United States baby names see significant decline in popularity

Data from the Social Security Administration and Name Almanac indicate a significant shift in American naming trends, with several once-dominant names seeing a sharp decline in popularity.

Names that previously topped the charts for decades are now considered ‘endangered’ as parents increasingly opt for newer, less common choices. Notable examples of this decline include Karen, which peaked in 1965 as the third most popular name for girls but has fallen to 1,251st; Lisa, a top name in the 1960s that now sits at 984th; and Jennifer, which held the top spot for 14 years between 1970 and 1984 but has since dropped to 546th.

Other names experiencing a steady decline include Jessica, which was a number one name in the late 1980s and is now ranked 575th, and Amanda, which peaked in 1987 and currently holds the 495th position.