Counterfactual
The Parallel Lives of Hagen and Merle
In 73 boys, Hagen found its level. 50 years earlier, Merle occupied that same statistical address.
1973–2025
Hagen
Peak year
2006
Peak births
135
Latest count
73
Status
Stable
Peak generation
Gen Z
1880–2025
Merle
Peak year
1925
Peak births
836
Latest count
33
Status
Endangered
Peak generation
Greatest Generation
In 73 boys, Hagen found its level. 50 years earlier, Merle occupied that same address. One peaked in the Greatest Generation era; the other in the Gen Z world. They never met. But the data remembers them both.