Endangered Baby Names

Shelley

English

"clearing on a bank"

The Shirley of the 1950s. Shelley Winters was born a Shirley.

Sheryl

Variation of Cheryl, English invented name from Cherie, French

"dear"

Somehow, the S versions are even more passe than the C's.

Tracey

Variation of Tracy, French

"of Thracia"

Tracey is the spelling of Tracy used by British comedian Tracey Ullman, who was born Trace. A Top 10 name in 1970, Tracy was last year given to fewer than 50 baby girls in the US and Tracey to only…

Cathy

English diminutive of Catherine, Greek

"pure"

One of the most popular nicknames of the fifties and sixties — and who could forget the romantic heroine of "Wuthering Heights"? — now largely ignored in favor of Cate or Kate.

Gail

Hebrew, short form of Abigail

"my father rejoices"

Gail was a mid-twentieth century favorite, which has been far surpassed by its original form, Abigail and nickname Abby. Spelling variations include Gale and Gayle, the latter represented by TV…

Meryl

Variation of Muriel via Meriel, Irish

"of the bright sea"

Meryl is a name that's at once rare and famous, thanks to Meryl (born Mary Louise) Streep. Streep's name is an invented short form of Mary Louise, but Meryl might also be a contraction of the unique…

Nicola

German; English, from Greek

"people of victory"

Nicola, an elegant Latinate feminization of Nicholas, has long been standard issue for English girls but for some reason has never voyaged across the Atlantic, which we consider a pity, especially as…

Peggy

Diminutive of Margaret, Greek

"pearl"

Just when we had written off Peggy as the eternal perky, pug-nosed prom-queen she projected from the 1920s into the fifties, along came Mad Men , with intriguing mid-century characters with names…

Sherri

Sherri is a feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of Sharon or Sheridan. With Hebrew roots, it connects to Sharon, meaning 'a fertile plain' in ancient Israel. Popular during the 1950s…

Tricia

Diminutive of Patricia

"noble, patrician"

Back in Patricia's midcentury heyday, Patty/Patti was the plebeian nickname while Tricia/Trisha and Tish/Trish carried a snobby-yet-insubstantial image associated with then First Daughter Tricia…

Bonita

Spanish

"pretty"

Like Benita, had some popularity in the fifties.

Brett

Celtic

"from Brittany"

One of a number of single-syllable unisex B-names, Brett was first spotted as a female name in Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises , via the dashing and seductive Lady Brett Ashley, who was a captivating…

Sue

Diminutive of Susan

Much-used midcentury diminutive, now fallen far from favor even as a middle name.

Kerri

Kerri is a feminine name of Irish Gaelic origin, typically considered a variation of Kerry, which means 'dark-haired' or 'dark one.' It can also be seen as a diminutive form of Katherine or a variant…