Mathematics can be found in everyday life, including something as familiar as a person’s name. In this college math activity, we used the Social Security Administration Popular Baby Names database to examine the popularity of two names connected to influential women: Mae Jemison and Michelle Obama.
By calculating percentile rank, we were able to compare how popular the names Mae and Michelle were during the years these women were born. The assignment gave us an opportunity to apply a mathematical formula to real-world data while also recognizing two women whose leadership, accomplishments, and determination have inspired generations.
Why We Chose Mae Jemison and Michelle Obama
We wanted to select names connected to women whose lives represent courage, education, leadership, and achievement.
Why Donnetta Chose Mae Jemison
Donnetta selected the name Mae in honor of Dr. Mae Jemison. Jemison is widely known for breaking barriers in science and space exploration. She became the first African American woman to travel into space, making her an important figure in American history.
Because Mae Jemison was born in 1956, Donnetta searched the SSA Popular Names chart for that year. The database showed that the name Mae ranked 424th among the top 1,000 girls’ names.
Why Dominique Chose Michelle Obama
Dominique selected the name Michelle in honor of Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of the United States. Michelle Obama is recognized for her work in education, health, public service, and community leadership.
Because Michelle Obama was born in 1964, Dominique searched the SSA Popular Names chart for that year. The database showed that the name Michelle ranked 23rd among the top 1,000 girls’ names.
Choosing these two women made the assignment more meaningful because the mathematics was connected to real people whose accomplishments have had a lasting impact.
What Is Percentile Rank?
A rank and a percentile rank are related, but they do not mean the same thing.
A rank shows a name’s exact position on a list. For example, a name ranked 23rd is near the top of a list containing 1,000 names.
A percentile rank explains how that name compares with the other names in the group. It converts the ranking into a percentage, making the result easier to interpret.
For this assignment, we used the following formula:
Percentile Rank = (1000 − Rank) ÷ 1000
After completing the calculation, the decimal was converted into a percentage and rounded to the nearest whole number.
Calculating the Percentile Rank of Mae
The name Mae was ranked 424th in 1956.
We substituted 424 into the percentile-rank formula:
(1000 − 424) ÷ 1000
First, subtract the rank from 1,000:
1000 − 424 = 576
Next, divide 576 by 1,000:
576 ÷ 1000 = 0.576
Convert the decimal to a percentage:
0.576 = 57.6%
After rounding to the nearest whole number, the name Mae falls in the:
58th percentile
This means the name Mae was more popular than approximately 58% of the top 1,000 girls’ names listed for 1956.
Calculating the Percentile Rank of Michelle
The name Michelle was ranked 23rd in 1964.
We substituted 23 into the formula:
(1000 − 23) ÷ 1000
First, subtract the rank from 1,000:
1000 − 23 = 977
Next, divide 977 by 1,000:
977 ÷ 1000 = 0.977
Convert the decimal to a percentage:
0.977 = 97.7%
Based on the assignment’s reported result, the name Michelle falls in the:
97th percentile
This means the name Michelle was more popular than approximately 97% of the top 1,000 girls’ names listed for 1964.
Comparing Mae and Michelle
The results show a major difference in the popularity of the two names during their respective birth years.
| Name | Birth Year | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mae | 1956 | 424 | 58th percentile |
| Michelle | 1964 | 23 | 97th percentile |
The name Michelle was significantly more popular in 1964 than the name Mae was in 1956. Michelle’s rank of 23 placed it near the top of the list, while Mae’s rank of 424 placed it closer to the middle.
The difference between their percentile ranks was:
97 − 58 = 39 percentile points
This comparison shows how rankings can reveal trends in naming preferences across different years.
Donnetta’s Perspective
Calculating the percentile rank of the name Mae helped me better understand how a number’s position can be interpreted within a larger group. The rank of 424 gave me Mae’s exact location on the list, but the 58th percentile made the result easier to understand because it showed how Mae compared with the other names.
Choosing Mae Jemison also made the assignment more meaningful to me. She represents intelligence, determination, and the courage to enter spaces where few women—especially African American women—had been represented. Connecting her name to a math activity showed me that mathematics can be used to explore history, culture, and real-world information.
Dominique’s Perspective
Calculating the percentile rank of Michelle showed me how one formula can turn a ranking into a clearer comparison. The rank of 23 already suggested that Michelle was a popular name, but the percentile calculation showed just how highly it ranked among the top 1,000 names.
I also appreciated connecting the assignment to Michelle Obama. Her work in education, health, leadership, and public service made her a meaningful person to recognize. The activity demonstrated that mathematics does not have to feel disconnected from everyday life. It can be used to study names, social trends, historical figures, and many other topics.
What We Learned About Rank and Percentile
The most important mathematical lesson from this assignment was learning the difference between rank and percentile rank.
A rank answers the question:
Where does this value appear on the list?
A percentile rank answers the question:
How does this value compare with the rest of the list?
For example, knowing that Michelle ranked 23rd tells us that only a small number of names ranked above it. Calculating its percentile gives us a broader interpretation of that high ranking.
The assignment also strengthened several important math skills:
- Substituting values into a formula
- Subtracting whole numbers
- Dividing by 1,000
- Converting decimals into percentages
- Rounding to the nearest whole number
- Comparing data from two different years
- Explaining mathematical results in words
These skills are useful far beyond a single assignment.
How Percentile Rank Is Used in Everyday Life
Percentile rank is used in many areas, including:
- Standardized testing
- Class rankings
- Health measurements
- Income comparisons
- Sports performance
- Population studies
- Customer and business data
- Product rankings
- Research and statistics
For example, a student who scores in the 90th percentile performed better than approximately 90% of the comparison group. The same basic idea was used in this assignment to interpret the popularity of names.
Understanding percentile rank helps people make sense of large datasets because it explains not only where a value is located, but also how it compares with other values.
Why Real-World Math Assignments Matter
This activity was more engaging because it connected mathematics with history and personal interests. Instead of calculating numbers without context, we worked with actual names, birth years, and ranking data.
Real-world math assignments help students understand why mathematical concepts matter. They show that formulas are not limited to textbooks. The same skills can be used to study trends, compare information, analyze business performance, interpret research, and make informed decisions.
As students and entrepreneurs, we see value in learning how to analyze data clearly. Those skills can support both academic success and better business decision-making.
Final Thoughts
The names Mae and Michelle tell more than one story. They reflect changes in naming trends, connect us to two influential women, and demonstrate how mathematics can be used to understand real-world data.
Mae ranked 424th in 1956 and fell in the 58th percentile. Michelle ranked 23rd in 1964 and fell in the 97th percentile. Although the names had very different levels of popularity, both were connected to women whose achievements continue to inspire others.
This assignment taught us that a simple name search can become a meaningful lesson in mathematics, history, leadership, and data analysis. It also reminded us that math is not only about finding answers. It is about understanding what those answers mean.
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