an automated name searching system incorporates an automatic name classifier and a multi - path architecture in which different algorithms are applied based on cultural identity of the query name . the name classifier operates with a preemptive list , analysis of morphological elements , length , and linguistic rules . a name regularizer produces a character based computational representation of the name . a pronunciation equivalent representation such as an ipa language representation , and language specific rules to generate name searching keys , are used in a first pass to eliminate database entries which are obviously not matches for the query name . the methods can also be implemented as a callable set of library routines including an intelligent preprocessor and a name evaluator that produces a score comparing a query name and database name , based on a variety of user - adjustable parameters . the user - controlled parameters permit tuning of the search methodologies for specific custom applications .