diff --git a/ietf/person/name.py b/ietf/person/name.py
index e3d83ad80..5e6c7e77c 100644
--- a/ietf/person/name.py
+++ b/ietf/person/name.py
@@ -3,7 +3,10 @@ import re
 def name_parts(name):
     prefix, first, middle, last, suffix = "", "", "", "", ""
 
-    # if we got a name on the form "Hello There (Foo Bar)", get rid of
+    if not name.strip():
+        return prefix, first, middle, last, suffix
+
+    # if we got a name on the form "Some Name (Foo Bar)", get rid of
     # the paranthesized part
     name_with_paren_match = re.search("^([^(]+)\s*\(.*\)$", name)
     if name_with_paren_match:
@@ -13,7 +16,7 @@ def name_parts(name):
     if len(parts) > 2 and parts[0] in ["M", "M.", "Sri", ] and "." not in parts[1]:
         prefix = parts[0];
         parts = parts[1:]
-    if parts[0] in ["Mr", "Mr.", "Mrs", "Mrs.", "Ms", "Ms.", "Miss", "Dr", "Dr.", "Doctor", "Prof", "Prof.", "Professor", "Sir", "Lady", "Dame", ]:
+    if len(parts) > 1 and parts[0] in ["Mr", "Mr.", "Mrs", "Mrs.", "Ms", "Ms.", "Miss", "Dr", "Dr.", "Doctor", "Prof", "Prof.", "Professor", "Sir", "Lady", "Dame", ]:
         prefix = parts[0];
         parts = parts[1:]
     if len(parts) > 2: