Abstract: The invention is a method for detecting duplicate records on a list or in a file and comprises a number of steps. The steps include entering a list, comprised of one or more records, to a data processing system; then, applying a nickname lookup table to the records to determine a common first name. Once a common name has been determined, the method matches a first record from the list with a second record from the list by comparing the fields of the first record with the fields of at least one other record; the comparison is based on a set of pre-determined criteria. The matching sequence determines a duplicate set, wherein the duplicate set is comprised of at least two records with fields that match. The method then lists matching records sequentially so that the system can create a new record by filling each empty field with a next available corresponding field from a subsequent record within the duplicate set.