The Names Really In Danger of Extinction

Updated Thu Mar 13 2025

The Names Really In Danger of Extinction

If you follow baby name news, you may have noticed a peculiar trend. Every few months or so, a headline about extinct names will pop up that reads something like this:

The Name Gary is Headed for Extinction

The Name Karen is Going Extinct

The Name Nigel is Now Extinct

Gary, Karen, and Nigel are the most commonly cited "extinct" names, yet hundreds of American parents use them every year. Gary is still in the Top 1000! Even in the UK — where some of these headlines originate — these names remain in use.

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.

Here, we have the scoop on the names that are really going extinct, from those currently endangered to the ones that have already vanished.

Each of the names featured in this blog were once stylish and well-used — given to hundreds of babies a year just a handful of decades ago. But today, parents are rarely putting these names on birth certificates.

Endangered Names

These names are not extinct yet, but they're endangered species — given to only 20-50 babies in 2023.

We see a plethora of midcentury favorites falling into this category now, such as Cheryl and Doreen, Hubert and Randolph. These names had their days of glory, and have been on the downswing slowly and steadily for several decades now.

However, the endangered list also contains a new family of names — ultra-trendy 80s-00s names that are now falling as fast as they once rose. Once-popular alternative spellings like Brittney, Kaitlin, Kristin, Bret, and Brice are now in danger, while their more traditional spellings are still holding strong.

Below, the names in danger of extinction:

Almost Extinct Names

Some of the most popular nicknames of the Baby Boomer generation — Al and Bob, Val and Sue — are now teetering on extinction.

These were once ubiquitous names that represented everyday people — used on sitcoms like The Brady Bunch and Father Knows Best.

The great news is, almost extinct names are often the perfect quirky revivals for an adventurous parent. Myrtle and Hester, Howie and Orville — these names are so out of style that they just might be ready for a relaunch.

The names that are almost extinct were given to 5-19 babies the last year on record:

Truly Extinct Names

These truly extinct names have left the charts, and most aren't likely to return anytime soon. Classic nicknames like Pam, Stu, and Deb need another few decades before they sound fresh again, and full forms Pamela, Stuart, and Deborah will come back into fashion first.

However, amongst these extinct names are a handful of hidden gems worthy of consideration. While we aren't petitioning to bring Gay or Dick back as baby names, how about Meg and Bess, Wilkie and Bertie?

Here, the extinct names given to fewer than five children in 2023:

This begs the question — if names like Jen and Doug can go extinct, which currently popular names may eventually disappear?

And which names from the endangered or extinct list do you think deserve a resurrection? Which names is it time to let go?

About the Author

Brynn McKeon

Brynn McKeon joined the Nameberry team in August of 2022 as an editor, and has written about topics such as the Ultimate Guide to Goddess Names and Quirky Nicknames for Classic Names. As Head Moderator, she also oversees our active Nameberry forums community.

Outside of Nameberry, Brynn lives in New Jersey with her dog Raven and cat Phoebe, where she works as an occupational therapist. You can reach her at brynn@nameberry.com