Baby names go through cycles of popularity, with some beloved choices gradually fading into obscurity. Choosing a child’s name is a meaningful decision that lasts a lifetime, influenced by cultural trends and evolving tastes.
While some classics like Olivia continue to dominate the charts—remaining in the top three girls' names since 2006—others are rapidly losing their appeal.
Prashant, a naming expert from the gifting site Personalisedbee, explains, “Names behave much like fashion trends. They spike in popularity when they feel fresh or modern, but just as quickly, parents move on to newer, more unique options. That’s why names such as Brody, Mason, and Toby are declining now. They had their moment, but today’s parents prefer names that feel timeless or more up-to-date.”
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Among boys, Brody, Mason, and Toby are the names most at risk of disappearing. Brody plummeted 17 spots in just one year—dropping from rank 82 to 99—according to the Express. The name was given to 553 babies in 2024, down from 630 in 2023, making it the biggest decliner and suggesting it might soon fall out of the top 100 altogether.
Mason also saw a significant drop, from 1,118 babies named Mason in 2023 to only 806 in 2024. Toby followed the same trend, declining from 678 babies in 2023 to 621 in 2024.
Girls’ names aren’t immune to this shift. Jessica, Lola, and Scarlett top the list of names losing popularity. Jessica declined from 573 babies in 2023 to 483 in 2024, signaling a steady fall for a once-timeless name. Lola dropped from 595 to 543, and Scarlett fell from 634 to 610 over the same period.
These trends reveal that both traditional and trendy girls’ names can swiftly lose favor with new parents as naming fashions evolve.