These once-popular baby names will soon go 'extinct'
Some once-popular baby names could soon fall out of the top 100 altogether, as new analysis reveals which familiar choices are dropping fastest.
For years, certain names seemed to appear in almost every classroom, nursery, and playground, but naming trends can move quickly.
While some parents still lean towards classic choices, others are increasingly looking for something more distinctive, especially as celebrities and influencers continue to reveal more unusual baby names.
The trend has sparked plenty of divided opinions, too, with a recent YouGov study finding that around 23 million Britons believe an unusual name can have a negative effect on a child, while 26 per cent believe those effects could last into adulthood.
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Now, analysis by Personalisedbee has looked at the latest Office for National Statistics baby name data for England and Wales, comparing rankings from 2023 and 2024.
For boys, Brody has been named as the top name at risk of dropping out of the rankings. The name fell 17 places in just one year, moving from 82nd in 2023 to 99th in 2024.
It was given to 630 babies in 2023, but that number dropped to 553 in 2024, making it the biggest faller among the boys’ names included in the analysis.
Mason also saw a steep decline, falling from 50th place to 63rd. The name was given to 1,118 babies in 2023, compared with 806 in 2024.
Toby was third on the list, dropping 10 places from 76th to 86th. It was given to 678 babies in 2023, before falling to 621 in 2024.
Other boys’ names highlighted in the analysis included Logan, Joshua, Leon, and Elliot.
For girls, Jessica saw the biggest drop, falling 12 places from 83rd in 2023 to 95th in 2024. The name was given to 573 babies in 2023, but that figure fell to 483 in 2024. Lola was also listed among the names at risk after slipping from 79th to 87th, while Scarlett dropped from 72nd to 79th. Imogen and Ellie were also named among the girls’ names, seeing a noticeable decline.
Prashant Patel, founder of Personalised Bee, said: “Names are a lot like trends in fashion or home décor. They can rise quickly when they feel fresh or modern, but just as fast, they can fall out of favour as parents hunt for something new and unique. That’s why names like Brody, Mason, and Toby are falling out of favour. They were popular a few years ago, and now parents are moving toward options that feel more current or timeless. At Personalised Bee, we see this every year when families come to personalise gifts, and it’s fascinating to watch which names capture hearts one year and are quietly forgotten the next.”
The analysis was based on names in the bottom 50 of the top 100 rankings, with the biggest year-on-year drops considered most at risk of falling out of the chart.
Ben Williams