These are the baby names going ‘extinct’ in 2019 – is your name on the list?

While some baby names are rising up the popularity lists, others are on a slippery slope … to apparent extinction.

The UK’s Office for National Statistics just released their list of the least popular baby names that are set to become ‘extinct’ this year, and with names like Christopher and Andrew getting the chop, it’s clear the world is venturing into a brave new era of baby names.

Boys names that are becoming extinct:

1. Craig
2. Jordan
3. Kieran
4. Scott
5. Ashley
6. Shane
7. Shaun
8. Sean
9. Andrew
10. Christopher
11. Curtis
12. Dean
13. Connor
14. Callum

Girls names that are becoming extinct:

1. Kirsty
2. Shannon
3. Danielle
4. Gemma
5. Jodie
6. Lauren
7. Jadie
8. Rhiannon
9. Ashleigh
10. Chelsea
11. Leanne
12. Samantha
13. Hayley
14. Rachel/Rachael

What?! 

I think we all can count people called Lauren, Scott, Rachel and Jordan in our list of friends and acquaintances … in fact, all the names on this list seem like they were on the ‘popular’ list not that long ago.

What does that say about our baby name trends? Are they moving faster than ever – with people always keen to find the next unique moniker rather than choosing a more common name?

The Aussie Edit

Admittedly, the Australian version of this list looks very different – though we’ll point out that neither Andrew or Christopher, Lauren or Samantha make the top 100 baby names list anymore.

The top names becoming extinct in Australia are:

1. Beryl
2. Brett
3. Craig
4. Darren
5. Daryl
6. Donna
7. Kerry
8. Kylie
9.  Sally
10. Sharon
11.  Tracey
12.  Wayne

From this short list alone it seems we’re moving away from Bruce and Sheila and heading fast towards Atticus and Aria.

Just imagine what our children’s children will be calling their children! 

So what names are popular?

Australia might be losing its Sharons and Traceys – but we’re getting a whole lot more of these:

1. Charlotte
2. Olivia
3. Ava
4. Amelia
5. Mia
6. Isla
7. Grace
8. Ella
9. Chloe
10. Harper

And for boys? Australia’s ditching the Darrens and Daryls in favour of:

1. Oliver
2. William
3. Jack
4. Noah
5. Thomas
6. James
7. Lucas
8. Henry
9. Ethan
10. Mason

What do you think? Are you keen to bring back any of these names from ‘extinction’?

This post was originally published on Kinderling Kids Radio. Download the Kinderling app for more great stories.