Popular 1990s Baby Names Face Extinction, Study Finds

Once ubiquitous, many popular baby names from the 1990s are now on the brink of extinction, according to a new study by the global baby brand Nuby. The analysis, which examined 30 years of baby naming data from the UK's Office for National Statistics, found that names which peaked in popularity just before the turn of the millennium have seen significant drops in usage.

Among girls' names, "Courtney" experienced the most dramatic fall, dropping 2,261 places from its 17th position in 1998 to 2,278th in 2025. "Shannon" also saw a substantial decline, falling 2,127 places from 11th in 1996 to 2,138th in 2025. "Danielle" is another name on the decline, dropping 1,434 places from 20th in 1996 to 1,454th.

For boys, "Connor" has seen the largest drop, falling 288 places from 11th in 1998 to 299th in 2025. "Callum," once ranked 8th in 1998, now sits at 251st. "Jordan" has also fallen from its 10th place ranking in 1997 and 1998 to 248th in 2025.

The researchers compared the highest ranking of top 20 names from 1996-1999 with their 2025 rankings to identify these trends.

This decline in '90s names contrasts with the current resurgence of other 90s trends in fashion and culture. While minimalist gowns, chokers, and frosted makeup have made comebacks, parents are increasingly opting for more contemporary or classic names for their children. Data from the Social Security Administration shows that names like Olivia and Liam continue to be popular.

Some parents are looking beyond traditional naming conventions, exploring unique names with international origins. "Kasai," a boy's name meaning "fire" in Japanese and Swahili, and "Klarity," a variation of "clarity," are reportedly gaining traction.

The study identified the top 10 most-fallen names from the 1990s:

Girls:

1. Courtney
2. Shannon
3. Danielle
4. Lauren
5. Megan
6. Jade
7. Katie
8. Bethany
9. Rebecca
10. Amy

Boys:

1. Connor
2. Callum
3. Jordan
4. Lewis
5. Jake
6. Matthew
7. Ryan
8. Luke
9. Daniel
10. Samuel