Name matching using enhanced name keys is provided by receiving and parsing a queried name into name phrase(s), building a name key for the queried name, the name key for identifying matches between the queried name and candidate names in a database, and the name key including name phrase digraph bitmap signature(s) for the queried name, variant code(s) for the queried name, and pseudo-phonetic name phrase digraph bitmap signature(s) for the queried name, and performing a name matching comparison that includes comparing the queried name to each candidate name of the candidate names in the database, in which the built name key for the queried name is compared to a name key for the candidate name.