We looked at the top baby name rises last month, so this month let’s look at the opposite: the top drops. That is, the baby names that decreased the most in usage, percentage-wise, from one year to the next in the Social Security Administration’s data.
Here’s the format: girl names are on the left, boy names are on the right, and the percentages represent single-year slides in usage. (For example, from 1880 to 1881, usage of the girl name Clementine dropped 68% and usage of the boy name Neil dropped 76%.)
- 1881: Clementine, -68%; Neil, -76%
- 1882: Malissa, -56%; Verne, -67%
- 1883: Minna, -67%; Morton, -74%
- 1884: Roxy, -62%; Ellsworth & Newt, -60%
- 1885: Sina, -68%; Clarance, -74%
- 1886: Cordia, Dicie & Johnie, -64%; Adelbert, -69%
- 1887: Faith, -69%; Hardy, -73%
- 1888: Diana & Hope, -63%; Connie, -55%
- 1889: Zilpha, -71%; Wendell, -71%
- 1890: Buena, -60%; Alvie, -69%
- 1891: Odie, -65%; Pierce, -76%
- 1892: Eudora, -67%; Maude, -58%
- 1893: Lollie, -65%; Levy, -64%
- 1894: Macy, -64%; Lindsay, -76%
- 1895: Gina, Laurel & Pennie, -69%; Alvie & Urban, -65%
- 1896: Dagmar, -75%; Talmage, -67%
- 1897: Myrta & Ouida, -75%; Benton, -68%
- 1898: Fae, -71%; Fate, -74%
- 1899: Rosia, -80%; Fitzhugh, -79%
- 1900: Irva, -74%; Dora, -69%
- 1901: Leonore, -75%; Judge, -81%
- 1902: Veva, -74%; Davis, -72%
- 1903: Littie & Samantha, -67%; Hunter, -67%
- 1904: Genie, -71%; Bessie & Reynold, -67%
- 1905: Luberta, -75%; Randall, -67%
- 1906: Dulcie, -75%; Patsy, -69%
- 1907: Libbie, -71%; Geo, -59%
- 1908: Aurore, -75%; Elden & Minor, -67%
- 1909: Arnetta, -68%; Tracy, -75%
- 1910: Lollie, -67%; Hadley, -64%
- 1911: Nada, -72%; Shelton, -73%
- 1912: Carla, -71%; Rosendo, -67%
- 1913: Vassie, -67%; Auburn, -67%
- 1914: Coy & Maryelizabeth, -64%: Hosey, -78%
- 1915: Thomasine, -67%; Giacomo, -67%
- 1916: Zudora, -75%; Remus, -72%
- 1917: Athalie, -78%; Tatsuo, -82%
- 1918: Theta, -74%; Lennis, -72%
- 1919: Liberty, -83%; Foch, -84%
- 1920: Veatrice, -77%; Pershing, -73%
- 1921: Fidela & Theone, -70%; Cleven, -71%
- 1922: Angelyn & Renata, -75%; Dail, -73%
- 1923: Odilia, -83%; Ugo & Waino, -74%
- 1924: Gladine, -71%; Masayuki, -72%
- 1925: Williemae, -72%; Emitt, -72%
- 1926: Patrice, -75%; Ann, -78%
- 1927: Vila, -75%; Boston, -76%
- 1928: Kazue, -79%; Shoji, -93%
- 1929: Livia, -81%; Tatsuo, -82%
- 1930: Ivalee, -71%; Deforest, -72%
- 1931: Emaline, -76%; Audley, -75%
- 1932: Zulema, -80%; Hale, -77%
- 1933: Dessa, -78%; Burleigh, -79%
- 1934: Nira, -81%; Overton, -71%
- 1935: Claudean, -73%; Hester, -74%
- 1936: Norita, -79%; Kenley, -79%
- 1937: Adel & Berdine, -71%; Grace, -78%
- 1938: Ever, -75%; Casimiro, -75%
- 1939: Walda, -74%; Butler, -74%
The SSA data isn’t perfect, but it does become more accurate in the late 1930s, because “many people born before 1937 never applied for a Social Security card, so their names are not included in our data” (SSA). Now, back to the list…
- 1940: Avalon & Ellouise, -75%; Jacque, -71%
- 1941: Lassie, -71%; Faye & Lemar, -71%
- 1942: Voncille, -75%; Meyer, -70%
- 1943: Mahala, -76%; Ewing, -76%
- 1944: Kyle, -77%; Griffith, -77%
- 1945: Sherrianne, -74%; Ellwood, Kern & Pascal, -67%
- 1946: Bettyjo, -71%; Adrien, -77%
- 1947: Judye, -76%; Bernardino, -72%
- 1948: Tilda, -78%; Saverio, -74%
- 1949: Vickii, -77%; Alphonza, -75%
- 1950: Ranelle, -78%; Agapito, -68%
- 1951: Vallorie, -90%; Skippy, -72%
- 1952: Laural, -76%; Edson, -74%
- 1953: Annelle & Otilia, -72%; Gerrit, -70%
- 1954: Trenace, -81%; Celso, -76%
- 1955: Jyl, -79%; Garrie & Robet, -74%
- 1956: Cerise, -79%; Orlin, -74%
- 1957: Angelene, -77%; Ruby, -76%
- 1958: Seneca, -80%; Darryel & Richerd, -72%
- 1959: Elfrida, -82%; Dietrich, -75%
- 1960: Jinny, -72%; Ardis, -74%
- 1961: Perian, -91%; Cully, -84%
- 1962: Chantay, -80%; Torin, -73%
- 1963: Marnita, -82%; Isidore, -75%
- 1964: Julann, -79%; Tandy, -75%
- 1965: Tonjua, -90%; Jaimie, -86%
- 1966: Charlet & Desi, -77%; Glennon, -74%
- 1967: Jeryl, -83%; Haskell, -72%
- 1968: Millette, -88%; Daneil, -77%
- 1969: Lya, -81%; Athony, -73%
- 1970: Cinamon, -77%; Aldrin, -77%
- 1971: Chimene, -77%; Garet, -74%
- 1972: Jurea, -83%; Rayvon, -77%
- 1973: Dayatra, -86%; Keelan, -70%
- 1974: Shondell, -78%; Efraim, -71%
- 1975: Natonya, -78%; Imari, -76%
- 1976: Okema, -87%; Nakia, -79%
- 1977: Liberty, -79%; Tierre, -81%
- 1978: Farrah, -78%; Quint, -77%
- 1979: Danetta, -77%; Kinte, -84%
- 1980: Vernee, -77%; Kendra, -75%
- 1981: Santresa, -80%; Jerritt, -74%
- 1982: Andres, -75%; Stavros, -78%
- 1983: Tremaine, -81%; Nicanor, -75%
- 1984: Tyechia, -81%; Jeris, -77%
- 1985: Gricel, -89%; Duron, -76%
- 1986: Celenia, -83%; Damiano, -76%
- 1987: Tareva, -86%; Krystal, -75%
- 1988: Jeree, -82%; Jammal, -80%
- 1989: Neyva, -77%; Derrel, -76%
- 1990: Catherin, -93%; Salvator, -88%
- 1991: Tichina, -80%; Arsenio, -76%
- 1992: Unnamed, -88%; Unnamed, -86% [2nd place: Emilce & Symba, -83%; Quayshaun, -80%]
- 1993: Akeiba, -88%; Evelyn & Jawara, -71%
- 1994: Kebrina, -86%; Farrell, -79%
- 1995: Noheli, -84%; Ajee, -79%
- 1996: Shatasha, -81%; Unknown, -77%
- 1997: Hydia, -80%, Halston, -79%
- 1998: Ajaysia, -77%; Jachai, -91%
- 1999: Naidelyn, -86%; Denzil, -79%
- 2000: Shanequa, -82%; Giovan, -75%
- 2001: Berania, -78%; Devontre, -75%
- 2002: Anallely, -86%; Nkosi, -72%
- 2003: Jnaya, -88%; Tyheim, -81%
- 2004: Nayzeth, -89%; Myzel, -75%
- 2005: Nathaniel, -80%; Hannah, -87%
- 2006: Babygirl, -86%; Infant, -91% [Counting legit names only: Mikalah, -82%; Jakyri, -79%]
- 2007: Bethzy, -91%; Brasen, -83%
- 2008: Lizania, -86%; Duvan, -79%
- 2009: Aideliz, -88%; Kesan, -78%
- 2010: Chastelyn, -95%; Yanixan, -87%
- 2011: Samuel, -79%; Tiger, -80%
- 2012: Thaily, -78%; Vadhir, -88%
- 2013: Shanik, -88%; Oneil, -77%
- 2014: Audris & Avalie, -80%; Sy, -73%
- 2015: Rion, -83%; Rawley, -79%
- 2016: Yazaira, -84%; Treysen, -79%
- 2017: Brucha, -76%; Makana, -79%
- 2018: Yuleimy, -85%; Neizan, -78%
- 2019: Anifer, -86%; Nomar & Gianlucas, -73%
- 2020: Diala, -81%; Daer, -80%
- 2021: Ashvi, -76%; Dontavious, -78%
- 2022: Ciena, -78%; Kiko, -77%
- 2023: Kia & Yeyetzi, -76%; Majestic, -77%
(Did you catch the doubles? Alvie, Tatsuo, and Fae/Faye.)
Top drops aren’t quite as exciting as top rises, but certain ones become much more intriguing when you notice that they were also top rises:
- Rose-then-dropped: Clarance, Lollie, Lindsay, Zudora, Tatsuo, Liberty, Norita, Vallorie, Krystal, Seneca, Nakia, Mikalah, Bethzy, Thaily
- Dropped-then-rose: Clementine, Malissa, Diana, Alvie, Pierce, Judge, Rosendo
I’ve already written about some of the names above (click the links to see the posts) and I plan to write about a few of the others. In the meanwhile, though, feel free to beat me to it — leave a comment and let us know why you think any of these names saw dropped in usage when they did.
Source: SSA
Image: Adapted from Fall (6282684630) by Kenny Louie under CC BY 2.0.
[Latest update: May 2024]
I think it would be very informative to look not only at percentage rises and drops – which tend to pick up unusual names – but also absolute rises and drops, which would pick up more common ones that also had sudden changes in popularity.
@Frank B. – I created lists of the top raw-number rises/drops a while back, but the results just weren’t that interesting to me, exactly for the reason you mention — the names were more common. :) Some example years…
If you’d like to see the full lists, I’m happy to work on them a bit post them. (I only have up to 2012, so I must have created them circa 2013.) I’ll try to squeeze ’em in over the next few weeks.
Update, 4/22: Here are the absolute rises and drops.
You’re right, not as interesting! I bet there would be a few scattered interesting ones, though.
Wonder what’s up with 2005? Most of the other years are more unusual names but then it’s Nathaniel and Hannah?
@Jaime – You know what that is? It’s Nathaniel as a girl name and Hannah as a boy name. Took me a second to realize that, though. :)
Looks like Kentucky had some coding issues in 2004. The state registered 86 male Hannahs and 22 female Nathaniels that year. It didn’t register more than five of either name the next year. (And neither did any other state.) So that accounts for what seems to be a “drop” in usage in 2005.