Earlene is even more out of style than Earl. These are among the names that have not been revived ala the Hundred Year Rule.

Not as lively or independent as Gigi, Kiki, or Coco.

Peg is a nostalgic turn-of-the-last-century nickname, sociable but slight. Like near-identical twin Peggy, Peg is in mothballs.

If you're looking for a girl's name that honors an ancestral Arthur, try Artis.

Although now usually considered a female name in the US, Carol actually had a good run of popularity for boys too, peaking at #325 in 1937 and remaining in the US Top 1000 until the mid 1960s, when its popularity for both sexes began to decline. It derives from Carolus, the Latin form of Charles.

Chucky is primarily known as a diminutive or nickname form of Charles, which has Germanic origins meaning 'free man' or 'manly.' The name gained notable recognition through the horror film character 'Chucky,' a possessed doll featured in the Child's Play franchise beginning in 1988. Before the films, it was simply an affectionate nickname, often used for young boys named Charles, Charlie, or Chuck. The name has a playful, friendly sound that contrasts with its horror film associations. While rarely used as a formal given name, Chucky still appears occasionally as a nickname or informal name. Its popularity as a given name declined after the horror films, though some parents might choose it for its friendly, approachable quality, particularly if it has family significance.

When Gail was popular, half a century ago, Gale was a plausible choice. Gale does put a slightly more masculine spin on the name, but it's dated in any version.

The misspelling that created an indelibly one-person name. And we mean that literally: Despite Oprah Winfrey's fame and appeal, there were no baby girls named Oprah last year, OR Orpah.

Once the teenaged babysitter, now more likely to be the mom who hires her. The names many variations include Nickee, Nickie, Nickey, Nicky, Niki, Nikkee, Nikkey, Nikki, Nikkie, Nikky, and Niky.

Colon is a masculine name with Latin origins, derived from the word 'colonus' meaning 'farmer' or 'settler.' It shares etymological roots with words related to colonization and cultivation. While uncommon as a first name in most English-speaking countries, it has seen occasional use in Spanish-speaking regions, particularly as a variant of Colón, which was the Spanish rendering of Christopher Columbus's surname. The name's pronunciation differs from the anatomical term (the colon punctuation mark derives from Greek 'kolon' meaning 'limb' or 'part'). As a given name, Colon remains rare, ranking outside the top 1000 names in popularity charts across most countries.

During the heyday of Deborah, Debra, and Debra — the late 1950s and early 60s — there were enough baby girls named Deb, just Deb, for it to make the Top 1000.

Pansy is an early floral name that lost credibility when it became a derogatory slang term for gay people. Better these days: Posy or Poppy.

An early and still quintessentially gender-neutral name, now supplanted by thousands of fresher options. Hasn't been recorded as a given name since 1991.

An adorable nickname for a smiley baby, but not suggested as a legal name.

Don't put "girth" in a baby name.

Brisk but rather brittle. Britt Eklund was a Bond Girl in the 1974 The Man with the Golden Gun. Britt is a contracted form of Birgit, but be aware that it does come with the strong possibility of being confused with Bret/Brett—or as a shortening of Brittany.

Adelma shot to stardom on the coattails of 19th century Eastern European spiritualist Baroness Adelma Vay de Vaya. Delma continued to be used in the US until the 1950s, when it dropped from sight.

Irl is a compact, masculine name with both Irish and Germanic roots. In Irish contexts, it's believed to be a shortened form of 'Ireland,' potentially conveying patriotic sentiment. Its Germanic origin suggests a connection to the word 'earl,' denoting nobility and leadership. This concise, one-syllable name projects strength and directness with its sturdy consonant combination. Throughout the early 20th century, Irl enjoyed modest usage in the United States, particularly in rural communities, but has since become exceedingly rare. The name's brevity makes it distinctive in an era of longer names, though it sometimes faces pronunciation challenges (typically pronounced like 'earl'). Irl might appeal to parents seeking a succinct name with historical depth that remains unfettered by modern trends or popular associations.

Long one of the most popular girls' names starting with P, Patti replaced Patsy as the midcentury's popular, peppy babysitter but has now joined her in the retirement home.