The 8 Baby Names Losing Popularity In 2026

Baby name trends are a funny thing. You can think you have chosen a name that is unique, only to discover four other parents in your child's daycare had the same idea. Or, it can seem like a name is absolutely everywhere one year, and completely gone the next. Baby name popularity ebbs and flows, and often the super-popular names fall off trends lists as suddenly as they appear because they quickly start to feel overdone. However, the 100-year baby name rule ensures they'll all come around again, sooner or later.

If you're wondering what names are on their way out, this list is for you. As we round the corner toward the end of 2026, we're seeing some of the most popular names in recent years trending down and out, according to data from the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Even so, if you are looking for a name that fits well in your child's birth era, but won't require using their last name's initial to distinguish them from the other kids in their kindergarten class with the same name, these names may be the sweet spot. However, if you want to pick a name that is emerging as a trend or is at its peak in popularity, cross these eight names off your list.

The gender-neutral name Ezra had been steadily on the rise since 2020, especially for boys, but it seems to have peaked in popularity. Traditionally a Hebrew name for boys meaning "help" and "strong vision," Ezra, along with its spelling alternative "Ezrah," has been slowing since 2024. For girls, Ezra peaked in popularity in 2022 and 2024, but last year, it fell to its lowest ranking since 2020.

Not surprisingly, Sasha skyrocketed to popularity back in 2009 following the release of Beyoncé's album, "I Am...Sasha Fierce." While it hasn't been nearly as popular since then, Sasha did have another moment in 2021, but 2025 marked its lowest popularity ranking in 25 years. With mixed origins including Russian, Slavic, German, and Greek, we're sure this lovely name that means "helper of mankind" won't stay down for long.

"K" names for boys in general seem to be trending downward — according to the SSA, the top three names that saw the biggest drop in popularity between 2024 and 2025 all start with the letter, including the name Khai. This name had its moment in 2023, but has dropped significantly in popularity since then. The Arabic name that means "crowned" or "royalty" also has Hawaiian roots meaning "sea."

A gender neutral name, Skyler has been falling down the ranks for boys and girls. It has Dutch and English origins that mean both "sky" and "scholar," so it's no wonder it has been a popular name for decades. It saw a spike in popularity for girls around 2015, but has been on a steady downward trend for boys. It's now at its lowest ranking since 2000 for either gender.

It seems that no matter the spelling, the name Landon is out. All three spelling variations are on the SSA's list of boys' names that have decreased in popularity since 2024. A British name meaning "long hill," Landon is by far the most popular spelling. It's also held strong and steady for the past 20 years and has only trended slightly downward since 2020. Meanwhile, Landyn and Landen have fallen much more significantly — which may signal spelling variations aren't as in vogue as they once were.

A feminine variation of Gabriel, Gabrielle is a French form of the Hebrew name meaning "mighty woman of God." It was in the top 50 most popular names in 2000, but is currently ranked at 633th, and has experienced the steepest decline over the past five years. If you love this name, Gabriella has been trending much more steadily for over a decade.

As a gender neutral name, Phoenix is following the location-name downward trend. However, its Greek and Latin origins as the creature that rises from ashes certainly transcend the city reference, especially for a baby name. Still, it's at its lowest ranking in 10 years for both boys and girls, and 2024 to 2025 marked one of its steepest drops yet for both genders.

It looks like the name Jaxton has had its moment in the sun. It's a modern and American name that is a trendy variation of Jackson, which means "son of Jack." Since the two are also derivatives of the name John, it can also be tied to its meaning, "God is gracious." The trendy spelling peaked from 2018 to 2020, and has been tumbling down the rankings ever since, dropping over 100 spots since 2023.