There are ten baby names that are reportedly on the verge of disappearing, and some of these names might catch you off guard.
Choosing a name for a child is often a challenging decision for parents, even with months to prepare. Many aim to select a name that stands out, making the process even more complex.
Inspiration for names can come from anywhere. For instance, my parents picked the name Niamh, despite our limited Irish heritage, simply because they liked it.
My mother first heard the name thanks to Niamh Cusack, an Irish actress known for her roles in films such as Hereafter, In The Land Of Saints and Sinners, and Testament of Youth.
During the late 1990s in northern England, the name Niamh was quite rare.
Today, many people turn to the internet for naming ideas, with NameKun being one potential resource.
As per NameKun, some of the current popular boy names in the US include Michael, John, and David, while popular girl names include Sarah, Jennifer, and Jessica.
In the UK, names like Noah, Oliver, Muhammad, Olivia, Amelia, and Lily are favored choices for babies, according to AOL.
However, not all names retain their popularity, and these ten have seen a notable decrease.
Consider Lauren in the UK, which ranked as the second most popular name in 1994. By last year, it didn’t even appear in the top 100 list.
In fact, Lauren had fallen to the 934th position, with just 34 babies given the name in 2024.
Then there’s Karen, a name that might not be so surprising given the negative connotation associated with it, often depicting a middle-aged woman prone to making complaints, typically with racial undertones.
According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), Karen was the third most popular girl name in the UK in 1964, a stark contrast to its standing today. Apologies to Karen Gillan!
The name Sheila experienced its peak during the 1930s but by 1996, only ten girls in England and Wales were named Sheila, as reported by AOL.
Other names that have significantly fallen in popularity include Roderick, Brenda, Gladys, Galvin, Dale, Gary, and Neville — which is particularly unfortunate for former Manchester United soccer star, Gary Neville…