Baby name trends come and baby name trends go, which is why what was cool in 1958 is … not so cool in 2018. Names like Carol, Gerald, and Donna used to be the cream of the crop, but now they seem a little passé. We know that moms want their kids to have names that sound fresh and cool, which is why when Netmums rounded up its list of least popular baby names in 2018, well, we knew this was news that we just had to share. Some of the names will not be surprising (sorry, Gareth), but some will names on the list were a total surprise. (Like how did Paul make it on the list?)
At the height of their popularity, these baby names were the coolest names around. Gail? Norman? Susan? Those were absolute winners through the '40s, '50s, and '60s. But in recent years these names have fallen out of fashion. Now they just seem a little bit old and stodgy. Imagine sending a little Ronald into preschool in 2018? Which is why these names have not only slid into obscurity, but they mark a real difference between millennial moms and their own parents. Think about it, most Garys that we know are in their 60s! With the help from our friends at Baby Name Wizard, we took a deeper look at these classic cool names that have since been kicked to the curb. Keep this list in mind when it comes time to pick out the perfect little name for baby!
GARY
Poor Gary. The name was really cool in the '40s, but hasn't been popular since.
ANNETTE
In recent years, barely anyone has named their baby Annette!
GARETH
According to BabyNameWizard, Gareth has never ranked in the top 1,000 baby names in the US.
ELAINE
Elaine hit its peak in popularity in the 1930s. The 2000s … not so much.
NORMAN
Norman means the "north man" but this north man's popularity has gone south since its peak in the '20s.
LINDA
Linda comes from the Spanish word for "beautiful" or "pretty," but not too many people must know that because the name hasn't been popular since the '30s.
RONALD
Ronald means "ruler of decision," but we guess no one's been feeling this regal name recently.
SUSAN
In the 1950s Susan was the #4 baby girl name in the US. Today it's not even in the top 1,000.
NIGEL
Nigel was the coolest name on the block throughout the '90s, but since 2009 it has significantly fallen from popularity.
CAROL
A name for both boys and girls, Carol is nowhere near as popular as its sister name, Caroline.
GERALD
Although Gerald has a pretty heroic meaning (it comes from the Germanic word for "spear" or "rule") it seems like this name has gone from hero to zero.
DONNA
Donna was cool in the '40s and '50s, but today it has mostly disappeared.
TRACEY
In the '50s every little girl was named Tracey. In the 2000s, Tracy is most likely Grandma!
ROY
Originally the descriptive word for a redhead, Roy was hugely popular in the 1880s.
JUDY
Judy is as popular as the name it's derived from, Judith. Which is to say, not popular at all.
JEREMY
Jeremy means "God will uplift," which is pretty special. But sadly it hasn't been a popular name since the '70s and '80s.
DEBBIE
In the '50s, Debbie was so cool it ranked at #54 for US girls' names.
CLIVE
Clive has never been a top US baby name, but possibly this name's biggest claim to fame is from actor Clive Owen.
GAIL
The name Gail has a pretty special meaning. It was originally the shorted form of the biblical name Abigail.
CYNTHIA
Popular in the '40s, Cynthia comes from the Greek and Latin Kynthia, the mythological goddess of the moon and hunting.
PAUL
Paul was a monster hit of a baby name from the 1900s to the '50s, but in 2018 the name can't even break into the top 200.
MARCIA
Derived from the Latin word for Mars, the mythological Roman god of war, Marcia is not as hip as it used to be.
DERICK
In the '70s, Derick was a groovy and happening name and it is derived from the Germanic word for "ruler" and "folk."
