Classic British baby names such as Freda, Cecil and Maurice are at risk of dying out entirely, as new research shows that almost no parents are now choosing them. A study by name label manufacturer mynametags.com examined Office for National Statistics (ONS) data from the last 120 years to identify traditional names that have not made a comeback.
The most striking example is Cecil, once a staple among boys in the early-to-mid 20th century, which became officially extinct in 2024. Similarly, Leigh, a unique spelling of Lee meaning 'meadow' or 'delicate', was registered only three times in 2024, while Maurice, a top 100 name from 1904 to 1954, saw just eight registrations. Freda, meaning 'peaceful ruler' and consistently popular from 1904 to 1934, was given to only seven babies in 2024.
Other names on the list include Rosina, meaning 'little rose', which now accounts for just 0.002% of births, and Bessie, registered 17 times in 2024. Millicent, a retro alternative to Amelia, was given to 42 babies compared with 2,448 Amelias, while Claude, with roots to historical nobleness, is now almost entirely extinct at 0.001% of births. Winifred, meaning 'blessed peacemaker', and Percy, meaning 'pierce the valley', have also become scarce.
Lars B. Andersen, Managing Director at mynametags.com, said: “We’ve been supporting parents in the UK for over 20 years, and have observed first-hand that baby name trends tend to be cyclical in nature. In recent years, we’ve seen the resurgence of many vintage names, such as Florence and Arthur. This got us thinking about the historic names that haven’t experienced a comeback, which set us on our path to discovering the beautiful, traditional names that risk becoming lost in time.”
The research comes as ONS data shows Athena and Yahya entering the top 100 registered names in England and Wales for the first time. Muhammad topped the boys’ list for a second year, followed by Noah and Oliver, while Olivia and Amelia remained the top two girls’ names, with Lily replacing Isla in third place.
