Popular Baby Names Becoming Extinct?
7 Popular Baby Names That Are Becoming Extinct
BabyCenter.com posted a list of popular names that are becoming way less common.
Remember the days when names like Mildred, Harold, or Gertrude were all the rage? Fast forward to today, and you’d probably think twice before dubbing your bundle of joy with one of these monikers. The fascinating journey of baby names from the 1900s to the present is a rollercoaster of trends, popularity, and eventual obscurity.
Back in the day, the landscape of names was vastly different. Betty, once a reigning queen of popularity, now finds itself in the dusty corners of history. What led to these names dominating the playgrounds of the past? It’s a mix of cultural shifts, famous figures, and sometimes, just a dash of sheer randomness.
The 1940s witnessed the rise of names like James and Barbara, inspired by Hollywood stars and influential personalities of the time.
Parents wanted their children to embody the glamour of the silver screen or the dignity of their role models. Little did they know that a few decades later, these names would be as rare as a unicorn sighting.
The 1950s brought us names like Linda and Michael.
Parents were eager to celebrate the end of a tumultuous era with names that reflected hope and prosperity. But as the years rolled on, newer generations sought uniqueness over tradition.
As the swinging 60s rolled in, names like Susie and David took center stage.
Pop culture icons and catchy tunes influenced baby names more than ever. Imagine naming your child after a hit song—now that’s commitment to the groove!
The 70s introduced us to the likes of Jennifer and Christopher.
These names boogied their way into households across the nation, but alas, the disco inferno eventually burned out.
The 80s saw the ascent of names like Matthew and Amanda, fueled by neon lights and MTV.
Parents wanted their children to embody the spirit of rebellion and creativity.
Let’s remember that the only constant is change. Names rise, names fall, and in the end, it’s all part of the unpredictable, whimsical dance of baby naming!
Popular Baby Names Becoming Extinct
BabyCenter’s State of Baby Names initiative has identified and analyzed the most popular baby names for 20 years, beginning in 2004. The baby names going extinct report draws from the top 500 baby names for each gender from data submitted by BabyCenter parents about babies born in 2022 and 2023. From there, they looked at which names saw the steepest year-over-year declines (pulled January 1, 2024).
“Every year, hundreds of thousands of parents register their babies’ names with BabyCenter. And every year, we compile that data to share an updated list of the most popular names. But what about the names that aren’t so popular? We took a look at the names that fell the most over the past year, and here’s what we found,” Baby Center reported.
7. Diana, down 108 spots.
With Greek, Latin, and Indo-European origins, the name Diana means “divine.” Diana was a Roman goddess of many arenas, including hunting, forests, the moon, and fertility. The name is related to the Latin words for “sky” and “daylight.” Famous Dianas include Princess Diana, Diana Ross, Diana Krall
Princess Diana wearing a Jasper Conran suit during a visit to a community centre in Brixton, October 1983. (Photo by Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images)
6. Michelle, down 129.
The name Michelle is the anglicized version of the French name Michele. It means “who resembles God.”1 If you are parents of faith, this name might have strong appeal. Famous Michelles include Michelle Pfeiffer, Michelle Obama, Michelle Williams
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 02: Michelle Williams attends “The Fabelmans” Screening In Conversation at The 92nd Street Y, New York on March 02, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
5. Amanda, down 131.
Amanda is a Latin feminine gerundive (i.e. verbal adjective) name meaning, literally, “she who must (or is fit to) be loved”. Other translations, with similar meaning, could be “deserving to be loved,” “worthy of love,” or “loved very much by everyone.” Famous Amandas are Amanda Peet, Amanda Seyfried, Amanda Bynes
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – FEBRUARY 24: Amanda Peet attends the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 24, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
4. Johnny, down 150 spots.
John is a masculine name of Hebrew origin, derived from “Yohannan,” meaning “God is gracious.” While originally a biblical name, it remains a popular choice for boys of all backgrounds throughout the world. Famous Johnnys: Johnny Depp, Johnny Cash, Johnny Knoxville
TOKYO. JAPAN – JULY 10: Johnny Depp attends the Tokyo Premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” on July 10, 2006 in Tokyo, Japan. The film will open on July 22 in Japan. (Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images)
3. McKenzie, down 184.
Mackenzie is a Scottish name with Gaelic roots. Derived from the Gaelic surname MacCoinnich, Mackenzie means “comely,” “attractive” or “pleasant to look at.” It can also mean “child of the wise leader” and “born of fire.”
Famous MacKenzies/McKenzies/Mckensies: MacKenzie Foy, MacKenzie Phillips, MacKenzie Scott
PARK CITY, UT – JANUARY 26: Actress Mackenzie Phillips poses for portraits during the 2005 Sundance Film Festival January 26, 2005 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)
2. Julius, down 189 spots for boys.
Julius is a masculine name of Greek origin, meaning “devoted to Jove.” This Roman name is thought to be related to the Roman god Jupiter, who was also known as Jove. Jupiter was known as the king of gods or the god of the sky and thunder, granting him many powers, including that of controlling the weather. Famous people named Julius: Julius Erving, Julius Caesar, Julius Randle
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 21: Julius Erving speaks onstage during the special press screening and Q&A of “Reggie” at Crosby Street Hotel on March 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Prime Video)
1. Brooke ,down around 200 spots
Brooke is a gender-neutral name of English and German origin meaning “water” or “small stream.” It is said to be derived from the Old English word bróc, which translates to “brook” or “stream.” Brooke was once used as a surname, given to those who lived near a flowing body of water. See: Brooke Shields, Brooke Burke, Brooke Hogan
PARK CITY, UTAH – JANUARY 20: Brooke Shields attends the 2023 Sundance Film Festival “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields” Premiere at Eccles Center Theatre on January 20, 2023 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
