Baby names at risk of extinction in 2023

It's the start of a new year (hello, 2023!) which means a new crop of babies – and a new crop of baby names. And if recent data is any indication, certain names are on a downward trajectory and could basically go extinct this year. Names like Gary, Shaun, and Donna have seen significant declines over the past decade, with fewer parents choosing these once-popular options. Meanwhile, traditional names such as Carol, Kevin, and Frank have also fallen out of favor as parents increasingly opt for more unique and contemporary alternatives. This shift in naming trends reflects changing cultural influences and the desire for individuality in modern parenting choices.

In general, it seems like boy names starting with the letter "K" are falling out of favor. Names such as Khalid, Kian, Kyle, and Kobe were all among those that fell significantly (between 138 and 60 spots) in the rankings from 2021 to 2022. This trend suggests a shifting preference away from once-popular K-initial names, which may continue throughout 2023 if current patterns persist.

For girls, Hayden was the name that fell the most, by a whopping 202 spots in the rankings. And in unfortunate news, the name Joy was also one of the hardest hit, falling 112 places. We sure hope this one rises back to the top, as we can all use a little more joy in our lives! Other once-popular girls' names showing significant decline include Mckenzie, London, and Emersyn, which each dropped more than 80 positions year-over-year.

Here's a more in-depth look at some of the other names that are at risk of extinction, plus just how far they dropped in the rankings between 2021 and 2022. For boys, traditional names like Walter and Roger continue their decades-long decline, while trendy names from the 2010s such as Jayce and Jaxon are also losing momentum. For girls, names ending with the previously popular "-ley" suffix, including Paisley, Kinsley, and Presley, are showing signs of waning interest from new parents seeking more distinctive options.

Baby boy names at risk of going extinct

Traditional male names facing a decline in popularity

In 2023, names beginning with the letter "K" are particularly vulnerable to extinction, but they're not alone as several traditional and multicultural names experience significant drops in popularity rankings.

1. Arjun(down 164 spots)
2. Walter(down 162 spots)
3. Royce(down 138 spots)
4. Khalid(down 138 spots)
5. Rory(down 127 spots)
6. Nehemiah(down 110 spots)
7. Kameron(down 107 spots)
8. Wade(down 94 spots)
9. Kane(down 93 spots)
10. Kian(down 93 spots)
11. Ahmed(down 87 spots)
12. Seth(down 86 spots)
13. Hugo(down 86 spots)
14. Kyle(down 84 spots)
15. Steven(down 84 spots)
16. Hassan(down 78 spots)
17. Bradley(down 77 spots)
18. Kobe(down 70 spots)
19. Syed(down 68 spots)
20. Ayaan(down 65 spots)

Baby girl names at risk of going extinct

Female names becoming increasingly rare in 2023

Last year marked a significant decline for several once-popular baby girl names. While trendy options continue to rise, many classic and previously fashionable names are rapidly falling out of favor with new parents. The name Joy experienced a particularly steep drop, falling 112 spots in popularity rankings.

1. Hayden(down 203 spots)
2. Ariyah(down 129 spots)
3. Mira(down 129 spots)
4. Kate(down 129 spots)
5. Katherine(down 127 spots)
6. Hana(down 126 spots)
7. Leia(down 122 spots)
8. Joy(down 112 spots)
9. Vanessa(down 111 spots)
10. Alayah(down 102 spots)
11. Paige(down 99 spots)
12. Annabelle(down 98 spots)
13. Adelyn(down 97 spots)
14. Kenzie(down 97 spots)
15. Kira(down 97 spots)
16. Mariam(down 96 spots)
17. Teagan(down 95 spots)
18. London(down 94 spots)
19. Aniyah(down 93 spots)
20. Makayla(down 92 spots)

Methodology

How we identified endangered baby names

Momcozy has been tracking and analyzing naming trends, since 2017. For this endangered names report, we examined data from our database of top 500 baby names for each gender, based on information submitted by Momcozy parents about babies born in 2021 and 2022. We specifically focused on identifying names that showed the most significant year-over-year percentage declines, indicating they may be at risk of falling out of popularity or becoming "extinct" in the coming year.

Our unique methodology allows us to spot declining trends in real time. Names like Hayden, Ariel, and Kobe have shown notable decreases in usage, placing them on our endangered list for 2023.