Experts reveals the baby names that are close to extinction: Say goodbye to Meg, Pam, Bob and Deb

We all know names come in and out of fashion.

And many parents-to-be eagerly look out for the annual lists of top baby names before choosing a moniker for their bundle of joy.

McCrindle Research has already announced Australia's top-performing baby names for the year, and now the world's largest baby name website has now gone a step further, announcing those names that are becoming extinct.

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Nameberry recently released it predictions for the top baby name trends for 2024, including the hottest names for both a baby boy and baby girl

Now, the UK-based website has released the names that are close to extinction, which are divided into lists of 'endangered names', 'almost extinct names' and 'truly extinct names' based on what people called their children in 2021.

And there are a few surprises on the list – both in names that appeared and those that were omitted.

For starters, some very old-fashioned or out of favour names you would expect to see on the list were not there.

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Case in point: Gary, Karen and Nigel. According to Nameberry, these commonly-cited 'extinct' names are still in regular use amongst parents in the US and UK.

In fact, Nameberry found Gary was still in the Top 1000 names.

Instead, Nameberry said many names that were disappearing had something in common.

"For the most part, they're diminutives or nickname names popular among today's grandparents. Patrick and Patricia are still used today, but no one is putting Pat on the birth certificate. Margaret and Dominic are in the Top 150, but Meg and Dom are on their way out," it said.

Endangered names

According to Nameberry, the following names are not extinct yet, but they're endangered, having been given to only 20-50 babies in 2021.

It said while there were some examples of these names in recent popular culture, it was because they had been used as nicknames rather than full names. Case in point, Greta Gerwig's son Hal (short form of Harold), while Will Arnett's Denny is short for Alexander Denison.

For girls, endangered names include Barbie, Becky, Brandy, Cathy, Cherry, Cheryl, Christa, Christy, Debbie, Gail, Ginny, Jeanne, Jill, Joanie, Jodi, Jody, Kay, Keisha, Kerry, Kim, Krista, Lizzy, Mandy, Marcie, Marcy, Marylou, Merle, Misty, Noreen, Patsy, Rickie, Shelly, Sheryl, Suzie, Suzy, Tammy, Tanya, Terri, Tracy, Trisha, Trudy and Vicky.

While for boys, the names that are on their way out include Bill, Brad, Chip, Denny, Donny, Geoffrey, Greg, Hal, Jim, Jody, Laurie, Nicky, Rich, Rick, Ron, Rusty, Scotty, Ted, Tim, Vinny and Walt.

Almost extinct names

Some of the most popular nicknames of the Baby Boomer generation, including Ed and Rob for boys, and Jan and Sue for girls, are now teetering on extinction.

Nameberry said these once ubiquitous names were used on sitcoms such as The Brady Bunch and Father Knows Best, but were being replaced by names such as Nirvana and Lucifer.

The names that are almost extinct were given to five to 19 babies in 2021.

For girls these almost extinct names are Christi, Deidre, Gayle, Jan, Jeanie, Judi, Kaye, Keri, Kerri, Kerry, Kisha, Kris, Krista, Kristie, Kristy, Marci, Margie, Meg, Mel, Missy, Mitzi, Myrna, Nicky, Patty, Peggy, Rhonda, Sherri, Sherry, Sue, Teri, Tisha, Tricia, Val and Vicki.

While for boys they are Al, Bernie, Bert, Chuck, Curt, Dom, Ed, Ernie, Lorne, Mel, Mitch, Ned, Phil, Rob, Rod, Russ, Sal, Shaun, Shawn, Skip, Stan, Tad, Timmy, Vern, Vic, Wally and Woody.

Truly extinct names

Nameberry has also compiled a list of what it calls "truly extinct names" that were given to fewer than five children in 2021.

These include classic nicknames such as Pam, Bob and Deb.

For girls, truly extinct names are Barb, Bess, Britt, Carole, Cindi, Cyndi, Deb, Debby, Dory, Dot Flo, Fran, Gay, Geri, Gerri, Jen, Kath, Kirstie, Marge, Melba, Merle, Nan, Nance, Nicki, Pam, Pat, Patti, Peg, Sal, Sandi, Tammi, Trish, Val and Vickie.

For boys, the list includes Barney, Bart, Bertie, Bob, Burt, Dick, Doug, Geoff, Herb, Herbie, Paddy, Pat, Sherm, Stu, Wilkie and Wilt.