Only eight babies were given one of the most popular names of the 70s and 80s this year
Some of the most popular dad names in England and Wales at one point could be at risk of dying out altogether. Two names that were among the 30 most popular for newborn boys in 1974 and 1984 have seen a drastic downfall.
Craigs and Garys are old enough to have kids of their own this Father’s Day. Sadly, it seems the most popular boy names from decades ago haven’t been passed on to their sons.
There were only eight babies given the name Gary over the whole of 2023, and just nine were called Craig, according to the latest official government figures.
That ranks them amongst the least popular names for newborn boys in the country, knocking them down from 28th and 30th place in 1974 to 2,306th and 2,520th place of the rankings respectively.
Not all of the most popular boys’ names of 1974 are falling out of favour. James was ranked 7th back then and was still in 35th place in 2023, with a total of 1,430 newborn boys given the name. It’s the smallest drop in rank of any of the top 30 boys names of 1974.
Daniel, meanwhile, has fallen just 44 places from 16th to 60th, with 900 boys being given the name in 2023. David has fallen 62 places from 3rd to 65th, and Michael has fallen 79 places from 9th to 88th. The top boys’ name of 1974, Paul, however, has fallen to 464th in the rankings, with 86 newborn boys given the name.
Jumping forward to 1984 and Craig and Gary were still some of the most popular boy names, ranking 19th and 26th respectively. Thomas was ranked 11th and was still in 19th place in 2023, with a total of 1,855 newborn boys given the name.
Alexander, meanwhile, has fallen just nine places from 25th to 34th, with 1,456 boys being given the name in 2023. Adam has fallen 29 places from 12th to 41st, and James has fallen 33 places from 2nd to 35th.
The top boys’ name of 1984, Christopher, however, has fallen to 187th in the rankings, with 269 newborn boys given the name. are the least popular ‘Dad names’ in England and Wales and could be at risk of dying out altogether.
The two names were amongst the 25 most popular for newborn boys in 1984, ranking 19th and 26th respectively.
The top 25 most popular boys’ names of 1974 and how unpopular they are now
1. Paul: fallen 463 places
2. Mark: fallen 264 places
3. David: fallen 62 places
4. Andrew: fallen 290 places
5. Richard: fallen 406 places
6. Christopher: fallen 181 places
7. James: fallen 28 places
8. Simon: fallen 411 places
9. Michael: fallen 79 places
10. Matthew: fallen 127 places
11. Stephen: fallen 654 places
12. Lee: fallen 1127 places
13. John: fallen 145 places
14. Robert: fallen 133 places
15. Darren: fallen 1257 places
16. Daniel: fallen 44 places
17. Steven: fallen 797 places
18. Jason: fallen 156 places
19. Nicholas: fallen 182 places
20. Jonathan: fallen 238 places
21. Ian: fallen 540 places
22. Neil: fallen 907 places
23. Peter: fallen 227 places
24. Stuart: fallen 1,983 places
25. Anthony: fallen 159 places
26. Martin: fallen 275 places
27. Kevin: fallen 183 places
28. Craig: fallen 2,297 places
29. Philip: fallen 410 places
30. Gary: fallen 2,516 places
The top 25 most popular boys’ names of 1984 (and how unpopular they are now)
1. Christopher – fallen 186 places
2. James – fallen 33 places
3. David – fallen 62 places
4. Daniel – fallen 56 places
5. Michael – fallen 83 places
6. Matthew – fallen 131 places
7. Andrew – fallen 287 places
8. Richard – fallen 403 places
9. Paul – fallen 455 places
10. Mark – fallen 256 places
11. Thomas – fallen 8 places
12. Adam – fallen 29 places
13. Robert – fallen 134 places
14. John – fallen 144 places
15. Lee – fallen 1124 places
16. Benjamin – fallen 37 places
17. Steven – fallen 797 places
18. Jonathan – fallen 240 places
19. Craig – fallen 2306 places
20. Stephen – fallen 645 places
21. Simon – fallen 398 places
22. Nicholas – fallen 179 places
23. Peter – fallen 227 places
24. Anthony – fallen 160 places
25. Alexander – fallen 9 places
