Special Report
Names That Are Disappearing the Fastest
August 23, 2018 8:24 am
Last Updated: January 11, 2020 6:57 pm
Source: Courtesy of 4 Lions Films
5. Arnav
> Boys named Arnav in 2013: 229 (908th most popular)
> Boys named Arnav in 2017: 92 (1,706th most popular)
> Pictured: Barun Sobti as Arnav Singh Raizada in “Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon”
Arnav is a Hindu name from the Sanskrit word for ocean, or agitated water. The name, used mostly by Indian-Americans, nudged its way into the bottom slot of the Social Security top 1,000 list in 2003. It hung on to a spot on the list till 2014, without ever rising above No. 852, its 2011 apogee. At its peak popularity year, 249 baby boys were dubbed Arnav.
Source: David Ramos / Getty Images
4. Xavi
> Boys named Xavi in 2013: 219 (931th most popular)
> Boys named Xavi in 2017: 87 (1,756th most popular)
> Pictured: Soccer player Xavi Hernandez
It can be daunting how quickly names cycle in and out of favor. Even those who follow naming conventions closely may have overlooked Xavi. It made its first appearance in Social Security’s top 1,000 in 2010, and by 2014 had slipped off the list for good.
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Source: Baron / Getty Images
3. Bently
> Boys named Bently in 2013: 230 (902nd most popular)
> Boys named Bently in 2017: 81 (1,834th most popular)
> Pictured: A 1954 Bentley motorcar
Bently is the name of lots of notable things: a small-batch of sustainable whiskey distilled in northern Nevada; an episode of the classic TV Western “Gunsmoke”; and even a luxury car (OK, you need to add an extra “e” for that). Despite this, the moniker has lost favor as a name for little boys. Fewer than 100 newborn boys were given the name in 2017.
Source: John Moore / Getty Images
2. Kale
> Boys named Kale in 2013: 258 (829th most popular)
> Boys named Kale in 2017: 61 (2,177th most popular)
> Pictured: A farm worker inspects kale
Names with a tie to nature are popular — think Reed (No. 381 in 2017) or Willow (No. 81). Kale, a name shared with the green and leafy veggie, never ranked that high, though it did get to No. 504 in 2008, with 544 children named Kale born that year. It hasn’t hit the top 1,000 since 2014.
Source: Cameron Spencer / Getty Images
1. Jase
> Boys named Jase in 2013: 4,552 (89th most popular)
> Boys named Jase in 2017: 1,042 (325th most popular)
> Pictured: Surfer Jase Finlay
Jase has taken a quick flight from popularity, plummeting from its 2013 pinnacle. That’s the same year that the television show “Duck Dynasty,” featuring Jase Robertson, garnered its top ratings, becoming the most-watched nonfiction series telecast in cable TV history.
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