The traditional UK baby names dangerously close to extinction have been revealed.
Researchers from name label manufacturer mynametags.com have analysed ONS data from the last 120 years to identify the classic British names that are sadly fading from existence.
The latest figures by the ONS showed that unusual names are slowly entering the top 100 registered in England and Wales, including Athena and Yahya.
Muhammad claimed the boys’ top spot for the second year running, while Noah and Oliver took second and third place positions.
Olivia and Amelia were ranked the most popular girl names and Isla was replaced by Lily as third place.
Yet some adorable vintage names failed to make the cut entirely – with the likes of Freda, Bessie, Cecil and Percy registered 150 times or fewer in 2024, accounting for 0.02 per cent or less of the babies born that year.
Lars B. Andersen, Managing Director at mynametags.com, said: ‘We’ve been supporting parents in the UK for over 20 years, and have observed first-hand that baby name trends tend to be cyclical in nature.
‘In recent years, we’ve seen the resurgence of many vintage names, such as Florence and Arthur. This got us thinking about the historic names that haven’t experienced a comeback, which set us on our path to discovering the beautiful, traditional names that risk becoming lost in time.
‘We hope that our list can provide some inspiration to expectant parents looking for traditional yet unusual names – and perhaps even save the likes of Freda and Leigh from total extinction.’
Researchers from name label manufacturer mynametags.com have analysed ONS data from the last 120 years to identify the classic British names that are sadly fading from existence (stock image)
The top five girls names at risk of extinction
1. Freda
Once extremely popular in the early 20th century, Freda used to consistently appear in the top 100 baby names from 1904 to 1934.
Yet there were just seven babies registered with the name in 2024, according to ONS.
With Germanic origins, it translates to ‘peace’ and is often associated with meanings such as ‘peaceful ruler’ or ‘joy’.
2. Rosina
Despite being incredibly popular in the early 1990s, Rosina is now hardly used across the UK, with just 12 newborns taking on the sweet name in 2024.
Meaning ‘little rose’, the forgotten floral name is often overlooked making it a rare choice for new parents.
Having Italian and Latin roots, it symbolises beauty, passion and love and holds strong associations with the name Rosa.
3. Bessie
Adored by many in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Bessie has sadly fallen out of favour – with just 17 registrations of the sweet name across 2024.
Used on its own or often as a shortened version of Elizabeth or Beatrice, the vintage name risks being cut out entirely by future generations.
Of Hebrew origin, its meaning translates to ‘pledged to God’ and it evokes themes of loyalty, faith and vintage charm.
4. Millicent
An alternative to popular name ‘Amelia’, Millicent comes with a number of charming shortened versions, including Millie, Minnie and Mila.
Yet just 42 Britons opted for the name in 2024, compared to a staggering 2,448 Amelias.
With Old French and Germanic origins, the name has been in use since the Middle Ages and means ‘strong in work’, ‘industrious’ or ‘gentle strength’.
5.Winifred
A traditional name of Welsh origin which means ‘blessed peacekeeping’, this vintage classic is often shortened to nicknames like Winnie or Freddie.
Yet despite its charm, there are few Winnifred’s left on the list – with approximately 390 born across England and Wales in 2024.
In 2024, some adorable vintage names failed to make the cut entirely – with the likes of Freda, Bessie, Cecil and Percy registered 150 times or fewer, accounting for 0.02 per cent or less of the babies born that year (stock image)
The top five boy names at risk of extinction
1. Cecil
While previously a popular choice for young boys across the early-to-mid 20th century, Cecil became officially extinct in 2024, according to ONS data.
Of predominantly Latin and Welsh origin, it means ‘blind or ‘dim-sighted’ and has associations with humility and historical intelligence.
2. Leigh
Just three babies were given the name Leigh, meaning ‘meadow or ‘delicate’, in 2024, despite it featuring in its hundreds in the 1980s.
The sweet boy’s name has often struggled to gain attraction, considered too unique, despite the growing trend for short and simple names.
3. Claude
Almost entirely extinct across the UK, this classic Frech name was a mainstay in the top 100 names until around 1922.
But in 2024, just 0.001 per cent of babies took home the gender-neutral, though typically male, name.
Of French origin, it is originally derived from the Latin name of Claudius and the Latin word Claudus, with a meaning of ‘Lame’ or ‘crippled’.
4. Maurice
While once a strong contender in the popular names from 1904 to 1956, only eight young babies were named Maurice in 2024.
Derived from the Latin name Mauritius, it is now at risk of becoming extinct, having experienced a sharp decline in its popularity in the 1990s.
5. Percy
Of old French and Norman origin, Percy traditionally means ‘one who pierces the valley’ and holds strong links to English aristocracy, notably, the House of Percy.
Yet the British classic is fading in popularity, with ONS figures revealing that just 0.02 per cent of babies registered took home the name.
Its longer form, Percival, was given to just 40 babies.
