Once a familiar Irish name, Deirdre has faded almost entirely from use, with only about seven babies per million receiving it. Its somber meaning—”sorrow” or “broken-hearted”—may discourage parents looking for names with a more uplifting message.

Glenys, a Welsh name meaning “holy” or “pure,” never gained a strong following in the U.S. and has grown even rarer in recent years. According to MomJunction.com, not a single baby was named Glenys in 2021, perhaps because its rhyme with “Dennis” makes it feel dated or masculine.

Though gemstone-inspired names like Ruby and Amber remain fashionable, Beryl—named after a green mineral—has faded into obscurity. It started falling out of favor in the late 1950s and is now mostly associated with older generations.

Some vintage names, like Ivy and Ada, have staged a comeback, but Muriel hasn’t followed suit. In 2021, only 19 babies were given this name, and even though there’s been a slight uptick since then, it remains far from a resurgence.

Masculine-sounding feminine names, like Wilhelmina—a counterpart to William—have mostly fallen out of style in the U.S. While it still sees occasional use in Europe, it’s been largely absent from American baby name charts since the 1950s.

Although some older names still hold charm, Hortense often lands on the “least attractive” list for modern parents. The harsh sound, particularly the opening syllables, has made it a rare choice since its last popularity peak in 1941.

As this list shows, names that are linked to livestock—especially cows—have plummeted in popularity. Bertha, despite its Old German meaning of “glorious,” is now rarely used due to its farm-animal associations.

Cheryl is slipping toward obscurity, possibly because it shares a rhyme with other out-of-favor names like Beryl and Meryl. While it had a brief revival in the UK during the early 2000s, it remains largely unused by new parents in the U.S.

This once-charming name saw a surge in popularity in the 1960s thanks to the TV show I Dream of Jeannie, but it has seen a sharp decline ever since. Jeannie dropped off the Top 1000 list in the 1980s and continues to lose ground each year.

Names like Bess or Bessie—once common diminutives for Elizabeth—are now seen as relics of a bygone era. Their association with cows has tarnished their appeal, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a young person with either name today.

Tamar, a name with ancient Hebrew roots meaning “date palm,” has remained obscure in the U.S. Its rarity might stem from the somber Biblical narrative linked to the name, which has kept it from becoming mainstream.

Lucy, meaning “light,” is more recognizable than many names on this list, but its popularity has been quietly waning since the 1980s. If the trend continues, even this once-common name might fade from regular use.

Gladys, a name once fit for a queen—literally, in Welsh legend—has fallen out of favor despite its noble background. Its last moment of real popularity was over a century ago, in 1921, and it’s rarely chosen by modern parents today.

Brooke is still relatively familiar, but recent trends suggest it may be slipping. From 2022 to 2023, it experienced the steepest drop on Babycenter’s list, falling nearly 200 spots and signaling a potential decline in long-term appeal.

Though once synonymous with Hollywood glamour thanks to Doris Day, the name Doris is now seen as outdated. It held onto popularity into the late 1990s but hasn’t appeared on baby name charts since 1997.

Ethel has started to attract some renewed curiosity, but it remains extremely uncommon for newborn girls. In 2021, the name was given to just one baby out of nearly 66,000.

This Old Testament name has followed the trend of many traditional biblical names by slipping out of use. Edna was last widely chosen in the 1950s and has become almost nonexistent in modern name lists.

While names like Daisy and Lily have stood the test of time, Iris hasn’t enjoyed the same lasting popularity. It’s making a modest return, but its numbers still need to rise considerably to avoid fading out.

Brooklynn enjoyed a brief spotlight in the mid-2010s but has since plummeted in use. Between 2023 and 2024, it dropped close to 200 spots on BabyCenter’s rankings, suggesting it may be on its way out.

Once a beloved nickname for Margaret, Peggy now carries a dated charm that few modern parents embrace. Its decline has been steep—from 5,000 babies per million in 1958 to just six in 2023.

Lorraine, a romantic-sounding French name inspired by a region of France, has fallen out of favor in the U.S. Since peaking in 1928, its popularity has dwindled, including a sharp drop of nearly 600 places from 2023 to 2024.

Flossie, once a sweet and spunky short form of Florence, is now so rare it barely registers in baby name data. It hasn’t made the rankings since the 1930s and is seldom given to babies today.

Tammy tends to feel more like a casual nickname than a standalone name, often short for Tamara or Thomasina. It briefly gained traction in the ’90s, but now only about 20 babies per million receive the name each year.

Though not completely gone, Collette’s time in the spotlight seems to have passed. This elegant French name peaked in 1966 and hasn’t cracked the Top 1,000 names in decades.

Contrary to what some may think, Shelley doesn’t come from “shells” but from an Old English word meaning “meadow’s edge.” Originally used for boys, it’s now rare for girls—with only five baby Shelleys per million in 2024.

Meryl has nearly vanished from baby name charts—unless you’re referring to the famous actress. Since its peak in the 1950s, the name has fallen drastically, with just eight girls per million named Meryl in 2024.

There’s nothing wrong with Julianne on its own, but its component names—Julia and Anne—are often seen as dated. That perception may be why fewer parents are choosing this classic combination today.

Although Cecile saw a slight uptick in use in 2024, it still ranks low among baby name choices. Its delicate, traditionally feminine feel may not align with the modern trend toward more unisex or neutral names.

Names ending in “-ette” often carry a vintage, ultra-feminine tone, which many parents today tend to avoid. Georgette is a good example—its popularity has been declining steadily since 1949 as preferences shift toward simpler, more gender-neutral names.

Hester is an uncommon and slightly eccentric name, far less used than its biblical counterpart Esther. Its association with Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter has likely contributed to its long, slow fall from favor since the 1920s.

Varsha, a beautiful Hindi name meaning “rain,” has seen the steepest drop in popularity in the UK since 2011. This may reflect a broader decline in the use of names linked to seasons or weather themes.

Averly has always been a rare choice and has become even less common in recent years. Between 2023 and 2024, it tumbled nearly 300 spots in the U.S. rankings, suggesting it’s falling further into obscurity.

No offense to anyone named Helga, but the name has often been criticized for sounding harsh or outdated. It saw a dramatic fall—dropping over 4,500 places in popularity between 2023 and 2024—according to BabyCenter, and isn’t expected to rebound anytime soon.

Once a beloved name in the mid-20th century, Carolyn has steadily lost ground with each new generation of parents. After peaking in the 1940s, its usage has diminished to the point where it’s now rarely chosen.

Norma has struggled to shed its dated reputation, even though it was once well-loved. Part of its decline may be due to its similarity to the male name Norman—and famously, even Marilyn Monroe dropped it in favor of a more glamorous identity.

It might come as a surprise, but Amanda—hugely popular in the 1980s and 1990s—has been steadily slipping in the rankings. If the decline continues, this once-dominant name could eventually disappear from baby name charts altogether.

With its stern and old-fashioned ring, Mildred hasn’t aged gracefully in the eyes of modern parents. Despite its gentle meaning—“gentle strength”—it’s rarely chosen today, and often seen as a relic of the past.

Brenda is another name that feels stuck in a previous era, often associated with middle-aged women rather than newborns. Since it fell out of the Top 100 in 1971, it has continued to fade from the spotlight.

Angela was once the epitome of grace and virtue, especially popular during the 1970s and 1980s. While still familiar, its use has declined sharply since the 1990s, suggesting it may be on a slow path to retirement.