Classic Boomer Names That Are Now Rare

As the Baby Boomer generation (born between 1946-1964) grows older, many of their once-popular names are becoming increasingly rare. In fact, certain names are so closely tied to this era that they can immediately reveal someone’s generational identity. Here is a list of 50 iconic Boomer names that are gradually fading away.

How We Determined the List

To determine the most popular baby boomer names that are dying out, we reviewed data on names from the U.S. Social Security Administration. Names were ranked based on the decline in the average number of newborns receiving each name over the period 1946 through 1964 to the period 2010 through 2023. Only names that were given to fewer than one in every 10,000 newborns over the period 2010 through 2023 were considered.

50. Sheila

• Names per capita, 1946-64: 17.6 per 10,000 newborns (131,739 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.3 per 10,000 newborns (1,821 total)

49. Cathy

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -17.5 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 17.6 per 10,000 newborns (131,739 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.1 per 10,000 newborns (583 total)

48. Sherry

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -17.7 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 17.8 per 10,000 newborns (133,296 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.1 per 10,000 newborns (747 total)

47. Willie

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -17.9 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 18.6 per 10,000 newborns (139,595 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.7 per 10,000 newborns (3,858 total)

46. Gail

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -18.3 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 18.4 per 10,000 newborns (137,663 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.0 per 10,000 newborns (242 total)

45. Lynn

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -18.4 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 18.6 per 10,000 newborns (139,705 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.3 per 10,000 newborns (1,433 total)

44. Carl

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -18.5 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 19.5 per 10,000 newborns (146,034 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 1.0 per 10,000 newborns (5,203 total)

43. Kim

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -18.7 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 18.9 per 10,000 newborns (141,274 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.2 per 10,000 newborns (872 total)

42. Dale

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -18.9 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 19.3 per 10,000 newborns (144,821 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.4 per 10,000 newborns (2,148 total)

41. Martha

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -19.0 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 20.0 per 10,000 newborns (149,859 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 1.0 per 10,000 newborns (5,320 total)

40. Peggy

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -19.2 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 19.2 per 10,000 newborns (143,930 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.1 per 10,000 newborns (297 total)

39. Cindy

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -19.3 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 20.0 per 10,000 newborns (149,529 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.7 per 10,000 newborns (3,664 total)

38. Paula

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -19.4 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 20.3 per 10,000 newborns (151,824 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.9 per 10,000 newborns (4,759 total)

37. Joan

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -19.5 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 20.2 per 10,000 newborns (151,685 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.7 per 10,000 newborns (3,943 total)

36. Debbie

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -19.8 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 19.9 per 10,000 newborns (148,940 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.1 per 10,000 newborns (397 total)

35. Gerald

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -20.0 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 20.7 per 10,000 newborns (155,174 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.7 per 10,000 newborns (3,892 total)

34. Wayne

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -20.2 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 21.0 per 10,000 newborns (157,305 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.8 per 10,000 newborns (4,358 total)

33. Ann

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -20.8 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 21.5 per 10,000 newborns (161,014 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.7 per 10,000 newborns (3,637 total)

32. Lori

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -21.3 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 21.7 per 10,000 newborns (162,384 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.3 per 10,000 newborns (1,817 total)

31. Theresa

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -21.6 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 22.1 per 10,000 newborns (165,698 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.5 per 10,000 newborns (2,772 total)

30. Connie

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -21.9 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 22.0 per 10,000 newborns (165,090 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.2 per 10,000 newborns (949 total)

29. Beverly

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -22.5 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 23.0 per 10,000 newborns (171,974 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.4 per 10,000 newborns (2,240 total)

28. Betty

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -26.1 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 26.6 per 10,000 newborns (199,077 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.5 per 10,000 newborns (2,551 total)

27. Denise

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -26.6 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 27.4 per 10,000 newborns (205,042 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.8 per 10,000 newborns (4,134 total)

26. Joyce

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -26.6 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 27.4 per 10,000 newborns (205,578 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.8 per 10,000 newborns (4,254 total)

25. Shirley

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -26.8 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 27.3 per 10,000 newborns (204,214 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.4 per 10,000 newborns (2,264 total)

24. Christine

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -27.1 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 27.9 per 10,000 newborns (209,226 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.9 per 10,000 newborns (4,617 total)

23. Judith

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -27.9 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 28.7 per 10,000 newborns (214,823 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.8 per 10,000 newborns (4,208 total)

22. Judy

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -30.3 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 30.6 per 10,000 newborns (229,275 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.3 per 10,000 newborns (1,870 total)

21. Janice

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -30.5 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 30.9 per 10,000 newborns (231,604 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.4 per 10,000 newborns (2,163 total)

20. Carolyn

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -32.2 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 33.0 per 10,000 newborns (247,138 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.8 per 10,000 newborns (4,386 total)

19. Kathy

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -33.7 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 34.1 per 10,000 newborns (255,132 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.3 per 10,000 newborns (1,669 total)

18. Janet

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -37.8 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 38.3 per 10,000 newborns (286,637 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.4 per 10,000 newborns (2,288 total)

17. Cheryl

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -40.7 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 40.8 per 10,000 newborns (305,748 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.1 per 10,000 newborns (761 total)

16. Terry

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -42.1 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 43.1 per 10,000 newborns (322,626 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.9 per 10,000 newborns (5,089 total)

15. Lisa

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -43.3 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 44.2 per 10,000 newborns (331,140 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.9 per 10,000 newborns (4,626 total)

14. Diane

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -47.0 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 47.2 per 10,000 newborns (353,852 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.3 per 10,000 newborns (1,368 total)

13. Brenda

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -50.2 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 51.1 per 10,000 newborns (382,630 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.9 per 10,000 newborns (4,884 total)

12. Kathleen

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -50.9 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 51.8 per 10,000 newborns (387,962 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.9 per 10,000 newborns (4,794 total)

11. Pamela

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -52.3 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 52.7 per 10,000 newborns (394,755 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.4 per 10,000 newborns (2,346 total)

10. Carol

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -55.9 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 56.2 per 10,000 newborns (421,358 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.3 per 10,000 newborns (1,721 total)

9. Sharon

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -57.6 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 58.3 per 10,000 newborns (436,776 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.7 per 10,000 newborns (3,658 total)

8. Debra

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -59.8 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 59.9 per 10,000 newborns (448,951 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.1 per 10,000 newborns (703 total)

7. Sandra

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -64.9 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 65.8 per 10,000 newborns (492,854 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.9 per 10,000 newborns (4,617 total)

6. Nancy

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -65.6 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 66.6 per 10,000 newborns (498,829 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.9 per 10,000 newborns (5,041 total)

5. Donna

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -65.9 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 66.3 per 10,000 newborns (496,491 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.4 per 10,000 newborns (2,080 total)

4. Deborah

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -77.0 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 77.8 per 10,000 newborns (583,059 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.9 per 10,000 newborns (4,575 total)

3. Barbara

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -83.7 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 84.5 per 10,000 newborns (633,277 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.8 per 10,000 newborns (4,429 total)

2. Susan

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -99.5 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 100.2 per 10,000 newborns (751,008 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.7 per 10,000 newborns (3,967 total)

1. Patricia

• Decline in names per capita, 1946-64 to 2010-23: -104.7 per 10,000 newborns
• Names per capita, 1946-64: 105.5 per 10,000 newborns (790,529 total)
• Names per capita, 2010-23: 0.9 per 10,000 newborns (4,580 total)