A deep dive into hundreds of thousands of baby names has revealed which monikers are rapidly falling out of favour, painting a picture of evolving parental tastes and offering a glimpse into the names that might be exceptionally rare by 2026 and beyond. The analysis, drawing on data from parents who registered babies born in 2025, highlights a significant shift away from novelty spellings and trend-driven choices, with many parents seemingly leaning back towards more traditional or streamlined options.
Shifting Tastes in Baby Naming
The findings underscore a dynamic landscape of naming preferences in Australia, as parents increasingly move away from spellings that deviate from the norm and names inspired by specific locations. While classic choices like Noah and Olivia continue to hold their ground at the pinnacle of popularity, a substantial number of other names are experiencing dramatic drops in usage. This suggests a broader trend towards simplicity and familiarity in the naming choices of expectant parents.
The data, compiled by BabyCenter, examined names within its top 1,000 that saw the most significant year-over-year declines. This comparison was made using information from parents who registered babies born in 2025 up until November 3rd, and then contrasting those rankings with the data from 2024.
The Steepest Declines: Girls’ Names
For baby girls, the most dramatic fall from grace was seen by Charleigh, plummeting an astonishing 421 places. Close behind was Mckinley, which dropped 419 spots, followed by Prisha (down 349), Ezra (down 348), Sasha (down 331), and Mía (down 330).
Several other girls’ names also experienced notable dips, indicating a widespread shift across various styles. Names like Kenna, Kori, Dior, Shaikha, Gabrielle, Zaylee, Ocean, Allie, Giana, Skyler, and Kinley all saw significant declines, marking a broad slide away from several choices that were once on the rise.
The Steepest Declines: Boys’ Names
The boys’ category saw Kylian post the most significant drop, falling a substantial 512 places. Atharv followed with a decline of 373 spots, then Enoch (down 345), Crue (down 324), Huxley (down 296), Salman (down 278), and Camilo (down 259).
Other boys’ names that experienced considerable decreases in popularity include Advik, Emmitt, Garrett, Jaxton, Avyaan, Karim, Ishaan, Dax, Mohamad, and Case. The consistent pattern across both genders points to a conscious or subconscious move away from certain naming conventions.
Broader Naming Patterns on the Wane
Beyond individual names, the analysis highlighted several overarching trends that are losing their appeal. Non-traditional spellings, which have been a popular route for parents seeking unique identifiers, are now losing ground. Examples include Charleigh, Alivia, Maddison, Emmitt, and Mohamad, all of which have seen their usage decrease.
Similarly, names inspired by places are also experiencing a decline. For girls, destinations like Malaysia, Dallas, and London are becoming less common choices, while for boys, Boston has seen a significant drop in popularity.
Further insights from BabyCenter’s data revealed that boys’ names ending in “-y” are becoming less fashionable. This includes names such as Huxley, Grady, Rey, Corey, and Harry. Additionally, names beginning with the letters D and K are also trending downwards. This encompasses a range of names like Danielle, Dylan, Kenna, Kinley, Dominic, Dev, Kylian, and Karim.
Enduring Favourites Amidst the Shifts
Despite these notable shifts and the emergence of new trends, some long-established favourites have remained remarkably resilient. Noah and Olivia, for instance, continued their reign as the most popular overall names in 2025.
In the girls’ top 10, Eliana and Aurora made impressive entries, signalling their growing appeal. For boys, Luca made a strong return to the top 10, displacing Leo, a name that has enjoyed considerable popularity in recent years. This demonstrates that while trends ebb and flow, certain classic names possess a timeless quality that ensures their continued appeal.
What Lies Ahead
BabyCenter will continue to monitor and update its monthly rankings using ongoing parent-submitted data. The organisation plans to release a comprehensive 2026 year-end list, which will provide an early indication of whether the names currently experiencing rapid declines will rebound or continue their downward trajectory. This ongoing analysis will offer valuable insights into the ever-evolving world of baby naming.
