A new list has been revealed of the baby names that have been fading away in terms of use and popularity. A name for your baby is one of the toughest decisions any new parents will face, and they start thinking about it very early in pregnancy. They look to many things for inspiration, from family names to Hollywood names. They may want their baby’s name to have a special meaning to them, or they may want a “hip” name that is popular. Over time, there have always been names that fade away and cease to be heard very much. Names that when you do hear them, you are shocked and state how rarely you hear it.
According to Stacker, they were able to look at the Social Security Administration’s historical archives of baby names to determine which names were quickly losing popularity in the 21st century.
When it comes to boy names, there are a few on the list that may not be surprising, and some that may make you suddenly realize that you have not heard them in a while. Dewayne and Alton are two names that have dropped -90% off the popularity list, and this is despite the presence of Dwayne Johnson who is well respected in Hollywood. Robin is another name that is no longer popular, but only when used for boys. When the name “Robin” comes to mind, a lot will automatically think of Robin Williams but may find it hard to think of anyone else.
When it comes to the little girls, names like Christy and Audra are no longer the charms they used to be. Yvonne has a historic feel to it, but that may be why it is not being used much anymore. Dayna and Tracy are two names that are a little surprising on this list, though they are also falling in popularity faster than parents are giving these names to their children.
There is no shortage of unique names to pull from the full list, and they may be the best options for parents who want a name that is unique but doesn’t alter spelling or be too “out there” in terms of creativity. One of the names on the list that doesn’t seem too surprising, and that may be because no one thought it was an actual name is ‘Infant.’ Infant was a popular proper name for boys and girls in 1990, but it is (understandably) nowhere near the top spot right now.
Sources: Stacker, Social Security Administration