Baby Name Extinction Trends 🦖

What subsets of names are becoming endangered species?

In this week’s blog we paid tribute to the names that are gone but not forgotten — popular names of the past that are now extinct or on the verge of extinction.

This includes our lists of Endangered Names (given to fewer than 50 babies in 2023), Almost Extinct Names (given to fewer than 20 babies in 2023), and Truly Extinct Names (given to fewer than 5 babies in 2023).

Today we are breaking down these lengthy lists and taking a look at some of the subsets of names that are falling victim to this current wave of mass extinction.

Short-lived cross cultural:

Borrowing names from other cultures is nothing new to American naming trends. While the chic French names of today are Sophie, Juliette, and Margot, in midcentury America playgrounds were filled with little Suzettes, Jeanines, and Moniques.

Cherie, Claudette, Deirdre, Helga, Laverne, Rhonda, Myrna, Mitzi, Monique, Patrice, Tyra, Jeanine, Suzette

The OG American invented:

Names are invented every day, and have been for as far back as we know.

When an invented name catches fire, they can spread quickly and spread far — just look at Jessica, Cedric, and Wendy. But sometimes, fast-trending invented names are at risk of falling as fast as they rose. So what names were the Nevaeh of the 1950s?

Several of these names skyrocketed in the African American community around the 1970s/80s, such as Latisha and Latoya, while others were creative mashups like Tamela (Tamara + Pamela).

Deonte, Keisha, Kesha, Ladonna, Lashonda, Latisha, Latoya, Melba, Sondra, Tamela, Tanisha, Tisha

Millennial core:

These names aren’t really vintage at all. In fact, these ladies are still paying off their student loans.

Millennial names are already in danger of extinction in 2023, especially once trendy alternative spellings like Meagan, Brittney, Jacquelyn, and Kaitlin.

Do you spot your name on this list?

Becky, Brandi, Breanne, Brittani, Brittney, Christa, Ebony, Jacquelyn, Justine, Kaitlin, Kim, Kristie, Kristin, Kristy, Mandy, Meagan, Misty, Nicki, Shawn

Vintage Nicknames:

Tired of seeing Millie, Hattie, Archie, and Teddy on every baby name list? These vintage nickname names — each with a past life as a stand alone name — are ripe for picking.

The UK has been the epicenter of the global “nicknames as full names” trend, and they have already beat us to the punch with several of these darling diminutives such as Bertie, Wilf, and Ernie.

Barbie, Bess, Bessie, Buffy, Connie, Dory, Dusty, Flo, Flossie, Fran, Jeanie, Jodi, Madge, Marcy, Meg, Mitzi, Nan, Patsy, Peggy, Trudy

Arnie, Barney, Bernie, Bertie, Bucky, Buzz, Cary, Ernie, Hal, Herbie, Howie, Huey, Hughie, Ike, Jess, Jody, Mo, Sal, Sid, Tad, Ted, Wally, Ward, Wilf, Wilkie, Woody

Simply dated:

These are the vintage-loving name nerd’s gold mine — forgotten gems of the past that parents of today just are not gravitating towards. They have held a fusty, dusty reputation in recent years, but so once did Theodore and Eleanor not too long ago.

There is no particular rhyme or reason why these names are no longer useable, other than that they are no longer being used. If you want to get ahead of the trends and start the next vintage revival, consider one of these.

Alberta, Bernice, Cheryl, Clarice, Doreen, Edwina, Ernestine, Ethel, Gail, Hester, Lorna, Lynnette, Myrtle, Portia, Phyllis, Thelma, Ursula, Wilma

Bertram, Buford, Burton, Homer, Horace, Hubert, Irwin, Lorne, Maury, Merle, Odell, Orville, Randolph, Rudolph, Stewart, Stuart, Wilbur

Which of these endangered and extinct names do you think deserve a revival? Are there any names you think are past the point of no return?

Share your thoughts and theories in a comment! 🔎