Once-popular girls names that parents are staying away from now
Naming a new baby is now harder than ever. In the past, parents often relied on tried and true names picked from a baby book. But, in the modern era, there are hundreds of names to choose from, with many parents wanting to choose something “unique” or “original”.
If you or someone you know is expecting a girl, just be sure to avoid these names, which have fallen out of favor for good reason.
Karen
Once a popular name during the Baby Boom era, even becoming the third most popular name for girls in 1960, Karen has transformed into a problematic phenomenon in the internet age. The name has evolved into a meme that is typically used to describe someone who is entitled, demanding, and has strong “I want to speak to the manager” vibes.
Sadly, the negative reputation has caused the name’s popularity to plummet. Out of the top 1000 baby names in the United States, Karen is 831.
Khaleesi and Daenerys
Believe it or not, at the height of Game of Thrones’ fandom, parents were actually naming their daughters Khaleesi or Daenerys after one of the show’s main characters. Khaleesi (meaning Queen in one of the show’s imaginary languages) entered the top 1000 U.S. names in 2014. Daenerys wasn’t as popular, but did see a surge of new parents using this invented name around 2018.
All of this changed with the final season of the show, which saw a less flattering side of Daenerys. Those who chose these names for their daughters probably regretted it, and the phenomenon proved that parents shouldn’t name their children after a hit TV show.
Katrina
Katrina is a girl’s name of German origin that means “pure”. The name was moderately popular throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s and was ranked in the top 100 girls’ names of the United States. It took on a new meaning after Hurricane Katrina caused widespread destruction and death in Louisiana. Since then, the name’s popularity never recovered. It is currently ranked #2226 for baby names in the United States.
Alexa
In the mid-2000s, the name Alexa reached its peak popularity, cracking the top 50 baby girls’ names in the United States. Then Amazon came along. When the tech company decided to name its virtual assistant, Alexa, people realized that the name wouldn’t work in the modern age. Imagine saying “Hey Alexa” and accidentally waking up your smart home’s device when in actuality, you just wanted to talk to your daughter. The name’s popularity fell hard and fast, currently sitting at #1029 in the United States.
Isis
Isis is the name of an ancient Egyptian goddess associated with beauty and royalty. The name began falling out of favor when it became associated with the extremist group ISIS. The name’s popularity fell to its lowest levels in 2016, but interestingly, it has been making a bit of a comeback in recent years. Still, because of the negative associations, this is likely one name parents will want to avoid.
Barbie
Who doesn’t love Barbie? The celebrated doll has been a childhood staple for decades and was originally named after the creator’s daughter, Barbara. However, given the doll’s popularity, any child with this name will automatically be associated with Mattel’s creation. The name was most popular in the 1960s and saw a brief resurgence with the release of the movie Barbie, but it is widely unpopular in the United States.
Nevaeh
Nevaeh is largely seen as a gimmicky name because it is the word “heaven” spelled backward. Some people were drawn to this name because of its subtle, spiritual origins, but these days, most people think it is an outdated fad. Interestingly, the name hasn’t been totally ostracized by parents and is currently ranked #165 for popularity in the United States.
Apple
Apple entered the mainstream as a baby name option when Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin chose the name for their daughter. The name immediately drew swift backlash and is considered the stereotypical, over-the-top celebrity baby name. The name is so unpopular in the United States that there is no data on baby girls being given this name since 2013.
London
The name London originated from England’s capital city. In the mid-2010s, names connected to specific places and cities saw a surge in popularity, with adventurous parents hoping to pass on their love of travel to their children. The name London specifically brings up connotations of history, education, and refinement.
So why should parents avoid this name? It’s because it is part of a fad that will more than likely die out. It might be popular now, but in a few years, the name will seem incredibly dated.
Goldie
Goldie is a Yiddish name that is most commonly associated with actress Goldie Hawn. Just like it implies, the name is linked to the precious metal, conjuring up images of shimmering gold and luxury.
Because of its Hollywood connection, any girl growing up with this name is inevitably going to be asked, “Just like Goldie Hawn?” throughout her life. The name fell 211 spots in popularity between 2024 and 2025.
Charleigh
Charleigh is an alternative spelling of the name Charlie, which is traditionally a boy’s name. Charleigh is currently ranked #811 in the United States for girls’ names, and the reason is likely because of the odd spelling. If parents do choose this name, they are better off selecting the better-known variation, which remains quite popular for both girls and boys.
Luna
Here is another name that suffered because it became too trendy and was seen as a celebrity name. Luna, originating from the Italian word for moon, went from complete obscurity to becoming the 10th most popular girl’s name in 2022. Even celebrities like John Legend and Chrissy Teigen selected this name for their daughter. However, once parents realized there was a good chance their daughter would be joined by two or three other Lunas in their future kindergarten class, the name began slipping down the charts.
Arya
Like Khaleesi and Daenerys, Arya is another name that we can thank Game of Thrones for bringing into the mainstream consciousness. While it hasn’t aged as badly as other GoT-inspired names, why choose a name that is so strongly connected to one show (and one that isn’t kid-friendly at that)?
Phyllis
Since 1880, parents have been naming their little girls Phyllis, with the name reaching the height of its popularity in the 1930s and 1940s. The problem with this name is that even though vintage names are making a comeback, Phyllis is too old-fashioned to be considered cute or charming by today’s standards. Many people think of the character from The Office when this name is brought up.
Hester
Some books make a name popular, and others banish it to the bottom of the charts. That is the case with the name Hester. Hester is widely known as the central character from the famous novel The Scarlet Letter. The book’s serious and adult themes have caused parents to turn away from this name, even over 100 years after the book’s publication.
The name is at risk of going extinct and is currently ranked as #14940 in the United States.
Melanie
Melanie is a name that has fallen out of favor for a unique reason. Name analysts say that many parents are avoiding names that sound too political. As a result, the name Melanie is seen as too similar to the name of First Lady Melania Trump, causing the name to become unpopular.
Ocean
Ocean is a nature-inspired choice that is currently within the top 1000 most popular names in the United States. Similar names like River, Hudson, and Lochlan saw an increase in popularity in the mid-2010s and 2020s. The issue with this name is that it is part of a larger trend that will likely go out of style. There’s going to be a whole generation of kids named Stone, Rock, Flora, and Ocean who will be wondering why their parents chose these names for them.
Hope
Hope is another name with strong religious ties. The name’s popularity was at its highest during the 2010s, but in recent years, more and more parents are shying away from it. It looks like it has been replaced by other names with Christian associations, such as Grace and Esther.
Dolores
Dolores is a bit of a clunky name that is also considered quite old-fashioned. Another reason why the name remains unpopular with modern parents is likely because it is the name of an infamous villain from children’s literature. Dolores Umbridge from the Harry Potter series was particularly cruel and disliked. For this reason and others, the name is currently ranked #2567 in the United States.
Peggy
In the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, Peggy was an immensely popular name in the United States. A common nickname for Margaret, Peggy took off and had enough strength to stand as its own name. However, in the 1970s, the name began a steep decline, and today, it is near the bottom of the name rankings in the United States. It is so emblematic of a certain era that it can’t be revived in the modern era.
Eunice
Eunice is a Biblical name that is also most associated with Eunice Kennedy, the sister of John F. Kennedy. Likely, it is because of these associations that the name has struggled to find widespread appeal today. The name fell sharply in 2025 to the 2363rd place on the girls’ name popularity list.
Stormi
When people think of the name Stormi, they think of the young daughter of Kylie Jenner. Kylie is best known as the businesswoman behind Kylie Cosmetics and for her role on the reality shows Keeping Up With The Kardashians and The Kardashians. Because the Jenners and Kardashians are polarizing figures in the media, many have opted to avoid the name Stormi.
Siri
Similar to Alexa, Siri is another name that was taken by a virtual assistant. In this case, Siri is the name of Apple’s voice-activated app used on its smartphones and computers. The funny thing is that people around the world say the name “Siri” multiple times a day, making it one of the most well-known names on the planet, but no one wants to name their daughter after an app.
Danielle
Widely used from the 1960s to the 1990s, Danielle was once one of the most popular girls’ names in the United States. It is a strong name with Hebrew origins, and the reason why many people are shying away from it now is likely because of how common it was for many years. Likely, in a few decades, we’ll see Danielle make a resurgence, but for now, it is a less popular option.
Carol
In 1945, Carol was the fifth most popular girl’s name in the United States and remained a strong choice for decades. It fell victim to the usual name cycle trends and sharply fell off the charts as new and trendier names emerged. These days, Carol is strongly connected to the Boomer generation, so younger parents haven’t been keen to select it for their daughters.
Bella
With the popularity of the Twilight series in the 2000s and 2010s, Bella enjoyed a boost in popularity. It was even in the top 50 girls’ names in the United States at one point. However, these days, many consider the Twilight series to be cringey and something of a passing fad. The name is struggling to hold onto the power it once had over new parents.
Janet
Janet is a variation of the name Jane that was in high demand during the 1930s in the United States. These days? Not so much. Even though it is the name of the acclaimed singer Janet Jackson, it seems that many parents consider this name too traditional to use now. The name is at risk of going extinct and is ranked #2791.
Beverley
Beverly is an English name that means “dweller near the beaver stream.” Besides its odd meaning, the name was a favorite from the 1930s to the 1960s. It’s not a terrible name by any means, but with so many other options out there, it tends to get forgotten.
Willow
Willow is a name that only recently gained any sort of popularity. The nature-inspired name was selected by the singer Pink for her daughter, and is currently one of the top 50 names in the United States. The problem with this name is that it will likely fall out of fashion just as fast as it rose in popularity.
Astrid
Astrid is a name with Norse and Scandinavian roots and is a very popular name globally. The issue is that it remains relatively obscure in the United States, increasing the chances of it being mispronounced throughout a young girl’s life. The name was also featured on a well-known episode of The Office and was mocked, so it should be avoided for these reasons.
