Counterfactual

The Parallel Lives of Mathilda and Breanna

In 32 girls, Mathilda found its level. 50 years earlier, Breanna occupied that same statistical address.

1880–2025

Mathilda

peak 1918 2025 18801900192019401960198020002020
Peak year 1918
Peak births 180
Latest count 32
Status Stable
Peak generation Greatest Generation
1965–2025

Breanna

peak 1996 2025 18801900192019401960198020002020
Peak year 1996
Peak births 4,701
Latest count 69
Status Endangered
Peak generation Millennial
In 32 girls, Mathilda found its level. 50 years earlier, Breanna occupied that same address. One peaked in the Millennial era; the other in the Greatest Generation world. They never met. But the data remembers them both.