Baby Names No One Will Use In 2023
One of the most intimidating aspects of the pregnancy and pre-baby period for expecting parents is picking a name. While the prospect of literally pushing a baby out of your body and raising that child is beyond the comprehensible scope of most single humans in their 20s, many of us can identify that choosing a name is a fairly weighted decision. Whatever name you pick will stick to that child for the rest of their lives and will go through quite a lot of iterations, nicknames, and scales of love, hate, and indifference. People who hated their names as kids may have warmed to their moniker with time — others go by a shortened version of their name, are exclusively referred to by their last names, have a cute nickname that utilizes their first and middle initials — whatever the case, a name can provide quite a lot of identity for the person of which it bestowed, and choosing such a label can be a difficult process.
If you're anything like us, you've had a note on your iPhone since 2012 with a running list of baby name options. But for others, picking out a name isn't that simple — attitudes towards once beloved names can change with time, and others might want to meet the kiddo before bestowing a name. Whatever the case, you can be sure that some names won't stand the test of time.
Boy: Clive
To kick off the list of baby names that no one will use in 2023, we're starting with an oldie. Clive is one such name — primarily used for a boy — that won't make it into the new year, and we're pretty sure that we won't see its popularity grow for quite some time.
As noted by The Bump, Clive is a name of British origin that means "cliff" or "slope" — not exactly giving a ton of inspiration for expecting parents. It initially found its way into common use as a last name, given primarily to those who lived by a cliff or a sloping riverbank, The Bump details, and eventually was used as a first name option. Perhaps one of the only more well-known Clive-named people out there is actor Clive Owen, who brought former president Bill Clinton to life in "American Crime Story: Impeachment." With that exception, however, Clive is a bit of a dated name that is declining in popularity.
To confirm our speculations, we went to the Social Security Administration's database to get the 4-1-1 on Clive. The SSA noted that the last time Clive peaked in popularity was back in 1906, when it amounted to 0.008% of male births (still not that popular, as it turns out). The last time Clive popped up on the charts was 1935 and has since tapered off in use. So, take it from us and the SSA — Clive won't be making it to 2023.
Girl: Marjorie
We hate to break it to the Marge Simpson fans among us, but the name Marjorie will be firmly left behind in 2022. Not only has the name gotten a bit dated over time, but it — like many names out there — is colloquially tied to a somewhat controversial politician in Marjorie Taylor Greene (there are plenty more politically rooted names to come, don't you worry). With that said, the name Marjorie for a little girl is going out the window in 2023, so feel free to strike it off your list.
As noted by Nameberry, Marjorie is of Scottish origin and means "pearl." The name has been traced back to medieval times and was frequently used among the royal and nobility classes, but it came back as a roaring 20s favorite. The name has since tapered off with time, only recently hitting the headlines thanks to the aforementioned Greene.
So here's the Social Security Administration's dirt on the name Marjorie. The last time it peaked in popularity was — you may have guessed — 1923, where it accounted for 0.816% of births (a little over 10,000 babies). The last time it hit the charts was in 2017, when it made up about 0.015% of births in the United States — it has since seen a lull in usage, and we can't see Marjorie coming into the new year with us.
Boy: Roger
Here's a stately name that may have piqued your interest in the past but will sadly be kicked to the back-burner in 2023. Roger is a baby boy name that is firmly staying in the 20th century, and of all the names that get a golden ticket to travel into the new year, Roger is not among them.
As noted by Oh Baby Names, the name Roger — of English-speaking origin — came from the root name Rogier, a Frankish name that was popular in the old French world. Its roots can be even further traced back to Germanic times, with its root meaning "spear." When the Normans took over England in 1066, the name came with them and seeped its way into the English-speaking parts of the world. It is, without question, a rather historically rooted name, but sadly won't be making the cut for 2023.
So — you guessed it — let's turn to the Social Security Administration for the Roger lowdown. The last time the name Roger experienced a height of popularity was in 1945, when it made up 0.771% of births in the United States (about 10,500 births). It has since undergone a decline and only made up about 0.021% of births in 2021 (about 385 births total). Now, if this is a family name — or you have an affinity for the late great Roger Moore — by all means, use the name, but Roger certainly won't be trending in the new year.
Girl: Barbara
You can't think of the name Barbara without envisioning the dazzling Barbra Streisand, but she even disliked her birth name of Barbara, changing the spelling as she hit her stride of Hollywood fame (via Yahoo!). If such a legend publicly gives the name a resounding "no," we're here to tell you that Barbara won't be making it to 2023.
As noted by Nameberry, Barbara is of Latin roots and means "foreign woman," not giving a ton of inspiration for expecting parents. It has been publicly tied to high-profile people, such as former first lady Barbara Bush and famed journalist Barbara Walters. While the name certainly has some impressive custodians, these examples show that Barbara enjoyed its popularity a while ago. While it'll likely always be one of the most well-known "B" names for a girl, more modern versions like Bobbie, Bailey, and even Billie are sure to circumvent Barbara in the baby name competition.
Of course, the Social Security Administration gives us the 4-1-1 on all things Barbara. The name peaked in popularity in 1944, when it accounted for a whopping 2.868% of births in the United States (shy of 40,000 little girls). The last time the name was in the charts was 2021, but it only made up 0.016% of births, clearly displaying its dramatic decline.
Boy: Dwight
We hate to break it to the committed fans of "The Office" among us, but the name Dwight is not making it into the new year. While Dwight Schrute surely brought the mid-century name back into pop culture, the bizarre character left little to be desired for much of his time on the hit sitcom (and we're not sure that cousin Mose is a better name option).
As noted by She Knows, Dwight is of Dutch origin and means "blond." There isn't a ton of inspiration to source from here, and we can't help but wonder if the first Dwight was just a little blond kid wandering the hills in a very Maria von Trapp way. Politicians, however, can help revive a once-overlooked name, and the same can be said for Dwight in the form of Dwight D. Eisenhower. The former president — who was in office from 1953 until 1961 — helped bring the name back to life in a way and most likely is to thank for its last peak in popularity.
So, let's turn to the Social Security Administration. The last time that Dwight peaked in usage was — you guessed it — 1953, as it made up about 0.135% of births in the United States. The last time it made it to the charts was 2004, and only accounted for 0.009% of births. We hate to break it to the Schrutes (and the Eisenhowers), but Dwight will not be a 2023 baby name.
Girl: Pauline
While we haven't always given much stock in baby name meaning, the name Pauline should ensure that it lasts another millennium. As noted by Mama Natural, the baby name Pauline is of Greek origin and means "a haven of enjoyable rest." If that doesn't sound like a well-spent afternoon, we don't know what to tell you.
Paula, the first half of the name, translates to "a pause" — -ine, as the last half of the same, is the feminine suffix. So — and we're about to sound like the dad from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" — there you go, Paula, -ine, Pauline. The root of the name and its meaning all sound like a great combination, and its masculine version of Paul is still very much in the works today. So why is Pauline staying in 2022?
The Social Security Administration gives us the answers we're looking for. The last time the name Pauline enjoyed a height of popularity was back in 1915, and even then, it only accounted for about 0.619% of births — about 6,300 baby girls. The last time it even registered on the charts was back in 1997, as it was the name of choice for 0.011% of births — about 200 little girls. With such a decline in usage and percentages so small that the SSA hasn't recorded Pauline for the last 25 years, we're here to tell you that it won't be coming into 2023 with us.
Boy: Leslie
We love gender-neutral names, but if trends are anything to go off of, the name Leslie won't be a popular option in 2023. Of course, many of us can't help but think of the late great Leslie Jordan — who tragically and unexpectedly died in 2022 — so perhaps super fans might bring the name back to the 2023 forefront. But if popular trends and past years are to be used as predictions, the name Leslie won't be on the cards in the new year.
As noted by Nameberry, Leslie is one of the more original gender-neutral names in circulation. It is of Scottish origin and means "garden of holly," making it a rather unexpected holiday name too! It was more often seen as a last name when it entered the name arena, slowly making its way to the first name status. While it remained popular for quite some time — and even gave us Jordan and the ever-beloved Leslie Knope — the name is not trending like it used to.
The Social Security Administration shows us that the last time the name Leslie peaked in use — as a name for a boy — was back in 1902, if you can believe it. It made up about 0.189% of births, which was only about 250 little boys. The last time it even registered on the charts was 1997, when 0.008% of baby boys were given the name — that's only 158 kiddos.
Girl: Tina
We hate to break it to all the Xtina fans out there, but the name Tina will not be a trending baby name in 2023. Sure, Christina Aguilera did bring the name a newfound sense of fame and pop culture presence, but the classic 1970s name is firmly staying in the era of hippies and Vietnam War rallies.
As detailed by Nameberry, the name Tina is of both Greek and English origin and — while it has stood alone as its own moniker — has often been the nickname for Martina or Christina. However — just as politicians bring popular names back into the fold — pop culture icon Tina Turner helped revive the name. It has since enjoyed fame at the hands of Tina Brown and Tina Fey, the latter being one of the funniest ladies on television.
While the name Tina will always be tied to some of the most iconic pop culture figures — such as Tina Turner — the name won't make it in 2023. The Social Security Administration details that the last time Tina enjoyed a pop of fame was in 1972 when it amounted to 0.714% of births in the United States (about 11,500 little girls). But the last time we saw it even hit the charts was 2006, and only 0.014% of births that year utilized the name. In the years since, Tina hasn't even gotten on the SSA's popular baby name list — take that as a sign.
Boy: Elliott
We're fans of the baby boy named Elliott, but according to the trends, it's not going to be a name that'll make it into 2023. It experienced its peak more than three years ago as of publication and has been on a steady decline since, indicating that it's on the down and out.
As noted by The Bump, the name Elliott is of Hebrew origin and means "the Lord is my God." With its roots firmly planted in Biblical references, its root name — Elijah — has been a common choice for many. And while Elliott is a cute baby boy name that certainly should belong on your baby name list if you want it there, more modern iterations have bumped it down on the list. The Bump included that names such as Eli — and even variations like Elyot — are becoming increasingly popular, showing that more present-day versions are desired amongst expecting parents.
For stats on the baby boy name Elliott, we turn to the Social Security Administration for details. The name peaked in 2020 and only enjoyed popularity to the tune of 0.128% of births — about 2,300 births. In the most recent year monitored by the SSA as of publication, Elliott only accounted for 0.122% of all births in the United States. While it's a great name to consider for expecting parents, perhaps a more modern version is the name to pick.
Girl: Kerry
When we think of the name Kerry, one dazzling Kerry Washington comes to mind. The immensely talented, sharp, and dedicated character of Olivia Pope made Washington a household name, and the name Kerry is quite appropriate for a political fixer.
As noted by Nameberry, the name Kerry is based on Irish history and means "dark" or "dark-haired." While Washington — and, of course, Pope — both feature perfectly styled dark hair, the spooky, rich meaning behind the name proves it to be rather appropriate for the drama of Washington, D.C.
We could go on and on about Washington and the famous Kerry, that brought a favorite dramatic character to life, but the actuarial moniker itself may not make it to 2023. As reported by the Social Security Administration, the name Kerry was a popular choice back in the 1970s, peaking in 1971 with a 0.126% use rate — only about 2,200 births. Since then, more modern versions of the name — like Keira, for instance — circumvented the once popular choice, pushing it onto the back burner. The last time the name made it on the charts, which was in 1997, only 0.014% of baby girls were given the name Kerry — that's only 272 children. So while we think Miss Washington is one of the best Kerrys around, she may enjoy standing alone in the name department.
Boy: Pierce
Last — and in this case maybe least — is the baby boy name, Pierce. While 007 may have had a license to kill, Pierce Brosnan may realize fairly soon that his first name isn't as popular as it once was. Don't tell Roger Moore about his first name either — should we send someone to check on Daniel Craig? Perhaps the members of MI6 should be on the lookout.
As noted by She Knows, Pierce is an Anglo-Saxon name that literally translates to "rock." We wish there were a more deeply rooted meaning, but alas, rock is pretty much all you get. The only slight iteration comes from the name's French roots — but unless the meaning "French stone" makes you feel different than "rock," we don't know what to tell you.
So, as you likely guessed by this point, we're turning to the Social Security Administration for answers as to why Pierce is no longer a trendy name that'll make it into 2023. The last time Pierce peaked in popularity (the name, not Brosnan) was in 2013, and it only made up 0.030% of births in the United States — its peak, and it only equated to 608 male births. When Pierce hit the charts in 2021, it had declined — if you can believe it — to 0.031%, about 580 births. So someone make sure the Bonds of the world are okay because Pierce is on the way out.