Canva
Baby names losing popularity in the 21st century
There is a clear life cycle for virtually everything humans have created, including baby names. What was popular or trendy 10, 50, or even 100 years ago often isn’t popular now, while other trends cycle back into popularity every few years or decades. The 1980s saw plenty of babies named after the British royal family (William, Diana, Elizabeth), minor Biblical characters (David, Sarah, Ruth), and trendy pop star names (Misty, Michael, Brandi). However, many of those names have dropped to the bottom of today’s top 1,000 baby names list or have fallen completely off.
Stacker compiled a list of names that are on their way out or at the bottom of their popularity cycle. Using the Social Security Administration’s historical archives of baby names, we compiled a count of the birth names from 1980 to 1999 and 2000 to 2019 (the last year from which data is available, although it was released in 2020). The names were then ranked in order of lowest percent change between the two datasets to uncover the baby names that are losing popularity in the 21st century.
Keep reading to discover which vintage names are shedding popularity in the 21st century and whether your own name made the list.
You may also like: Baby names gaining popularity in the 21st century
Canva
#25. Boy: Dewayne
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 20.4
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 266.1
– Percent change: -92.35%
Dewayne, a variant of Duane, Dwayne, and Dwain, is an anglicized version of DubhĆ”n, an Irish name from the word “dubh,” meaning dark or black. One of the most famous people with a variant of the name Dewayne is actor and former pro-wrestler Dwayne Johnson, born in 1972.
Canva
#25. Girl: Christy
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 62.5
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 1310.5
– Percent change: -95.23%
A form of the male name Christopher, Christy hit peak popularity in 1975 and has been on the decline since. Model Christy Turlington, who was born in 1969, began her career in the ’90s and became a notable public figure.
Canva
#24. Boy: Alton
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 14.4
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 188.4
– Percent change: -92.38%
This decreasingly popular boy’s name stems from an Old English surname that literally translates to “town at the source of the river.” The multi-talented television personality Alton Brown was given the name in honor of his father, Alton Brown Sr.
You may also like: Cities doing the most for a clean energy future
Canva
#24. Girl: Adrian
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 14.8
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 312.3
– Percent change: -95.26%
Adrian is a form of the name Hadrianus, which meant “from Hadria” in Latin. Six popes, including Pope Adrian IV, Pope Adrian VI, and a handful of saints, have borne the name. Adrian remains a relatively popular name for boys, but hasn’t cracked the top 1,000 since 2000.
Canva
#23. Boy: Robin
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 23.4
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 306.8
– Percent change: -92.39%
Although they’re considered two separate names today, in the Medieval Ages Robin was considered a diminutive of the name Robert. A decidedly unisex name, controversial singer Robin Thicke and “How I Met Your Mother” character Robin Scherbatsky (played by Cobie Smulders) are both popular 21st-century figures with the name.
Canva
#23. Girl: Audra
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 17.9
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 382.2
– Percent change: -95.33%
There are a couple of different origins and meanings of the name Audra. In Scotland, where the name is still commonly used, Audra means “noble strength.” In Lithuania, the name’s other country of origin, Audra means “storm.”
Canva
#22. Boy: Tyron
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 11.3
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 148.7
– Percent change: -92.43%
Tyron is an alternative spelling of the name Tyrone, which comes from the name of a county in Northern Ireland. Tyrone Power of “The Mark of Zorro” and “Witness for the Prosecution” fame, popularized the name upon his rise to prominence in the 1940s and 1950s.
Canva
#22. Girl: Yvonne
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 31.1
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 674.2
– Percent change: -95.39%
Yvonne is a French name, and it is the female form of the popular boy’s name Yvon. Translated, the name means “yew wood.” Notable women with the name include Yvonne Hudson, the first female African American “Saturday Night Live” cast member.
You may also like: Most Popular Baby Names of the Past Decade
Canva
#21. Boy: Terence
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 31.0
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 411.9
– Percent change: -92.47%
The name Terence, coming from the Roman surname Terentius, was most popular in the U.S. in 1964. Variants of the name include Terance, Terrance, and Terrence. English actor Terence Stamp began acting in ’62 and has appeared in many American films and TV shows.
Canva
#21. Girl: Dayna
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 12.9
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 287.2
– Percent change: -95.53%
Found in both Celtic and Scandinavian mythology, Dayna (which is a variation of the more common Dana) was originally a boy’s name before American parents started giving it to their daughters. The name peaked from the 1960s to the 1990s but has been on a slow decline ever since.
Canva
#20. Boy: Neal
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 31.7
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 428.2
– Percent change: -92.6%
Often described as the second-best spelling of the name Neil, Neal means “cloud” in its native Irish. Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, carried the more popular spelling of the name, which certainly helped to boost its overall popularity a few decades ago. However, Neal and Neil have been on a 50-year decline but have not slipped out of the Top 1,000 list.
Canva
#20. Girl: Tracy
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 77.0
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 1758.6
– Percent change: -95.62%
Once an English surname that meant “domain belonging to Thracius,” Tracy peaked as a boys name from about 1960 to 1975, when the number of newborns given the name swiftly dropped off. Lending the name some star power are former NBA player Tracy McGrady and comedian Tracy Morgan.
Canva
#19. Boy: Paris
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 13.6
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 184.2
– Percent change: -92.62%
The origins and meaning of the name Paris are unknown. That being said, the name is undoubtedly an ancient one, appearing in the Greek epic “The Iliad.” Paris remains a popular name for baby girls, who are often named after the French capital city, but it has never had real staying power for boys, dipping in and out of the Top 1,000 from the 1950s onward.
You may also like: Baby Boomer Baby Names That Have Gone Out of Style
Canva
#19. Girl: Kristine
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 42.7
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 1005.1
– Percent change: -95.75%
A Scandinavian form of Christine, Kristine means “anointed.” Forty years ago, the name was a part of a popular trend wherein baby names that traditionally started with a C (i.e. Christy) were “updated” replacing the first letter with a K (i.e. Kristy).
Canva
#18. Boy: Infant
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 11.1
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 154.2
– Percent change: -92.83%
The name Infant has been used for both boys and girls. As a name for boys it was most popular in the U.S. in 1990, when 290 babies per 1 million were named Infant.
Canva
#18. Girl: Leann
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 13.9
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 333.6
– Percent change: -95.83%
Leann is a combination of the names Lee and Ann, which mean “clearing” and “grace,” respectively. Country crooner LeAnn Rimes was given the name upon her birth in the early 1980s, right at the start of the name’s decline in popularity.
Canva
#17. Boy: Kirk
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 38.0
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 557.0
– Percent change: -93.18%
“Spartacus” and “Paths of Glory” actor Kirk Douglas, who died Feb. 5, 2020, was perhaps the best-known Kirk; although, ironically, it was not the actor’s birth name (Issur Danielovitch). The one-syllable name means “church” and has English and Scottish origins.
Canva
#17. Girl: Shaina
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 17.6
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 427.8
– Percent change: -95.89%
Shaina is one of the possible transcriptions of the Yiddish ש××× ×Ö· (Shein). The name means “beautiful.” Filipina actress Shaina Magdayao is one of the few active celebrities to bear the name.
You may also like: Baby Names Inspired by the Winter Holidays of the World
Canva
#16. Boy: Brandyn
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 9.0
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 136.5
– Percent change: -93.41%
The name Brandyn (and it’s alternatively spelled counterparts, Brandon and Branden) reached the height of its popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. The name, which means “broom-covered hill,” has experienced a sharp decline since then, being replaced with names like Braden and Caden. Still, “90210” fans will remember heartthrob Brandon Walsh, played by Jason Priestly, who helped give the name a boost.
Canva
#16. Girl: Joanne
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 16.3
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 421.3
– Percent change: -96.14%
From the 1930s through the 1950s, Joanne was a wildly popular name for girls, retaining a place on the Top 100 list throughout the three decades. However, the French name, which means “God is gracious,” is now almost extinct after a significant decline in popularity since the ’50s.
Canva
#15. Boy: Johnnie
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 19.5
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 303.6
– Percent change: -93.58%
Johnnie is a Hebrew name, and it is diminutive of the name John which means “God is gracious.” Several celebrities, including Johnny Depp, Johnny Carson, and Johnny Cash, have gone by an alternative spelling of the name.
Canva
#15. Girl: Kari
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 45.7
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 1192.9
– Percent change: -96.17%
Kari is a name that has been used by several cultures around the world for centuries, which gives it a wide variety of meanings. In Greek, the name means “pure of heart,” while in Norwegian, it means “gust of wind” or “curly-haired.”
Canva
#14. Boy: Jimmie
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 18.2
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 295.2
– Percent change: -93.83%
For many, the name Jimmie conjures up images of 1930s and 1940s mobsters, like Jimmy “the Weasel” Fratianno. The name has English origins and is a variation of Jim, which means “supplanter.”
You may also like: States with the best and worst animal protection laws
Canva
#14. Girl: Randi
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 26.1
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 772.6
– Percent change: -96.62%
Randi has its roots in an old Norse name, RagnfrĆĆ°r, which was derived from two separate words meaning “advice or counsel” and “beautiful.” Its unique spelling is a product of the 1980s when girls’ names ending in -i (think Mandi and Andi) were popular.
Canva
#13. Boy: Don
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 23.2
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 381.4
– Percent change: -93.93%
Don Draper, the lead character of AMC’s smash hit “Mad Men,” is perhaps the most modern figure to carry this classic name. But even the show’s success wasn’t enough to bump the name back up into the Top 1,000 list. Short for Donald, Don means “proud chief” in its native Scottish.
Canva
#13. Girl: Melinda
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 48.9
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 1507.1
– Percent change: -96.76%
Created in the 18th century, it is thought the name Melinda was inspired by another existing name, Belinda. Philanthropist and tech entrepreneur Melinda Gates and “Days of Our Lives” star Melinda Clarke both have the name which fell off of the Top 1,000 list in 2002.
Canva
#12. Boy: Myron
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 13.9
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 232.6
– Percent change: -94.04%
Derived from a Greek name meaning “sweet oil” or “perfume,” Myron has been a common name in the Eastern Church since at least the 5th century B.C. The name has been used in English-speaking countries since the 19th century.
Canva
#12. Girl: Breanne
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 12.1
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 389.1
– Percent change: -96.9%
The female form of the name Brian, Breanne, much like its source name, doesn’t have a known meaning. However, it is thought that the name stems from the Celtic word bre, which means “hill.”
You may also like: Most popular baby names in the 21st century
Canva
#11. Boy: Dan
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 13.2
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 226.2
– Percent change: -94.16%
Dan is a shortened version of the name Daniel, which means “God is my judge” in Hebrew. The Biblical name, shared by a number of celebrities including Daniel Craig, Daniel Radcliffe, Dan Aykroyd, and Daniel Day-Lewis, has seen a steep dropoff in the 21st century.
Canva
#11. Girl: Trisha
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 27.6
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 906.4
– Percent change: -96.96%
Trisha is a diminutive of the name Patricia, which, in turn, is a feminized version of the name Patrick. All three of the names mean “nobleman.” Country singer Trisha Yearwood and YouTuber Trisha Paytas both carry the name.
Canva
#10. Boy: Herbert
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 18.6
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 343.7
– Percent change: -94.6%
The Normans introduced the name Herbert to England prior to the middle ages. A combination of two German wordsāhari, meaning “army,” and beraht, meaning “bright”āthe name replaced a similar Old English name (Herebeorht). The name was given at birth to “War of the Worlds” author H. G. Wells and pianist Herbie Hancock.
Canva
#10. Girl: Candice
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 59.6
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 1985.6
– Percent change: -97%
The name Candace is reportedly derived from the hereditary title of the Queens of Ethiopia: Kandake, which means “queen mother” in Cushitic. The name Candice (and its sister spelling, Candace) received a boost in popularity thanks to the 1942 movie “Meet the Stewarts.”
Canva
#9. Boy: Kelly
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 33.4
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 695.7
– Percent change: -95.21%
Kelly is an anglicized version of the Irish name Cellach, which means “war.” Originally, the name was given almost solely to little boys, as demonstrated by the 1960s TV show “I Spy,” but by the 1970s that had shifted and the name became far more popular for little girls.
You may also like: Most Popular Gender-Neutral Baby Names
Canva
#9. Girl: Stefanie
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 26.9
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 1058.6
– Percent change: -97.46%
Many of the girls names on our list are actually feminized versions of popular boys names, including Stefanie. Stefanie stems from Stephen, which means “crown,” “wreath,” or “that which surrounds” in its native Greek. Both names became popular with Christian nations around the world, thanks in part to Saint Stephen.
Canva
#8. Boy: Bradly
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 8.9
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 204.5
– Percent change: -95.65%
A unique spelling of the name Bradley, Bradly also means “wide meadow.” Although it has its origins as an English surname, Bradly was widely used as a first name in America before it took off as a given name across the pond.
Canva
#8. Girl: Antoinette
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 13.6
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 560.9
– Percent change: -97.58%
Perhaps the most famous historical figure to bear this French girl’s name is Marie Antoinette, Queen of France from 1774 to 1792. In its root language, the name means “priceless one.”
Canva
#7. Boy: Donnie
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 12.1
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 300.9
– Percent change: -96%
Like Don, Donnie is a diminutive of Donald, which means “ruler of the world.” The 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, was sometimes referred as “Donnie” in the press.
Canva
#7. Girl: Michele
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 27.0
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 1164.0
– Percent change: -97.68%
Michele is a feminine, French form of the Hebrew name Michael which means “who is like God?” Actresses Michelle Pfeiffeer and Michele Lee and sportscaster Michele Tafoya are all famous women with the name.
You may also like: Most Popular Baby Names Shared By Famous Musicians
Canva
#6. Boy: Courtney
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 20.6
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 563.4
– Percent change: -96.35%
Linguists debate the true origins of the name Courtney, arguing that it either came from a French place name or a Norman nickname. In French, the name is a derivative of a personal name meaning “short.” The Norman nickname is similar in meaning, literally translating to “short nose.”
Canva
#6. Girl: Lori
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 30.7
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 1329.8
– Percent change: -97.7%
Actress Lori Loughlin and businesswoman Lori Greiner are among the few notable Loris still active in the 21st century. Their name, which has English origins, means “bay laurel.”
Canva
#5. Boy: Tevin
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 15.1
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 426.3
– Percent change: -96.47%
Tevin is a modern, invented name with no real meaning. It rose to popularity with child star Tevin Campbell, around the same time similar-sounding names Kevin and Devin were popular. However, since the turn of the millennium, the name has all but dropped off new parents’ radars.
Canva
#5. Girl: Cortney
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 14.1
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 679.0
– Percent change: -97.92%
Despite the name Cortney’s (alternatively spelled Courtney) muddled origins, it’s clear that the name has taken a steep dive in popularity for both men and women. Still, basketball player Courtney Lee, singer Courtney Love, and actress Courteney Cox remain popular figures even while their name is fading into obscurity.
Canva
#4. Boy: Rick
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 10.8
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 341.1
– Percent change: -96.85%
A shortened form of Richard, Rick also means “brave ruler.” Rapper Rick Ross and author Rick Riordan both go by the nickname, which hit its all-time peak in 1958.
You may also like: Most popular baby names for boys the year you were born
Canva
#4. Girl: Dawn
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 16.3
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 1335.4
– Percent change: -98.78%
Many baby names have their roots in Old English words. For example, Dawn came from the historical word dagung, which means “rising of the sun.”
Canva
#3. Boy: Kerry
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 10.8
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 345.8
– Percent change: -96.89%
The name of one of the most beautiful counties in Ireland, Kerry means “dark” or “dark-haired.” In Irish Gaelic, the name is spelled CiarraĆ and means “Ciar’s people.”
Canva
#3. Girl: Kristy
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 15.4
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 1426.2
– Percent change: -98.92%
A diminutive of Christina, Kristy shares the meaning of “a Christian.” Kristy reached the height of its popularity in the early 1980s when K- names were all the rage.
Canva
#2. Boy: Tracy
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 9.1
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 312.8
– Percent change: -97.09%
Once an English surname that meant “domain belonging to Thracius,” Tracy peaked as a boys name from about 1960 to 1975, when the number of newborns given the name swiftly dropped off. Basketball star Tracy McGrady and comedian Tracy Morgan have both given the boys name some star power.
Canva
#2. Girl: Jill
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 11.9
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 1458.0
– Percent change: -99.19%
Jill may have climbed the hill with Jack way back in the day, but the name has certainly come tumbling down from its heyday in the 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s. The English name means “youthful” and is derived from the name Julia, which was used as far back as Ancient Rome.
You may also like: Baby Names That Gained The Most Popularity The Year You Were Born
Canva
#1. Boy: Clint
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 14.1
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 574.1
– Percent change: -97.55%
Western movie actor Clint Eastwood was given this moniker, a shortened version of the name Clinton, way back in 1930. Today, there are very few boys given the name, which comes from an Old English name meaning “settlement on the River Glyme.”
Canva
#1. Girl: Misty
– 2000-2019 average babies born per year: 13.8
– 1980-1999 average babies born per year: 1726.7
– Percent change: -99.2%
Principal ballet dancer Misty Copeland, famous for being the first African American woman promoted to the role at the American Ballet Theatre, may be the last of a dying name. Misty, which comes from the English word mist, hasn’t ranked in the Top 1,000 list since 2002.
You may also like: Baby names that have faded into obscurity