Baby Names At Risk Of Going Extinct
Remember when every classroom had three Jessicas and four Brandons? Those days are fading fast. Hundreds of thousands of parents register their newborns with the Social Security Administration each year, and the data tells a pretty clear story: some names that dominated the 90s and early 2000s are practically vanishing from birth certificates.
Much like the doomed flightless dodo bird, certain baby names face their own extinction crisis. If you're expecting and trying to figure out what to call your little one, understanding these shifts might actually help you make a better choice.
What Does It Mean When We Say Names Are "Going Extinct"?
When we talk about baby names going extinct, we're looking at serious drops in usage over just a few years. According to BabyCenter—a leading parenting resource—when a name loses a massive chunk of its popularity in a short time, it's definitely at risk of going extinct.
The danger of extinction becomes real when names lose their cultural relevance. Some just sound old-fashioned now. Others get replaced because today's parents want something different—something that better reflects who they are and what they value.
Is your baby’s name truly one-of-a-kind? Try our name analyzer!
The Baby Names Dropping Off Fastest
Recent data reveals which names took the biggest hits. BabyCenter looked at which names saw the steepest year-over-year declines compared to 2023, and we're talking dramatic falls here—some have dropped more than 95% from where they used to be.
The report draws from the top baby names for each gender from data submitted by parents about babies born in 2024, helping us analyze the biggest trends that shake up the rankings each year.
500+ Baby Names That Are Skyrocketing in Popularity!Boy Names Losing Ground
Joshua is leading the decline among boy names with a 59.1% drop. Even with that steep fall, it still shows up 74,179 times in recent years, but it's clearly become a name that represents an earlier generation.
Tyler's down 70.9% to just 36,236 uses. Jacob dropped 48.9%, though it's still hanging on with 115,848 recent registrations (down from a peak of 226,779).
Andrew fell 54.5% to 74,793 uses. Christopher declined 54.1% to 74,812. Brandon dropped 68.7% to 32,243, and Nicholas is down 60.4% to 48,383.
Justin took a 67.3% hit, landing at 28,165 registrations. Kevin fell 61.9% to 33,580. Gavin declined 62.9% to 36,054, and Zachary dropped 61.7% to 34,722.
But here's the wildest part: Jadyn absolutely collapsed—down 96.2% to just 330 uses from 8,773 before. Jaden itself declined 70.6% to 14,941. Parents have clearly moved on from these early 2000s trends.
Even the traditional heavy-hitters aren't safe. Michael's down 42.2% (though still at 115,484 uses). Matthew shows similar patterns—down 42.6% despite maintaining 99,277 registrations.
Parents Magazine Baby Naming GuideGirl Names on the Decline
Alexis leads all declining names with a staggering 77% drop—from 114,443 down to just 26,334 recent uses. It's actually the top-falling girl name of 2024, losing a stunning 320 spots in popularity.
Alyssa fell 76.1% to only 20,204 registrations (from 84,415). Ashley dropped 72.8% to 24,261—quite a fall for what was once considered one of the top-used baby names for girls and boys alike.
Emily was once one of the most popular baby names in the country. It's down 50.3% but still maintains 88,424 registrations. Madison fell 53% to 73,799. Samantha declined 62.6% to 38,078.
The steepest drops are even more dramatic. Megan's down 83.6% to only 5,777 recent uses. Marissa dropped 86% to just 3,046. Breanna fell 88.5% to 2,049.
Kaitlyn declined 80.4% to 8,964. Katelyn dropped 80.6% to 7,167. Jessica fell 78.6% to 10,408—teetering on the verge of extinction for a name that once dominated American classrooms.
Lauren decreased 72.3% to 17,318. Kayla dropped 71.1% to 18,281. Jennifer fell 76% to just 8,990. These shifts really show what modern parents find appealing.
Check Out the 100 Most Loved Boys' and Girls’ Names!Gender-Neutral Names Aren't Immune
Taylor's declined 65% to 28,907. Jordan dropped 49.5% to 57,480. Even these gender-neutral names face challenges as preferences evolve.
Parents increasingly want either clearly gendered names or completely new alternatives that feel contemporary—not tied to the 90s and early 2000s. Interestingly, while some gender-neutral names decline, others actually names spike in popularity when they catch the cultural moment just right.
The cutest & most popular baby names of 2026 are here!
Why Certain Names Continue to Fade While Others Thrive
While we're focused on baby names that are going extinct, it's worth noting what makes some names resilient. Names that parents connect with tend to have timeless qualities or fresh appeal. Names for girls like Charlotte and Eleanor—once declining—surged back, proving that names continue evolving in cycles.
Names That Have Completely Disappeared
This is where it gets shocking. Hundreds of names now show zero recent registrations compared to significant previous usage. These names that are going extinct represent the most dramatic shifts in American naming culture.
The Complete Extinction List
Beyoncé was chosen by 547 parents previously. Now? Zero uses. It shows how celebrity culture influences trends before those choices vanish entirely—almost overnight in some cases.
Kanye experienced a 99.4% collapse—from 776 previous registrations to just 5 recent uses. That's one of the most dramatic celebrity name declines we've seen.
The data reveals hundreds more with 100% extinction rates:
Dereon dropped from 906 to zero. Shamya fell from 757 to zero. Tayshaun disappeared entirely after 518 previous uses. Fantasia vanished after 238 uses. Kierstin went from 455 to zero.
Ashlee's down 95.4% with only 262 recent uses (from 5,730). Trista experienced a 99.6% drop to just 7 registrations (from 1,746). Breonna fell 99.4% from 1,060 to only 6.
These endangered names represent diverse cultural origins. Many peaked following specific cultural moments before disappearing almost entirely.
Spelling Variations That Went Extinct
Multiple spelling variations have vanished completely. Katelin shows just 7 recent uses—a 99.3% decline from 1,055. Katlynn dropped from 379 to zero. Breana fell from 1,579 to only 17.
Jadin went from 417 to zero. These variations show how the spelling creativity from the 2000s has fallen completely out of favor. In 2024—other nicknames and shortened versions have similarly faded, as nicknames are fading into obscurity in favor of full formal names.
Why 90s Names Are Disappearing So Fast
The 1990s and early 2000s created really distinctive naming patterns. Understanding why these 90s names dominated back then helps explain why they're collapsing now and why so many are among the names at risk of going extinct entirely.
What Shaped 90s Naming Trends
Television shows and movies heavily influenced parents during this era. Jessica, Ashley, and Brandon were everywhere—from soap operas to teen dramas. Celebrity culture played a huge role, including royal names from the British Royal family which experienced brief popularity surges.
Even French baby names and international options had their moment. Parents wanted names that sounded modern but approachable. They avoided their own parents' traditional picks. This created clusters of super popular names that later became dated just from being everywhere.
Today's parents—many of them millennials born in the 1980s and 1990s—remember those classrooms packed with multiple Jessicas and Ashleys. They're actively seeking different paths for their own kids.
The Steepest 90s Declines
Jessica's 78.6% drop perfectly shows this trend. The name peaked in the 1980s, stayed strong through the 1990s, and has now fallen dramatically to just 10,408 registrations.
Ashley fell 72.8%. Brandon declined 68.7%. Tyler dropped 70.9%. These names became so tied to their generation that avoiding them feels almost automatic to millennial parents naming babies born in 2024 and 2025.
By 2022, many were already heading downward. The decline picked up speed through 2024 and 2025 into this year.
Find the Ideal Name for Your Baby in Seconds!Why Popularity Changes So Dramatically
Multiple forces drive these shifts and create that risk of going extinct.
How Cultural Preferences Evolve
Names reflect their moment perfectly. The 1990s favored accessible, friendly-sounding names. The 2000s saw experimentation with unique spellings and creative variations.
Now parents are trying to balance individuality with timelessness. They want something distinctive but not so unusual it becomes a burden.
Television and social media expose parents to way more possibilities than before. Global connectivity brings international names into consideration. Names that once dominated specific regions now compete with options from everywhere.
Generational preferences shift dramatically too. Today's parents actively avoid the overly popular names from their own childhoods. They want names that help their children stand out rather than blend into crowds of identically-named peers.
The Push for Something Unique
Modern parents increasingly prioritize individuality. Fewer babies get top 100 names than in previous decades. This directly contributes to previously popular names falling out of favor.
When something becomes too common, it loses appeal. Parents want their child's name to feel special and distinctive. This creates a natural cycle where popular names become victims of their own success.
Online databases and naming resources make everything more visible. Parents can easily research whether their preferred choice ranks in the top 10 in 2024. They can see which names appear on endangered lists. This helps them make more informed decisions about standing out versus fitting in.
How Spelling Variations Split Things Up
Spelling variations really impact how popular a name seems. Think about it: Kaitlyn with 8,964 uses, Katelyn with 7,167, Katelin with just 7, and Katlynn with zero—they all split what might otherwise count as one name's popularity.
This fragmentation affects both data collection and how parents perceive things. Someone might choose Jaxon over Jackson thinking it's more distinctive. Both remain quite common when combined, but the split makes each seem rarer.
These variations can speed up apparent decline by dividing usage across spellings. Jaden, Jadyn, and Jadin show this perfectly. Each spelling declined individually. Together they represent a broader rejection of this sound pattern.
Similar trends hit names ending in -aiden, -ayden, or -aden sounds. Parents have moved away from these patterns entirely.
Find Baby Name Lucky NumbersFinding the Right Name Amid Changing Trends
If you're interested in names but feeling overwhelmed by all these statistics, take a breath. BabyCenter highlights the most popular baby names and we analyze the data, but popularity shouldn't be your only consideration.
Declining popularity doesn't automatically mean a name lacks value. Understanding these patterns can actually help you make a better choice—including additional names you might not have considered otherwise.
Should You Avoid Endangered Names?
Baby names at risk aren't inherently problematic. A declining name might offer real advantages—your child probably won't share theirs with three classmates. That's the individuality many parents want.
However, think about why it's declining. If it's strongly tied to a particular era, your child might seem named for the wrong generation. Jennifer or Jessica might make a 2025 baby seem named after their mother's generation instead of their own.
Sometimes names simply return to less common status after years of overuse. This can actually make them feel fresh again if you appreciate classic qualities without the popularity baggage.
The Possibility They'll Come Back
History shows names can come back from the brink. Names that seemed extinct often experience unexpected revivals later.
Vintage choices like Theodore, Eleanor, and Charlotte once faced serious decline. They surged back as new generations rediscovered them. Currently declining names might similarly revive in coming decades.
Today's endangered names could become tomorrow's retro cool discoveries. New generations will encounter them without the associations that make them feel dated now.
Some experts track naming cycles spanning roughly 100 years. Names popular in the 1920s found new life in the 2020s. By that logic, today's declining 90s names might not revive until the 2090s—though cultural acceleration could compress this timeline significantly.
Where to Find Name Inspiration Today
Rather than obsessing over trending or declining lists, focus on what truly resonates with your values and preferences. Modern baby name inspiration comes from everywhere.
Choose names connected to family history, cultural heritage, or personal meaning. These connections matter way more than popularity trends. They create lasting emotional value that goes beyond temporary fashions—even if a name has dropped 100 spots or climbed the rankings.
Pick something you genuinely love saying aloud. You'll use this thousands of times throughout your child's life. Make sure you enjoy how it sounds in everyday conversation.
Consider pairing a unique first name with a classic middle option. This gives your child alternatives as they grow and develop their own identity. Some parents even choose two or more names to provide flexibility.
Think about how it ages through life stages. Does it work equally well for an infant, teenager, and professional adult? Does it avoid overly trendy elements that might quickly date it?
Names in the United States continue evolving constantly. They reflect our diverse, dynamic culture. Whether you're drawn to traditional options or something more unique, remember that naming conventions shift for babies in a given year based on countless cultural factors.
Don't let extinction lists entirely dictate your choice. Use them as one data point among many when making this important decision.
Common Questions About Declining Baby Names
What baby names are going extinct fastest?
The fastest declining names include Jadyn (down 96.2% to just 330 uses), Megan (dropping 83.6%), Marissa (falling 86%), and Breanna (declining 88.5%). Among more commonly used boy names, Joshua declined 59.1%, Tyler dropped 70.9%. For girl names, Alexis fell 77% and Alyssa decreased 76.1%. Hundreds show 100% decline rates, disappearing entirely from recent records.
Which names are on the outs in 2025?
Popular names from the 1990s and early 2000s are declining most severely right now. Names like Brandon, Justin, Kevin, Nicholas, and Zachary are dropping rapidly. Girl names including Jessica, Jennifer, Ashley, Megan, and Kaitlyn-related variations face similar challenges going extinct in 2025. Taylor and Jordan decline across both genders, showing gender-neutral names aren't immune.
How many baby names that are going extinct have disappeared completely?
The complete data shows approximately 300 to 400 names with 100% or near-100% decline rates. They've dropped from hundreds of previous uses to zero or near-zero recent registrations. These include Beyoncé (547 previous uses, now zero), Dereon, Fantasia, Kierstin, and countless spelling variations of more common names.
Are 90s baby names at particular risk of going extinct?
Absolutely. Names like Jessica, Ashley, Brandon, Tyler, and Zachary have all declined 60% to 80%. These became extremely popular during their peak years. Today's millennial parents who grew up surrounded by these names actively avoid them when naming their own children. The association with a specific generation makes them feel dated.
Where does baby name inspiration come from now?
Modern baby name inspiration comes from diverse sources—literature, international cultures, nature, history, and family traditions. Parents increasingly seek balance between uniqueness and timelessness. They want distinctive names that won't feel trendy or dated quickly. Social media and global connectivity expose them to broader possibilities than previous generations ever considered.