Just like clothing, names follow trends, going in and out of style depending on the year.
Some notable ones include Bear, Honey, Lucky, Lulu, Benedict, Daphne, and Theo.
It can be difficult to predict what will be in and out of style with all of these factors.
But we’ve found some names that will definitely not be trending next year.
Angela
Angela was quite a popular name for baby girls from the 1970s through the 1980s.
It even reached No.
5 onNameberry’stop U.S. baby names ranking for 1975.
Along with Angela’s decline, a few similar names are gaining recognition.
According toBabyCenter, Angelica rose 47 spots on the popularity chart from 2020 to 2021.
It has the same meaning but simplifies the name and sounds more modern than Angela.
Kobe
You might be surprised to see Kobe on this list.
After all, this is a name that had a massivespike in use during 2020.
As a result, the name jumped from its place at No.
556 on theSocial Security’sname ranking for 2019 all the way up to No.
That’s quite the rapid rise.
On top of that, when names have a sudden upshot, a quick decline often follows.
This is probably because many people prefer unique baby names and don’t want to follow trends.
Miley
Miley is an adorable name meaning “smiley” that’s typically used for baby girls.
Miley was used a lot from 2005 to 2010, peaking in 2008 at No.
127, according toBabyNames.
However, the name has been on a downward trend since.
Though Cyrus is still quite famous, it’s hard to separate the name from the celebrity.
The name was most popular in 1992 at No.
Dillon has Gaelic origins and means “faithful” (viaBabyCenter).
The meaning of the name comes from old English and is a bit more complicated than most.
Roughly it translates to “the clearing of the royal fortress” (viaCharliesNames).
Despite its somewhat obscure meaning, Kimberly has been a prevalent name for decades.
It’s traditional without sounding too old-fashioned or stuffy, making it quite appealing to many parents.
However,BabyCenterpredicts it’ll be one of several traditional baby names falling out of use for 2022.
Jeremiah
Plenty of old-fashioned baby names have had a comeback in recent years.
However, other old names are going the other way, being retired for 2022.
Jeremiah, in particular, is a traditional name that’s seemingly dwindling rather than seeing a resurgence.
Jeremiah is a Hebrew name meaning “exalted of the Lord.”
Its prevalence steadily rose from the 1990s to the 2010s.
Even though some traditional names have found popularity, simpler ones are more likely to be used in 2022.
Alexa
It will probably come as no surprise that Alexa is falling out of popularity.
Most families don’t want to worry about their daughter getting confused for an AI.
This is likely due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ashton
Ashton is another name with roots in old English.
Its meaning refers to an ash tree.
The boy’s name had a significant spike in popularity around 2004 whenBabyCenterranked it at No.
This increase in prevalence was likely due in part to actorAshton Kutcherbringing awareness to the name.
Ashton has fluctuated in popularity since but has stayed somewhat common up to now.
Many celebrity-inspired names, in fact, are losing their appeal as parents look for more one-of-a-kind names.
Nicole
Nicole has been a go-to name for people who prefer the classics.
Plus, nicknames like Nicki have made it appealing to many parents who want a more cutesy option.
However, the name has been steadily losing popularity for years.
It was at its most popular during the 1960s and 1970s, according toBabyCenter.
Because of its prevalence during that time, most people named Jeffrey are from Generation X.
Ashley
Ashley is another name that’s dropping out of use.
The cute, short baby girl name gained a lot of popularity in the 1980s, skyrocketing to No.
2 in 1987, according toBabyCenter.
It doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with the name or the people with the name.
Parents are just moving away from it now because trends are shifting.
- in 2018, though things aren’t looking too good for Leroy in 2022 either.
The name has primarily decreased in popularity since the 1930s, when it was at its most recent peak.
It will likely be a few more years before it returns as a trendy vintage name.
The name Leroy has French roots and means “the king.”
However, there are many other royal-inspired names to use in 2022.
Ryan, acute Irish namemeaning “little king,” is listed at No.
62 onBabyCenter’srankings for 2021.
Or, for a less common royal name,Waltermeans “powerful warrior.”
Sophia
Sophia hasn’t been popular for just the past few years it was No.
1 onBabyCenter’spopularity ranking for girls for 11 years.NameBerryspeculated that this widespread appeal could be due to several reasons.
Firstly, its Greek origin and meaning, “wisdom,” make it a favorite with intellectual parents.
It also sounds classic and feminine.
Plus, parents can always use the nickname Sophie if they want to shorten the name slightly.
If you’re thinking that fifth place is still quite possible, you’re probably right.
To say there won’t be any parents sticking with this name in 2022 is definitely an overstatement.
However, after a decade of reigning supreme, Sophia is on its way out.
Chad
Chad is a name that’s been circulating a lot in recent years.
However, it’s being used less as a baby name these days and more for internet slang.
So, most expectant parents are at least somewhat aware of the association.
