def parse_formula_name(self, attribute_name):
        """
        Returns the starting date of a formula based on its name.

        Valid dated name formats are : 'formula', 'formula_YYYY', 'formula_YYYY_MM' and 'formula_YYYY_MM_DD' where YYYY, MM and DD are a year, month and day.

        By convention, the starting date of:
            - `formula` is `0001-01-01` (minimal date in Python)
            - `formula_YYYY` is `YYYY-01-01`
            - `formula_YYYY_MM` is `YYYY-MM-01`
        """

        def raise_error():
            raise ValueError(
                'Unrecognized formula name in variable "{}". Expecting "formula_YYYY" or "formula_YYYY_MM" or "formula_YYYY_MM_DD where YYYY, MM and DD are year, month and day. Found: "{}".'
                .format(self.name, attribute_name))

        if attribute_name == FORMULA_NAME_PREFIX:
            return date.min

        FORMULA_REGEX = r'formula_(\d{4})(?:_(\d{2}))?(?:_(\d{2}))?$'  # YYYY or YYYY_MM or YYYY_MM_DD

        match = re.match(FORMULA_REGEX, attribute_name)
        if not match:
            raise_error()
        date_str = '-'.join([match.group(1), match.group(2) or '01', match.group(3) or '01'])

        try:
            return datetime.datetime.strptime(date_str, '%Y-%m-%d').date()
        except ValueError:  # formula_2005_99_99 for instance
            raise_error()
Returns the starting date of a formula based on its name.

        Valid dated name formats are : 'formula', 'formula_YYYY', 'formula_YYYY_MM' and 'formula_YYYY_MM_DD' where YYYY, MM and DD are a year, month and day.

        By convention, the starting date of:
            - `formula` is `0001-01-01` (minimal date in Python)
            - `formula_YYYY` is `YYYY-01-01`
            - `formula_YYYY_MM` is `YYYY-MM-01`