Jill, Joanna, Justine, Kathleen, Kaye, Kyla, Kyle, Leah, Lovely, Madeleine, Michelle, Monica, Pamela, Precious, Queenie, Quennie, Rachelle, Sarah, Sandra, Shannon, Therese, Trisha, Veronica, Yvonne |
Table 1(b). Most popular first given names among women (combined spellings).
| Bearers | Name |
|---|---|
| 26 | Ma. (Maria) |
| 13 | Mary (Marry) |
| 12 | Christine (Kristine, Khristine, Krizztine) |
| 9 | Alyssa (Allysa, Alyza, Alissa) |
| 7 | Angelica (Angelika), Nicole (Nichole) |
| 6 | Hannah (Hanah), Samantha (Zamantha) |
| 5 | Clarisse (Clarice), Jan, Joanna (Joana, Jhoanna), Patricia, Sharmaine (Charmaine, Charmagne) |
| 4 | Colleen (Kolinne), Erika (Ericka), Jasmine (Jasmin, Jazmine), Karla, Marie, Micah, Niña, Paula, Princess |
| 3 | Alyanna (Alliana), Angela (Angiela), Anne (Ann), Ariane (Arrianne, Arien), Dianne, Ella, Henna (Hennah), Joan (Joann, Joanne), Karen, Katherine, Kathleen (Kathlyn), Kimberly, Kristina, Krizia (Krisha, Kryshia), Leah (Lea), Queenie (Kweenie) Rose, Shannon (Shanen) |
| 2 | Abigail, Aira (Airra), Aiza (Aisah), Alexandria (Alexandrea), Almira, Analyn (Annalyn), Antoinette (Antonette), April (Aprille), Beatrice, Bianca, Carmela (Karmela), Carrie (Carie), Cassandra (Kasandra), Chelsea, Claire, Cloe (Chloie), Deborah, Denise (Denisse), Eliza (Elaiza), Faith, Fatima (Fatma), Frances, Francine, Fiona, Gemma (Jema), Isabel (Yzabelle), Jenella (Genella), Jill, Jillian (Jillianne), Justine, Kate (Keit), Kaye, Kristelle (Krystyl), Lovely, Madeleine, Mae (May), Mariah (Marriah), Marion (Marionne), Meryl (Meryll), Michaela (Mickaela), Michelle, Monica, Pamela, Precious, Quennie, Rachelle, Rizza (Rissah), Sandra, Sarah, Shaniah (Shannia), Sophia (Sofia), Stephanie (Steffany), Therese, Trisha, Veronica, Yvonne |
Second Given Names
The most popular initials for the second given name are M (80, 16.99%), J (75, 15.92%), A (63, 13.38%), K (32, 6.79%), C (26, 5.52%), and R (tied with C). No one had a second given name that started with O, Q, U, or W.
Table 2(a). Most popular second given names among women.
| Bearers | Name |
|---|---|
| 27 | Mae |
| 13 | Anne, Joy, Marie |
| 12 | Rose |
| 11 | Grace |
| 10 | Ann, May |
| 9 | Joyce |
| 7 | Nicole |
| 6 | Jean |
| 5 | Angela, Faye, Jane, Paula |
| 4 | Louise |
| 3 | Andrea, Angelica, Bianca, Faith, Jade, Jeremy, Kyla, Kyle, Trisha |
| 2 | Angelique, Beatrix, Beatriz, Christine, Claire, Dianne, Dominique, Elizabeth, Gail, Gayle, June, Kathleen, Kay, Kaye, Kristine, Mary, Monique, Nikki, Noelle, Patricia, Pauline, Therese, Ysabel |
Table 2(b). Most popular second given names among women (combined spellings).
| Bearers | Name |
|---|---|
| 38 | Mae (May, Mei) |
| 23 | Anne (Ann) |
| 15 | Marie (Mari, Maree) |
| 14 | Joy (Joye) |
| 12 | Rose |
| 11 | Grace |
| 9 | Joyce |
| 8 | Nicole (Nikole) |
| 6 | Faye (Fae), Jane (Jhayne), Jean, Ysabel (Isabel, Isabelle, Ysobelle, Yzabelle) |
| 5 | Angela, Christine (Kristine, Crystine), Paula |
| 4 | Gail (Gayle), Kay (Kaye), Louise |
| 3 | Aira (Airha, Ayrah), Andrea, Angelica, Bianca, Dianne (Diane), Elise (Elisse, Elysse), Faith, Jade, Jeremy, Kyla, Kyle, Trisha |
| 2 | Angelique, Antoinette (Antonette), Beatrix, Beatriz, Carla (Karla), Claire, Dominique, Elizabeth, Ella (Elah), Jaye (Jae), Jemima (Jemimah), June, Kathleen, Mariz (Marice), Mary, Monique, Nikki, Noelle, Patricia, Pauline, Rei (Rae), Roselle (Rocel), Therese |
Third Given Names
The third given names in the sample are Allyjandrine, Angela, Ann, Anne, Ariane, Betina, Coleen, Chette, Denise, Diva, Elyn, Emia, Faye, Franchesca, Golda, Grace (2x), Iana, Isabel, Jade (2x), Jane, Jean, Joy (2x), Kahlil, Kimberly, Linda, Louisse, Lovelle, Lyn, Mae (2x), Margrethe, Marie (2x), Nicole, Philline, Regina, Reiva, Robliza, Sarah, and Therese (2x).
Standouts
Some of the names that appeared only once in the sample are:
- Alpha Nazareth
- Eilaros Nicole (Eilaros is either Rosalie with the letters rearranged, or a creative spelling of Ella Rose/Ayla Rose)
- Glyfchrys
- Hazelmae Vridhavanne
- Lenemarx (Lenin + Marx?)
- Syra Koinonia (Koinonia comes from a Greek word that means "communion")
- Zhareighneile
The Men
Among the men, 63 (30.73%) had only one given name, 137 (66.83%) had two, and 5 (2.44%) had three.
First Given Names
The most popular initials for the first given name are J (45, 21.95%), M (24, 11.71%), A (16, 7.80%), C (15, 7.32%), and R (14, 6.83%). No one had a first given name that started with Q or Y.
Table 3(a). Most popular first given names among men.
| Bearers | Name |
|---|---|
| 10 | John |
| 6 | Michael |
| 5 | Christian, Miguel |
| 3 | Christopher, Gian, Joshua, Justin, Marc |
| 2 | Don, Earl, Ezekiel, Fernando, Francis, James, Jan, Jose, Juan, Kyle, Mark, Neil, Paolo, Patrick, Paul, Vincent |
Table 3(b). Most popular first given names among men (combined spellings).
| Bearers | Name |
|---|---|
| 12 | John (Jan) |
| 6 | Michael |
| 5 | Christian, Marc (Mark), Miguel |
| 3 | Christopher, Gian, Joshua, Justin |
| 2 | Don, Earl, Ezekiel, Fernando, Francis, James, Jose, Juan, Kyle, Neil, Paolo, Patrick, Paul, Vincent |
Second Given Names
The most popular initials for the second given name are C (22, 15.49%), J (21, 14.79%), A (14, 9.86%), R (13, 9.15%), and D (11, 7.75%).
Table 4(a). Most popular second given names among men.
| Bearers | Name |
|---|---|
| 5 | Carlo, Christian |
| 3 | Angelo, Carlos, Joseph, Joshua, Kenneth, Paolo |
| 2 | Amiel, Anthony, Bryan, Carl, Dale, Dave, Dominic, James, John, Marc, Miguel, Vincent |
Table 4(b). Most popular second given names among men (combined spellings).
| Bearers | Name |
|---|---|
| 6 | Christian (Kristian) |
| 5 | Carlo |
| 3 | Angelo, Carl (Karl), Carlos, John (Jan), Joseph, Joshua, Kenneth, Marc (Mark), Paolo |
| 2 | Amiel, Andre (Andrei), Anthony, Bryan, Dale, Dave, Dominic, James, Miguel, Ray (Rey), Vincent |
Third Given Names
The third given names in the sample are Cloe, Dale, Miguel (2x), and Paul.
Standouts
Some of the names that appeared only once in the sample are:
- Baejay
- Heineken Rich
- Jernon Sundy
- Lovely Daniel (This is the first time I've seen a man named Lovely)
- Nikkoie
- Rhele Eigersis
- Silldon Jek
Numerical Suffixes
Seven men (3.41%) had numerical suffixes attached to their names. Of these, five (71.43%) were Jr and two (28.57%) were III.
Notes
- Some people in the sample had first and last names of Persian origin. I don't know if that's a coincidence or if it's common for them to take postgraduate courses in the Philippines. Either way, I counted less than five Persian names, none of which appeared more than once on the list. Their effect on my calculations, if any, should be minimal.