Some of Britain's most recognisable baby names are becoming increasingly rare, with new research highlighting traditional favourites that could continue disappearing from birth registrations by 2027.
Baby names have always moved in and out of fashion, but certain names that were once widely used have experienced particularly dramatic declines.
Researchers at baby brand Nuby analysed 25 years of data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to identify names experiencing some of the sharpest falls in popularity.
The findings suggest that several familiar names are now being chosen by only a handful of parents each year.
Which baby names are most at risk of disappearing?
According to the research reported by UNILAD, the 10 names most at risk are Sheldon, Giles, Karen, Jazmin, Aled, Akshay, Barry, Carwyn, Karis and Lyndon.
These names have experienced substantial declines in registrations, with some appearing only a few times in the latest figures discussed in the study.
The reported ranking is:
- Sheldon
- Giles
- Karen
- Jazmin
- Aled
- Akshay
- Barry
- Carwyn
- Karis
- Lyndon
The research also highlighted other declining boys' names, including Derek, Craig, Tyrone, Gareth and Steven.
However, the published report did not provide a complete, verified ranking of 30 names, despite its headline referring to that number.
Which name is most at risk?
Sheldon topped the reported ranking after researchers found that just three boys had been given the name in the latest year referenced by the study.
Giles followed in second place, having reportedly experienced a 93% decline from its peak in 1997.
Karen ranked third and recorded an even greater proportional decline, with registrations reportedly falling by 95% from their highest level.
Jazmin was fourth, with just five babies reportedly receiving the name in 2024.
Other names further down the list have also become increasingly uncommon.
Karis was reportedly given to seven babies in 2024, while Lyndon was recorded eight times.
These figures illustrate how dramatically naming preferences can change over a relatively short period.
Why are traditional baby names becoming less popular?
Researchers suggested that changing tastes and generational associations may help explain why some previously popular names have fallen out of favour.
James Russell-Watson, Head of Marketing at Nuby, said the company's research suggested that modern parents increasingly favour names they consider contemporary and timeless.
Names strongly associated with older generations may therefore be chosen less frequently.
Popular culture can also influence naming trends, with television programmes, films, celebrities and public figures sometimes contributing to sudden increases or declines in popularity.
However, naming fashions can change again, meaning a name that is uncommon today could experience a revival in future years.
What are the most popular baby names in Britain?
While some traditional names have become increasingly rare, others continue to attract large numbers of registrations.
According to the latest rankings referenced in the report, Muhammad and Olivia were the leading names for boys and girls respectively in England and Wales.
Other popular boys' names included Noah, Oliver, George and Leo.
Among girls, Amelia, Isla, Lily and Freya remained prominent choices.
The contrast demonstrates how certain names maintain their appeal across generations while others fall rapidly down the rankings.
Will these baby names really become extinct in 2027?
Although the research describes certain names as being at risk of disappearing, this does not mean they are guaranteed to receive zero registrations in 2027.
Predictions are based on historical trends, and even names with very few recent registrations can continue to be used.
A name may also become fashionable again because of a television character, celebrity or broader cultural trend.
Additionally, ONS statistics generally cover births registered in England and Wales, so they should not automatically be interpreted as representing every birth across the entire United Kingdom.
The findings are best understood as an indication of changing popularity rather than a definitive prediction that particular names will disappear completely.
Could old-fashioned baby names make a comeback?
Names frequently move through cycles of popularity, and choices that appear outdated to one generation can feel distinctive or fashionable to another.
Some parents deliberately choose uncommon names because they want their children to stand out, while others prefer family names that have been passed down through generations.
As a result, falling birth registrations do not necessarily signal the permanent disappearance of a name.
Nevertheless, the research highlights how quickly naming preferences can shift, leaving once-familiar choices increasingly uncommon among newborns.
Source: UNILAD, October 25, 2026, reporting on Nuby's analysis of Office for National Statistics baby-name data. The supplied report identifies 15 names, rather than providing a complete list of 30.
