The baby name experts at Nameberry shared a list of names ‘headed for extinction’ and there are quite a few surprises
Every year brings new baby name trends, including some that are easier to predict than others. But parents might be surprised to learn which names are headed for extinction.
The experts at Nameberry have revealed that a few common culprits aren’t performing as poorly as people might imagine. In a blog post dedicated to “the names really in danger of extinction,” the experts explained, “Gary, Karen, and Nigel are the most commonly cited ‘extinct’ names.”
However, the names remain in use in both the UK and the US, according to the pros. “Names like Gary, Karen, and Nigel are falling in popularity, but it’s too early to tell if they’re headed all the way to extinction,” they added.
Nonetheless, there are plenty of names that could be on the way to extinction. On its blog, Nameberry categorises names as ‘endangered’, ‘almost extinct’ or ‘truly extinct’. While the ‘truly extinct’ names won’t be much of a surprise and might include some you’ve never heard of, the other lists feature more recognisable names.
Unfortunately, it’s bad news for anyone called ‘Bob’, ‘Carole’, ‘Mel’, or ‘Matt’. On the bright side, lots of people might like having a rare name. It’s also great news if you’re a parent trying to choose a baby name that will stand out. The lists include plenty of lovely names, even if they’re not as popular as some monikers.
According to Nameberry, the endangered names list includes previous favourites that are on the decline. Think Cheryl and Hubert, for instance. Other names on the list include Becky, Bill, Brad, Cathy, Debra, Greg, Jim, Justine, Kim, Matt, Robby, Shelly, Stuart, Ted, Tom, Tracy, Vicky, and Woody.
Meanwhile, you can expect to find lots of names favoured by the Baby Boomer generation on the almost extinct list. The names include Bob, Carole, Dusty, Ed, Gayle, Howie, Jeanine, Jill, Kris, Mel, Nicky, Sandy, Terry, Val and Wilford.
