In a world where trends come and go, the names we give our children also follow the ebb and flow of time. As the Baby Boomer generation (those born between 1946-1964) ages, their once common names are slowly fading away into obscurity. A recent study has shown a significant decline in the use of certain names that were once a staple during the Boomer era. Let's take a closer look at the top 50 names that are rarely used anymore.
50. Sheila
Back in the day, Sheila was a popular name among Baby Boomers, with 17.6 newborns per 10,000 bearing this name. Fast forward to today, and that number has dropped significantly to just 0.3 per 10,000.
49. Cathy
Cathy, another once-popular name, has also seen a sharp decline in usage. From 17.6 per 10,000 to a mere 0.1 per 10,000, the name is slowly becoming a rarity.
48. Sherry
Sherry, a name that was once quite common, has experienced a decline from 17.8 per 10,000 to just 0.1 per 10,000 newborns.
And the list goes on, with names like Willie, Gail, Lynn, and Carl all facing a similar fate. These names, once synonymous with the Baby Boomer generation, are now on the brink of extinction.
The study, which looked at data from the U.S. Social Security Administration, analyzed the decline in the average number of newborns receiving each name from the 1946-1964 period to the 2010-2023 period. Only names that were given to fewer than one in every 10,000 newborns in recent years were considered for the list.
As we bid farewell to these once-popular names, it's a reminder of the ever-changing landscape of naming trends. While some names stand the test of time, others eventually fall out of favor, making way for new and emerging trends. The legacy of these names may live on in nostalgia, but their presence in the future is certainly dwindling.