Falling Favorite Boy Names
Falling Favorite Girl Names
Popular Baby Names Losing Ground
Some names remain familiar long after their popularity peaks. They may still be chosen by thousands of parents, even as newer favorites move ahead of them.
Among boys, Ryan, Christopher, Jonathan, Joshua, and Matthew were major favorites in the 1990s. Traditional names like Michael, David, John, and Joseph have also slipped in the rankings, although they remain among America's most popular choices.
For girls, Sarah, Emily, Hannah, and Elizabeth have been familiar names for generations. Others, including Madison, Natalie, and Victoria, reflect different naming trends of the past few decades.
A falling rank doesn't mean a name is outdated or unpopular. It simply means that other names have moved ahead of it.
How Do We Identify Falling Baby Names?
Our Falling Favorites collection compares U.S. Social Security Administration baby name rankings from 1995 and 2025.
To qualify, a name must rank among the top 100 for its gender in both years and have a lower popularity position in 2025.
For example, a name that ranked 15th in 1995 and 45th in 2025 has fallen 30 positions.
These rankings show the overall change across 30 years, not necessarily a steady decline every year. Some names may have risen or fallen several times between the two dates.
Will These Baby Names Become Popular Again?
Baby name trends are always changing. A name that loses popularity during one generation may become a favorite again in another.
Traditional names like Arthur, Theodore, Hazel, and Violet have already experienced multiple periods of popularity, leaving the top 100 before returning.
Could names like Ryan, Jessica, or Sarah eventually experience another surge? Explore each name's popularity history to see how its ranking has changed over time.
Explore More Baby Name Trends
Looking for names moving in the opposite direction? Explore Rising Favorites for boy and girl names that improved their rankings in 2025.
You can also browse Revived Favorites for names that returned to the top 100 after a break, or Past Favorites for names whose previous top-100 runs have ended.