There are numerous influences on the selection of baby names, including popular culture, historical patterns, religious beliefs, and even travel.
Another factor is the 100-year baby name rule, which suggests that baby names tend to regain popularity roughly every century.
While choosing a baby name is a deeply personal decision, experts have identified certain patterns: which names are regaining popularity among parents, and which names are declining to the point of potentially falling off the charts entirely.
Babycenter conducted a study examining which names within the top 1,000 saw a significant decline between 2024 and 2025, revealing some fascinating insights.
The study found that names with unconventional spellings are becoming less favored, along with names inspired by geographical locations.
Names starting with D and K, as well as those ending in Y, are also experiencing a decline in popularity.
The experts also made predictions about which names might become obsolete within the next year, and some are quite unexpected.
Among girls’ names, those that might vanish include: Charleigh, Mckinley, Prisha, Ezra, Sasha, Mía, Kenna, Kori, Dior, and Shaikha.
For boys, names that could disappear include: Kylian, Atharv, Enoch, Crue, Huxley, Salman, Camilo, Advik, Emmitt, and Garrett.
You can find the full lists below:
Despite a number of names falling out of favor, the naming experts at Nameberry have identified a set of trends for the coming year. They explain that, given the current somber news climate, expectant parents are seeking names infused with fantasy or inspired by their favorite books or reality TV shows.
These trends include names with ancient historical themes, showgirl-inspired names influenced by the popularity of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, soulful and spiritual names with biblical connotations, stylish boomer names like Nancy and Betsy, romantic fantasy-inspired names from popular novels, and names that incorporate numbers, such as Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker’s son, Rocky Thirteen.
A revival of interest in major British literature is also contributing to a resurgence in classically English names.
With classic works like Wuthering Heights, Sense & Sensibility, and Pride and Prejudice, names including Bram, Bronte, Celia, Darcy, Eyre, Fielding, and Tess are likely to inspire parents this year.