Classic Baby Names Face Extinction as Trends Shift Dramatically
A new report has revealed that classic and once-popular baby names are falling out of favour at an alarming rate, with some now at risk of disappearing entirely. The comprehensive analysis from BabyCenter, which meticulously tracks the names parents consider and choose for their newborns, examined the top 1,000 names to identify those experiencing the steepest declines since 2024.
Girls' Names Experiencing Sharp Declines
Among girls, the names Charleigh, Mckinley, Prisha, Ezra, Sasha, Mía, Kenna, Kori, Dior and Shaikha are all slipping down the rankings significantly. Charleigh and Shaikha have taken the hardest hits, with Charleigh tumbling a dramatic 421 spots. These declines reflect broader shifts in parental preferences away from unique twists on familiar names and culturally distinct choices.
Charleigh, a modern spelling variation of the classic Charlotte, and Shaikha, an Arabic name meaning 'female leader', exemplify the fading trend for inventive spellings and heritage-inspired monikers. Other girls' names losing ground include Mckinley and Kenna, which rose to prominence as strong, surname-inspired selections, while Prisha and Ezra offered appealing cultural or gender-neutral options.
Dior gained initial popularity through its glamorous, fashion-forward associations, and Mía and Sasha were once favoured for their short, stylish sounds. The rapid decline of these names suggests that fleeting trends are giving way to more enduring choices.
Boys' Names Following Similar Patterns
Boys' names are also witnessing dramatic drops in popularity. Kylian, Atharv, Enoch, Crue, Huxley, Salman, Camilo, Advik, Emmitt and Garrett have all declined substantially, with Kylian and Atharv now barely breaking the top 1,050. Notably, names ending in -y are falling fastest for boys, with Huxley plummeting 296 spots in the rankings.
Kylian's popularity was likely influenced by football star Kylian Mbappé, while Atharv was chosen for its Sanskrit meaning of 'knowledge'. Huxley and Crue were once trendy for their literary and edgy pop-culture connections, whereas Garrett and Emmitt drew upon classic Anglo-Irish roots. Names like Camilo and Advik offered international or culturally significant flair, and Salman reflected Middle Eastern heritage.
Expert Insights on Naming Trends
Baby-naming consultant Colleen Slagen of NamingBebe.com told Nexstar that these rapidly declining names are on the brink of extinction, having enjoyed only brief periods of popularity. 'Any name that jumps over 100 spots a year in popularity … in my mind, that's the sign of a name that's going to go out of fashion,' Slagen explained.
She recommended that expecting parents consult the Social Security Administration's annual list of the nation's most popular baby names to make more informed choices. This advice comes as naming trends continue to evolve at an unprecedented pace.
Emerging Trends for Future Years
Nameberry, the largest baby-name site run by experts, has unveiled its top trend forecasts for 2026, revealing that names inspired by ancient civilizations are leading the pack this year. For girls, rising favourites include Olympia, Adhara and Marcella, while boys may see Ramses, Isidore and Linus climb the charts.
Sophie Kihm, an expert at Nameberry, elaborated on this trend: 'Parents who choose ancient-civilization names are often seeking to connect their children to history. For some, that means honouring their own heritage with Mesoamerican or ancient Asian names.'
'For others, these names offer a way to cope with an uncertain future by rewinding to a romanticized past, especially through ancient Greek and Roman choices,' Kihm added.
Additional Themes Gaining Traction
Other themes showing increased popularity include 'Showgirl' names such as Marilyn, Roxie and Ophelia, alongside 'Soulful' picks like Cypress, Jubilee, Creed and Shiloh. Interestingly, while millennials and Generation Z now constitute the majority of new parents, Nameberry predicts some classic boomer names will stage a comeback.
These returning classics include Betsy, Nancy and Judith for girls, and Bruce, Monty and Wes for boys. This cyclical nature of naming trends demonstrates how parental preferences continue to evolve while occasionally revisiting traditional choices from previous generations.
