Baby names most at risk of becoming extinct

A number of ‘traditional’ names are no longer being chosen by parents

A number of baby names are quickly falling out of favour, with barely any new parents choosing them. Data spanning 120 years from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed a number of traditional names that face the very real prospect of becoming extinct.

Lars B. Andersen, Managing Director at mynametags.com – which carried out the analysis – said: “We’ve been supporting parents in the UK for over 20 years, and have observed first-hand that baby name trends tend to be cyclical in nature. In recent years, we’ve seen the resurgence of many vintage names, such as Florence and Arthur. This got us thinking about the historic names that haven’t experienced a comeback, which set us on our path to discovering the beautiful, traditional names that risk becoming lost in time.”

He further noted that the company hopes certain names, including Freda, can be “saved”.

According to the ONS, the most recently available figures show a number of more unusual names breaking into the top 100 registered in England and Wales – with both Athena and Yahya featuring on the list for the very first time. At the other end of the spectrum, the name Cecil was once a staple among British boys in the early-to-mid 20th Century, but became officially extinct in 2024.

Baby names that could become extinct

Leigh

Leigh is a unique spelling of the more common ‘Lee’, and means ‘meadow’ or ‘delicate’. The name was only registered three times in 2024, despite fitting with the current trend for short-and-sweet boys’ names.

Maurice

A traditional Roman family name, Maurice was a staple of the top 100 most popular names from 1904 to 1954, but was registered just eight times in 2024.

Percy

Percy, meaning ‘pierce the valley’, offers plenty of vintage charm, yet has been left to almost extinction, accounting for just 0.02% of babies registered.

Claude

Claude, with roots to historical nobleness, has fallen out of favour with parents since the 1920s. A short and chic-sounding name, it’s now almost entirely extinct in the UK, with only 0.001% of babies born in 2024 given the name.

Winifred

Appearing consistently in the top 100 names from 1904 to 1934, Winifred means ‘blessed peacemaker’. Often shortened to ‘Winnie’, the adorable name has become surprisingly scarce in recent years.

Millicent

A retro alternative to the popular ‘Amelia’, Millicent, meaning ‘gentle strength’, offers a variety of charming shortenings, including Millie, Minnie, and Mila. However, just 42 Millicents were registered in the UK in 2024, compared with 2,448 Amelias.

Freda

Freda, meaning ‘peaceful ruler’, was one of the most popular names in the early 20 th Century, appearing in the top baby 100 names consistently from 1904 to 1934. However, the name is now virtually extinct with only seven babies registered with the name in 2024, according to ONS’s most recent data.

Rosina

Meaning ‘little rose’, the name Rosina was particularly popular before the First World War. Now, only 0.002% of babies born in the UK have the name, making it a perfect option for expectant parents looking for a unique, classical twist on current favourites ‘Rose’ and ‘Rosie’.

Bessie

Bessie, used on its own or as a shortening of Elizabeth or Beatrice, is a beautiful alternative to another vintage name, ‘Betty’, which has risen in popularity in recent years. Yet, it was only registered 17 times in 2024, meaning the name could die out entirely this generation.