The least popular baby names and those at risk of becoming ‘extinct’ have been revealed

The least popular baby names and those at risk of dying out altogether have been revealed, and it will make many of you feel very old.

The list was compiled by language learning platform Babbel, whose researchers picked through a century’s worth of baby-name records from the Office for National Statistics (someone has to do it).

Then, they cross-referenced the names with newly-released 2020 data in order to identify names that were once common – appearing in the lists of 100 most popular for newborns between 1914 and 1994 – but are now considered extinct – with no appearance whatsoever in 2020.

Babbel also shared some of the names that are classed as ‘endangered’, with ten or fewer children receiving the name in 2020.

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According to their research, the boy names which have become fully extinct since 1994 are Graeme, Horace, Iain, Leigh, Melvyn, Nigel and Royston.

And for girls, the list includes Bertha, Beverley, Carol, Carole, Doreen, Gail, Gertrude, Gillian, Glenys, Glynis, Hilary, Jeanette, Jill, Kay, Kerry, Lesley, Lindsay, Lyndsey, Lynne, Lynsey, Mandy, Maureen, Muriel, Phyllis.

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There were also a number of names that Babbel considered to be ‘endangered’, which were those featured in the top 100 between 1914-1994, but ten or fewer babies with the name recorded in 2020.

The high-risk names for girls were Annette, Beryl, Brenda, Carolyn, Cheryl, Dawn, Debbie, Debra, Denise, Diane, Donna, Doris, Edna, Freda, Geraldine, Gladys, Gwendoline, Hilda, Janet, Janice, Jean, Jordan, Kirsty, Lindsey, Lorraine, Lynda, Lynn, Marian, Marion, Marjorie, Marlene, Maud, Mildred, Norma, Pamela, Pauline, Sheila, Shirley, Suzanne, Thelma, Tracey, Tracy, Toni and Yvonne.

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Meanwhile, hardly any baby boys in 2020 were named Barry, Cecil, Clarence, Claude, Clifford, Cyril, Dale, Donald, Gary, Garry, Glen, Glenn, Gordon, Graham, Howard, Keith, Leslie, Neville, Norman, Rodney, Stewart, Stuart and Trevor.

Speaking about the findings, Ted Mentele, Editor in Didactics at Babbel, said: “Naming practices form the basis of all language as well as the basis of identity.

“The fact that the etymological roots of these names can be traced back to different languages and cultures from around the world shows how languages have impacted on each other over time.

“We hope that by drawing attention to the overlooked roots and intriguing meanings of these endangered names, we can give them a new lease of life for the next generation, and save them from being forgotten.”