Fastest falling baby names of the last 50 years

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August 17, 2018
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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

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