Fastest falling baby names of the last 50 years
A difficult job parents can face is deciding what to name the newest member of their family. While many baby names originate from someone near and dear to the parents, some little ones sport names that derive from a celebrity, a location, or some other key pop culture reference. As culture has evolved over time, so too has the lexicon from which the names appearing on birth certificates are drawn, and contemporary baby names like Facebook and Hashtag serve to underscore this cultural phenomenon.
In order to determine just how far some names have fallen in the popularity ranks as a result of various technological, demographic, and cultural shifts in the United States, Stacker compiled a list of fastest falling baby names in the last 50 years. The list references data from the United States Social Security Administration. The 50 male and 50 female names are ranked according to their respective change in rank over the past half century, with the names whose rank fell the most appearing at the top of the list.
Read on to see if your name or the name of a loved one has taken a serious dip in popularity in the past 50 years.
#50 Boy: Randall
Today's rank: #909
Rank 50 years ago: #79
Change in rank: -830
#50 Girl: Laurie
Today's rank: #2,959
Rank 50 years ago: #79
Change in rank: -2,880
#49 Boy: Brent
Today's rank: #953
Rank 50 years ago: #103
Change in rank: -850
#49 Girl: Lora
Today's rank: #3,195
Rank 50 years ago: #203
Change in rank: -2,992
#48 Boy: Craig
Today's rank: #933
Rank 50 years ago: #41
Change in rank: -892
#48 Girl: Kim
Today's rank: #3,344
Rank 50 years ago: #57
Change in rank: -3,287
#47 Boy: Ralph
Today's rank: #1,020
Rank 50 years ago: #127
Change in rank: -893
#47 Girl: Dena
Today's rank: #3,558
Rank 50 years ago: #266
Change in rank: -3,292
#46 Boy: Norman
Today's rank: #1,069
Rank 50 years ago: #155
Change in rank: -914
#46 Girl: Maureen
Today's rank: #3,512
Rank 50 years ago: #148
Change in rank: -3,364
#45 Boy: Steve
Today's rank: #1,011
Rank 50 years ago: #89
Change in rank: -922
#45 Girl: Debra
Today's rank: #3,418
Rank 50 years ago: #38
Change in rank: -3,380
#44 Boy: Bernard
Today's rank: #1,113
Rank 50 years ago: #189
Change in rank: -924
#44 Girl: Becky
Today's rank: #3,549
Rank 50 years ago: #161
Change in rank: -3,388
#43 Boy: Guy
Today's rank: #1,132
Rank 50 years ago: #202
Change in rank: -930
#43 Girl: Terri
Today's rank: #3,532
Rank 50 years ago: #83
Change in rank: -3,449
#42 Boy: Clifford
Today's rank: #1,118
Rank 50 years ago: #167
Change in rank: -951
#42 Girl: Jodi
Today's rank: #3,571
Rank 50 years ago: #97
Change in rank: -3,474
#41 Boy: Clarence
Today's rank: #1,150
Rank 50 years ago: #184
Change in rank: -966
#41 Girl: Jo
Today's rank: #3,727
Rank 50 years ago: #226
Change in rank: -3,501
#40 Boy: Clinton
Today's rank: #1,242
Rank 50 years ago: #207
Change in rank: -1,035
#40 Girl: Jill
Today's rank: #3,647
Rank 50 years ago: #46
Change in rank: -3,601
#39 Boy: Kent
Today's rank: #1,244
Rank 50 years ago: #194
Change in rank: -1,050
#39 Girl: Beth
Today's rank: #3,853
Rank 50 years ago: #74
Change in rank: -3,779
#38 Boy: Karl
Today's rank: #1,230
Rank 50 years ago: #168
Change in rank: -1,062
#38 Girl: Christie
Today's rank: #4,151
Rank 50 years ago: #260
Change in rank: -3,891
#37 Boy: Dale
Today's rank: #1,164
Rank 50 years ago: #91
Change in rank: -1,073
#37 Girl: Kellie
Today's rank: #4,184
Rank 50 years ago: #179
Change in rank: -4,005
#36 Boy: Todd
Today's rank: #1,116
Rank 50 years ago: #28
Change in rank: -1,088
#36 Girl: Michele
Today's rank: #4,116
Rank 50 years ago: #29
Change in rank: -4,087
#35 Boy: Darryl
Today's rank: #1,268
Rank 50 years ago: #140
Change in rank: -1,128
#35 Girl: Lynda
Today's rank: #4,354
Rank 50 years ago: #245
Change in rank: -4,109
#34 Boy: Daryl
Today's rank: #1,305
Rank 50 years ago: #176
Change in rank: -1,129
#34 Girl: Shelly
Today's rank: #4,212
Rank 50 years ago: #98
Change in rank: -4,114
#33 Boy: Glenn
Today's rank: #1,237
Rank 50 years ago: #92
Change in rank: -1,145
#33 Girl: Kerri
Today's rank: #4,350
Rank 50 years ago: #234
Change in rank: -4,116
#32 Boy: Barry
Today's rank: #1,276
Rank 50 years ago: #107
Change in rank: -1,169
#32 Girl: Cathy
Today's rank: #4,419
Rank 50 years ago: #134
Change in rank: -4,285
#31 Boy: Vernon
Today's rank: #1,424
Rank 50 years ago: #203
Change in rank: -1,221
#31 Girl: Kerry
Today's rank: #4,551
Rank 50 years ago: #186
Change in rank: -4,365
#30 Boy: Earl
Today's rank: #1,439
Rank 50 years ago: #164
Change in rank: -1,275
#30 Girl: Kelli
Today's rank: #4,549
Rank 50 years ago: #137
Change in rank: -4,412
#29 Boy: Lloyd
Today's rank: #1,519
Rank 50 years ago: #225
Change in rank: -1,294
#29 Girl: Kristi
Today's rank: #5,039
Rank 50 years ago: #138
Change in rank: -4,901
#28 Boy: Fred
Today's rank: #1,508
Rank 50 years ago: #172
Change in rank: -1,336
#28 Girl: Wanda
Today's rank: #5,092
Rank 50 years ago: #115
Change in rank: -4,977
#27 Boy: Kelly
Today's rank: #1,451
Rank 50 years ago: #97
Change in rank: -1,354
#27 Girl: Kimberley
Today's rank: #5,172
Rank 50 years ago: #175
Change in rank: -4,997
#26 Boy: Dan
Today's rank: #1,585
Rank 50 years ago: #191
Change in rank: -1,394
#26 Girl: Tracey
Today's rank: #5,089
Rank 50 years ago: #72
Change in rank: -5,017
#25 Boy: Glen
Today's rank: #1,556
Rank 50 years ago: #162
Change in rank: -1,394
#25 Girl: Debbie
Today's rank: #5,303
Rank 50 years ago: #111
Change in rank: -5,192
#24 Boy: Duane
Today's rank: #1,547
Rank 50 years ago: #146
Change in rank: -1,401
#24 Girl: Peggy
Today's rank: #5,539
Rank 50 years ago: #155
Change in rank: -5,384
#23 Boy: Kirk
Today's rank: #1,609
Rank 50 years ago: #143
Change in rank: -1,466
#23 Girl: Kelley
Today's rank: #5,655
Rank 50 years ago: #168
Change in rank: -5,487
#22 Boy: Don
Today's rank: #1,668
Rank 50 years ago: #183
Change in rank: -1,485
#22 Girl: Tonya
Today's rank: #5,556
Rank 50 years ago: #60
Change in rank: -5,496
#21 Boy: Gene
Today's rank: #1,724
Rank 50 years ago: #216
Change in rank: -1,508
#21 Girl: Sheryl
Today's rank: #5,713
Rank 50 years ago: #172
Change in rank: -5,541
#20 Boy: Kurt
Today's rank: #1,641
Rank 50 years ago: #123
Change in rank: -1,518
#20 Girl: Lee
Today's rank: #5,854
Rank 50 years ago: #239
Change in rank: -5,615
#19 Boy: Lonnie
Today's rank: #1,737
Rank 50 years ago: #181
Change in rank: -1,556
#19 Girl: Rhonda
Today's rank: #6,393
Rank 50 years ago: #42
Change in rank: -6,351
#18 Boy: Shannon
Today's rank: #1,823
Rank 50 years ago: #159
Change in rank: -1,664
#18 Girl: Jody
Today's rank: #6,558
Rank 50 years ago: #169
Change in rank: -6,389
#17 Boy: Marty
Today's rank: #2,039
Rank 50 years ago: #224
Change in rank: -1,815
#17 Girl: Vicki
Today's rank: #6,983
Rank 50 years ago: #114
Change in rank: -6,869
#16 Boy: Darrin
Today's rank: #2,072
Rank 50 years ago: #138
Change in rank: -1,934
#16 Girl: Shelia
Today's rank: #7,285
Rank 50 years ago: #220
Change in rank: -7,065
#15 Boy: Rick
Today's rank: #2,123
Rank 50 years ago: #182
Change in rank: -1,941
#15 Girl: Marsha
Today's rank: #8,023
Rank 50 years ago: #244
Change in rank: -7,779
#14 Boy: Darin
Today's rank: #2,133
Rank 50 years ago: #147
Change in rank: -1,986
#14 Girl: Stacie
Today's rank: #8,133
Rank 50 years ago: #252
Change in rank: -7,881
#13 Boy: Kerry
Today's rank: #2,238
Rank 50 years ago: #214
Change in rank: -2,024
#13 Girl: Shawn
Today's rank: #8,116
Rank 50 years ago: #184
Change in rank: -7,932
#12 Boy: Jeff
Today's rank: #2,187
Rank 50 years ago: #90
Change in rank: -2,097
#12 Girl: Gail
Today's rank: #8,328
Rank 50 years ago: #180
Change in rank: -8,148
#11 Boy: Brad
Today's rank: #2,288
Rank 50 years ago: #158
Change in rank: -2,130
#11 Girl: Teri
Today's rank: #9,179
Rank 50 years ago: #232
Change in rank: -8,947
#10 Boy: Tim
Today's rank: #2,415
Rank 50 years ago: #139
Change in rank: -2,276
#10 Girl: Shelley
Today's rank: #9,736
Rank 50 years ago: #129
Change in rank: -9,607
#9 Boy: Tracy
Today's rank: #2,497
Rank 50 years ago: #111
Change in rank: -2,386
#9 Girl: Sherri
Today's rank: #9,738
Rank 50 years ago: #95
Change in rank: -9,643
#8 Boy: Jody
Today's rank: #2,582
Rank 50 years ago: #190
Change in rank: -2,392
#8 Girl: Vickie
Today's rank: #10,522
Rank 50 years ago: #162
Change in rank: -10,360
#7 Boy: Leslie
Today's rank: #2,675
Rank 50 years ago: #223
Change in rank: -2,452
#7 Girl: Tonia
Today's rank: #11,412
Rank 50 years ago: #241
Change in rank: -11,171
#6 Boy: Bill
Today's rank: #2,776
Rank 50 years ago: #201
Change in rank: -2,575
#6 Girl: Terry
Today's rank: #11,405
Rank 50 years ago: #218
Change in rank: -11,187
#5 Boy: Jim
Today's rank: #3,083
Rank 50 years ago: #177
Change in rank: -2,906
#5 Girl: Tracie
Today's rank: #11,415
Rank 50 years ago: #209
Change in rank: -11,206
#4 Boy: Dana
Today's rank: #3,531
Rank 50 years ago: #222
Change in rank: -3,309
#4 Girl: Traci
Today's rank: #11,414
Rank 50 years ago: #127
Change in rank: -11,287
#3 Boy: Stacy
Today's rank: #3,895
Rank 50 years ago: #157
Change in rank: -3,738
#3 Girl: Sheri
Today's rank: #12,442
Rank 50 years ago: #119
Change in rank: -12,323
#2 Boy: Greg
Today's rank: #3,949
Rank 50 years ago: #142
Change in rank: -3,807
#2 Girl: Ronda
Today's rank: #13,672
Rank 50 years ago: #200
Change in rank: -13,472
#1 Boy: Stacey
Today's rank: #4,820
Rank 50 years ago: #215
Change in rank: -4,605
#1 Girl: Tammie
Today's rank: #17,991
Rank 50 years ago: #160
Change in rank: -17,831
