code: def equate_nickname(name1, name2):
      
      # Convert '-ie' and '-y' to the root name
      nickname_regex = r'(.)\1(y|ie)$'
      root_regex = r'\1'
  
      name1 = re.sub(nickname_regex, root_regex, name1)
      name2 = re.sub(nickname_regex, root_regex, name2)
  
      if equate_prefix(name1, name2):
          return True
  
      return False
docs: Evaluates whether names match based on common nickname patterns
  
      This is not currently used in any name comparison