New research has indicated that there are a number of names that are heading for extinction in the next few years, with your baby’s could be one of the last of their kind. Choosing a name is incredibly important, but new data implies that once-popular names could be falling in popularity, and could be forgotten altogether.
Gifting website Personalisedbee analysed boys’ names from ONS baby name data, revealing the top 10 names that have dropped in the ranking, predicting those that are most likely to drop out of the 100 boys’ baby names for 2026. Personalisedbee revealed that the top three boys’ names falling out of favour are Brody, Mason, and Toby. The brand noted that the name Brody fell 17 places in just one year, falling from 82nd to 99th.
With only 553 babies given the name in 2024, down from 630 in 2023, this steep fall makes it the biggest loser of the year and suggests Brody could disappear from the top 100 altogether soon. Another name falling out of favour is Mason, which slipped 13 ranks, from 50th to 63rd.
The name was given to 1,118 babies in 2023, but only 806 in 2024, showing that even once-popular, modern favourites aren’t immune to shifting naming trends. The last boys’ name in the top three – Toby- dropped 10 places, from 76th to 86th.
This charming, timeless name fell from 678 babies in 2023 to 621 in 2024, reflecting a slow but steady decline as parents increasingly explore newer or trendier options.
Prashant, a naming expert from Personalisedbee, has shared her thoughts on the declining popularity of some names: “Names are a lot like trends in fashion or home décor. They can rise quickly when they feel fresh or modern, but just as fast they can fall out of favour as parents hunt for something new and unique.
“That’s why names like Brody, Mason, and Toby are falling out of favour. They were popular a few years ago, and now parents are moving toward options that feel more current or timeless.
“At Personalisedbee, we see this every year when families come to personalise gifts, and it’s fascinating to watch which names capture hearts one year and are quietly forgotten the next.”
