The top baby names of 2019 have been released, and the amount of name content reviewing the data inspired me to write my own series analyzing the brand new stats. Today, I’m reviewing the names on their way down for boys, both those becoming too dated for a modern day child and those that had a big spike in popularity last year but ultimately turned out to be just a fleeting fad that wouldn’t withstand a shift in trends. Whether you’re committed to only choosing a name that will remain evergreen throughout many generations or looking for a name that most likely won’t have an uptick in popularity for a while, here is an in-depth analysis of the plummeting boy names of 2019. To start, we have our most dramatic dropper: Jaxtyn.
The Most Dramatically Dropping Boy Name of the Year: Jaxtyn
Surname turned first name Jackson became a sensation pretty much overnight. Parents adored him for his contemporary feel, but the classic and beloved Jack integrated within a more modern moniker. Jackson soon morphed into Jaxon and Jaxxon for those who preferred the up-to-date Jaxx to classic Jack. This trend soon grew to Jaxtyn, who rose quite high last year as Jackson rose to #17. Unfortunately, although Jackson and many of his variants continue to thrive, Jaxtyn and alternative spelling Jaxton have taken quite the hit. The name didn’t have enough of a foundation to withstand the shift in trends this year, making him the boy name that had the longest drop this year. Being a modern invention name with shallow roots, Jaxtyn got too hot too fast, and went from #774 in 2018 to #1155 this year, a 381 spot drop. However, this may be great news for parents who are doubting Jackson and Jaxon because of popularity reasons, as the plunging Jaxtyn very closely resembles these more popular names but isn’t within the top 1000 any longer. With the nickname Jax and a very current feel, Jaxtyn may still be a good option for some.
The Top Ten Most Dramatic Droppers:
Following Jaxtyn, the second most dramatically dropping boy name of the year is Brysen, an alternative spelling of 2017 favorite Bryson. Brysen dove 248 spots down the charts to slip out of the top 1000 and into obscurity, leaving behind his past spot of #860. While brother name Bryson continues to flourish at #108, his alternate spelling hasn’t fared so well. Brysen fits with the surname name trends, but the primary spelling is succeeding while Brysen falls. The third low-dropper is Chad, which is unsurprising. With the name taking on symbolic meaning as a derogatory term, parents are beginning to reconsider their choice to honor Uncle Chad. Aside from the slang meaning, the name means “battle warrior,” a lovely meaning for a little boy and a grown man alike. Falling from the late 800 range to below the top 1000 in a 229 spot drop, Chad doesn’t seem to be coming back anytime soon, which may or may not be a positive for soon-to-be parents. The next name on the list really threw me for a loop. A nod to beloved musician David Bowie, Bowie has had a long fall this year. A Scottish surname with celebrity use and a contemporary and lively sound, I’m shocked to see him on this list. Although it's fair to point out that Bowie may have a reputation as a dog name, I was convinced that he would have another big leap this year after cracking the top 1000 in 2019 at #983. Further down, the fifth farthest falling boy name of the year is Coen, a sound-alike to the Jewish surname Cohen, but with very different roots and meaning. Coen stems from the Dutch Coenraad, and means “bold advisor.” Coen was quite trendy in 2016, but has been plummeting ever since. This year, he finally reached rock bottom, falling off the US top 1000 altogether after a 219 spot fall from #813.
Imran, an Arabic name meaning “prosperity,” has captured the sixth spot with his unfortunate 211 spot fall from the low 900s to beyond the border of the top 1000. This name is significantly more popular in France, where it places at #60, and in Spain, where it ranks in at #98, so it does have appeal for many parents worldwide. Imran is a stunning name for an expecting couple who wants something rare in the US, but still with universal charm. Beyond Imran is Payton, a unisex name that has shifted in favor of team pink. Because of this, Payton has experienced a nosedive into the depths of the ranks, skipping 202 spots from his previous rank of #909 to land at #1111. This English moniker that is slowly disappearing from the boys’ side of the charts is a beautiful choice for a son, as long as parents don’t mind him possibly sharing his name with girls.
We’re going to have to revisit the Jackson trend for the next name, Jaxen. Jaxen is one of the many infamous spelling variations of the cherished surname style name Jackson, and is one of a few Jackson variants to not hold up as well as the original. Although not completely gone from the top 1000, Jaxen is pretty close, at #984. I predict this particular spelling will continue dropping. The next name, Deshawn, is a modern invention of several trendy sounds. However, Deshawn has appeared pretty consistently in the top 1000 since the 1970s, so it’s a little surprising to see him fall from the top 1000. The name could mean “son of Shawn,” so a nice honor name if you’re looking to bring some elements of a father’s name into your son's name without going the “Jr.” route. The final name that took a fall this year is a respelling of the Irish name Connor, but with a Kardashian twist. Konnor ranked at #903 last year, but completely disappeared from the top 1000 in latest data. I would suggest sticking to the traditional spelling, as Konnor will most likely continue to fall and bring this spelling further away from common knowledge.
Some Fading Trends I’ve Spotted
While looking through the top falling baby names, I noticed a few patterns. For one, more names that are now almost all going to girls are dropping out of the boys’ top 1000, including London, Quinn, Kendall, and Lyric. Respellings of invented names such as Kamdyn and Korbyn aren’t doing well either, and as Kamryn is viewed as a “girl” spelling for the name Cameron, the K___yn spellings aren’t seeming as appropriate for sons. Rayden, Benson, Braylen, and Dalton are also amongst the plummeting names this year, leading me to believe that the -en and -on trends may not be sticking around for much longer. And that concludes my analysis of the top falling names for boys in 2019. If I mentioned any of your favorites, don’t panic! I’m not always right, and a name falling in popularity may be nice if you’re looking for a unique choice.
Sincerely,
~Delphina Moon
Which names surprised you the most? Look out for the other articles in this five part series!
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