diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/codec/language/MatchRatingApproachEncoder.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/codec/language/MatchRatingApproachEncoder.java
index e9d9a9e147..664dacf623 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/codec/language/MatchRatingApproachEncoder.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/codec/language/MatchRatingApproachEncoder.java
@@ -236,6 +236,11 @@ public boolean isEncodeEquals(String name1, String name2) {
         name1 = cleanName(name1);
         name2 = cleanName(name2);
 
+        // Bulletproof if a name becomes empty after cleanName(name), consistent with encode(String)
+        if (name1.isEmpty() || name2.isEmpty()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         // Actual MRA Algorithm
 
         // 1. Remove vowels
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/codec/language/MatchRatingApproachEncoderTest.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/codec/language/MatchRatingApproachEncoderTest.java
index 6d14d0eb7a..d94bb3c034 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/codec/language/MatchRatingApproachEncoderTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/codec/language/MatchRatingApproachEncoderTest.java
@@ -381,6 +381,17 @@ final void testIsEncodeEqualsSecondNameJust1Letter_ReturnsFalse() {
         assertFalse(getStringEncoder().isEncodeEquals("test", "t"));
     }
 
+    @Test
+    final void testIsEncodeEquals_CornerCase_NameEmptyAfterCleaning_ReturnsFalse() {
+        // Names that become empty after cleanName(String), consistent with encode(String) returning "".
+        assertFalse(getStringEncoder().isEncodeEquals("--", "Smith"));
+        assertFalse(getStringEncoder().isEncodeEquals("Smith", "--"));
+        assertFalse(getStringEncoder().isEncodeEquals(".,-", "Smith"));
+        assertFalse(getStringEncoder().isEncodeEquals("  ", "Smith"));
+        assertFalse(getStringEncoder().isEncodeEquals("Smith", "  "));
+        assertFalse(getStringEncoder().isEncodeEquals("--", ".,"));
+    }
+
     @Test
     final void testIsVowel_CapitalA_ReturnsTrue() {
         assertTrue(getStringEncoder().isVowel("A"));