The millennial generation gets a lot of flak. They’ve been blamed for destroying everything from casual dining to the film industry. While they haven’t been accused of destroying baby naming traditions (yet) the names that defined their generation are slowly fading into obscurity — at least no one can blame millennials for that (it’s not like they picked their own names).
There’s some debate over who, exactly, is a millennial. Pew Research Center considers anyone born between 1981 and 1996 a millennial, but others — including researchers Neil Howe and William Strauss who coined the term — set the years from 1982 to 2004. Baby name website Nameberry compiled data from these years to reveal the most popular names among babies born in that generation.
A lot of the names on the list might still seem relevant, but they’re becoming more old-fashioned as millennials age. Here are the millennial baby names 21st century parents should avoid as you’ll most likely to regret it ten years from now.
Tiffany
The name Tiffany exudes timeless class elegance, thanks in part to the jewelry store Tiffany & Co, not to mention its association with iconic actress Audrey Hepburn who starred in the 1961 classic Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The effect of Breakfast at Tiffany’s was so profound that it lifted the medieval name out of obscurity. By the 1970s, Tiffany was one of the most beloved names for baby girls. Millennials might remember actress Tiffani Thiessen who, while not a millennial herself, starred on one of the biggest shows of the millennial era: Saved by the Bell.
Generations of parents viewed this name as a timeless gem, but Tiffany’s reign is now over. It ranked as the 26th most popular baby name for millennial girls, but by 2017 had fallen to 580. Barring a remake of Breakfast at Tiffany’s to bring this name to the attention of parents in the next few years, a decade from now this name is going to be decidedly passé.
Kyle
You’re not alone if the first thing that the name Kyle brings to mind is South Park character Kyle Broflovski. While it might be tempting to name your baby after the cartoon, let’s consider for a second how your little Kyle will feel about his name ten years from now. By that time, South Park will almost be old enough to count as classic television (it debuted in 1997) and no kid is going to want to be linked to a show that first aired in the days of dial-up internet.
The name has dropped from being the 23rd most popular name for millennial baby boys to being ranked 211 in 2017, and its popularity is still sinking. Once considered to be a gender neutral name, its use for girls has considerably slacked off over the years and is now used almost exclusively for boys. The good news is that if you love the name, you could opt for the trendier feminine variation of Kylie.
Amanda
One of the hottest names of the millennial generation is Amanda, whose most famous modern bearer is actress Amanda Bynes. Her name was everywhere in the 1990s and 2000s, which helped keep the name fresh in people’s minds through hits like The Amanda Show and All That. All things must come to an end, however. Amanda Bynes retired from acting, and her name has also retired from popularity. The moniker was the third most popular name for millennial girls, but fell out of favor just after the millennial cutoff year. By 2006, Amanda was out of the top 100 baby names for girls and has remained off the list since.
It’s not all hopeless, though. While Amanda has declined in popularity, a French variant of the name, Amandine, has steadily been catching on in the United States. The name has yet to become mainstream, but it’s a top 100 baby name in France, making it a trendy and forward-thinking alternative to the increasingly old-fashioned Amanda.
Cody
Older millennials born in the 1980s and early 1990s might not be familiar with The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, but for those born towards the end of the generation this Disney show was must-watch programming. The show, which aired from 2005 to 2008, followed the exploits of twins Zack and Cody who were played by Dylan and Cole Sprouse (aka Ben from Friends and Jughead from Riverdale).
Sadly, the name isn’t living up to its millennial era popularity. Though it was ranked 40th among millennials, Cody hasn’t been in the top 100 names for boys since 2005. Given its steady downward trajectory, it’s safe to say that this name is going to be out of style for the foreseeable future. Cody is a name you probably don’t want to pick for your little one, unless you plan a move to Northern Ireland in the next decade; over there, the name consistently ranks in the top 100 names for boys.
Christina
Vocal powerhouse Christina Aguilera, whose music many millennials grew up on, is still making waves, but we can’t say the same for the name Christina. Variations of this name were exceptionally popular among the millennial generation. Christina is the 30th most popular name for millennial girls, with Kristen at 56, Christine following at 81, and Kristin coming in at 88. All of these names are now well off the list of the top 100 baby names for girls.
The name might seem like it’s doomed from here on out, but there is still some hope — at least for the boys. The most popular male version of the name, Christopher, has remained consistently fashionable over the decades. The second most popular baby name for millennial boys, Christopher is still beloved and is firmly lodged in the top 100 names for boys, along with Christian, the 42nd most popular name for millennial boys.
Steven
Two forms of this name were frequently given to baby millennial boys. Steven was more popular, ranking at number 31, with Stephen ranking at 49. Both versions of the name have seen a downward spiral, though, and have been far less frequently used for babies born after the millennial generation. To add insult to injury, the name Steven has become synonymous (at least to millennials) with “nerdy,” thanks to the character Steve Urkel played to comedic perfection by Jaleel White on the hit sitcom Family Matters.
The show wrapped in 1997, but people today still associate the name with the suspender-wearing, geeky boy genius. The show and character might be beloved by millennials, but kids who catch reruns of the show a decade from now probably won’t be too pleased to share a name with the nerdy, fashion-challenged pop culture icon. Who knows, though? With nerd culture on the rise, it’s possible that the name Steven might just see a revival as kids start to fight against the stigma often faced by the academically gifted.
Stephanie
Like its male variations, Steven and Stephen, Stephanie was a name commonly given to millennial babies. Millennial Jodie Sweetin played Stephanie Tanner on one of the most iconic shows of the millennial generation: Full House. The show has since been rebooted for modern audiences, this time with the name Fuller House, but a couple of things have changed since the original show aired from 1987-1995. We now have smartphones, Wi-Fi, and live in a day and age when the name Stephanie just isn’t trendy.
Stephanie was ranked number nine for millennial girls, but hasn’t been in the top 100 names for years. You’d think that the name’s use on Fuller House might help to influence its popularity, but it’s far more likely that kids watching the reboot today will view it as old-fashioned simply because it is borne by an adult character. Sorry Stephanie Tanner; we aren’t trying to be rude, but this is a name parents may regret ten years from now.
Richard
Richard is a name that has had a lot of staying power over the decades. One of the most popular names of the 20th century, the name remained in the top 100 baby names for boys well into the 2000s, before finally falling off the list in 2008. Among millennial boys, it was the 39th most common name.
There are some hints that the once-enduring name is on a steady decline, though. While it remained in the top 100 through the 20th century, it started to slowly lose steam in the 1970s when it fell out of the top 10 baby names for the first time in fifty years. When Monica on the 1990s sitcom Friends began to date a man named Richard — a man old enough to be her father — we should have seen the writing on the wall. Even then, people were starting to associate the name with generations gone by. In another ten years, Richard will likely seem old-fashioned enough to sound like a grandpa name.
Jennifer
There’s a chance that millennial actress Jennifer Lawrence might be famous enough to usher in a comeback of the name Jennifer in the next ten years, but it’s unlikely. This millennial favorite is the fifth most common name among girls born in that generation, but fewer and fewer babies are named Jennifer each year, and the name is now out of the top 100. Give it another ten years and the moniker will likely have fallen even further down the charts, but fortunately it already has a replacement lined up: Genevieve.
Genevieve dates back to medieval times, but the once old-fashioned name has seen a revival in recent years. It has been steadily climbing up the charts and, at this rate, will be a top 100 baby name for girls in the next decade, making it an ideal substitute for Jennifer if you want a trendier name for your little girl. The best part is that you can even use the same nicknames. Jen and Jenny work just as well for Genevieve (although you might want to swap out the “J” for a “G”).
Eric
Ariel might have thought twice about giving up her voice to woo Prince Eric if she knew that his name would one day be just another thingamabob. The name Eric has cycled in and out of fashion over the years, and is currently seeing a dip in popularity — at least in the United States. Ranked 28th among millennials, it’s now out of the top 100 for American babies, although the name remains in the top 100 names for boys in Spain.
It’s not just Eric that has become old-fashioned, but also names with similar sounds. Related names that were popular for millennials but will be hopelessly out of style for the babies of tomorrow include Erica for girls and Derek for boys. For a more modern twist on the name that you won’t regret in ten years, go with Maverick. The name, which means “independent, non-comformist” is on the rise for boys and has entered the top 100 list.
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