Baby names, much like fashion trends, experience cycles of popularity that can change surprisingly quickly. Observing the shifts over just two decades reveals how names once considered modern may now feel outdated or associated with previous generations. Although the annual lists of popular baby names in the U.S. appear relatively stable, examining data spanning several decades highlights dramatic changes in naming preferences.
The Social Security Administration provides extensive data going back more than a century, offering a unique opportunity to explore naming trends over time. Names that topped the charts in 2005, such as Emma, Olivia, and Michael, have maintained their popularity. In contrast, others like Tyler, Alexis, and Alyssa now evoke a distinctly early-2000s atmosphere. The evolution of certain names, including Brandon, illustrates how societal perceptions and cultural connotations can shift unpredictably. This dynamic nature of baby naming underscores how difficult it is to predict which names will endure and which will fade.
1. **Alexis**: Alexis ranked impressively at number 13 among baby names in 2005, reflecting its widespread popularity at the time. However, over the past twenty years, the name has experienced a steep decline, currently positioned at number 449. This significant drop illustrates how quickly naming trends can shift.
While the reasons for Alexis’s decline are not explicitly detailed, Sophie Kihm, editor-in-chief at Nameberry, suggests that associations with similar-sounding names might influence public perception. For instance, the name Alexa, once popular, has taken on new connotations due to Amazon’s voice assistant. Although Alexis is distinct from Alexa, the phonetic similarity could contribute to a perception of the name as dated or linked to that association among new parents.
Twenty years ago, Alexis was a fresh and widely favored choice within the top fifteen. Today, with its position outside the top 400, it has become a far less common selection for newborns. This example highlights the speed with which once-mainstream names can lose their appeal.
2. **Alyssa**: Alyssa was a prominent name in 2005, ranking at number 16 and sharing the Top 20 spotlight with names like Alexis. Over the past twenty years, however, Alyssa’s popularity has declined sharply, now positioned at number 333. This dramatic change underscores the evolving nature of naming trends.
Both Sophie Kihm and broader analyses highlight names such as Tyler, Alexis, and Alyssa as emblematic of trends that now feel distinctly tied to the early 2000s. Abby Sandel, creator of the baby name blog Appellation Mountain, observes that names anticipated to be popular in 2025, including Eleanor, Evelyn, and Hazel, already carry an “old-fashioned” aura, contrasting with early 2000s favorites like Kayla, Taylor, and Destiny. Alyssa clearly belongs to this category of names that once defined a generation but have since lost their peak appeal.
The decline of Alyssa from a Top 20 favorite to outside the Top 300 reflects a broader shift away from the sounds and styles dominant in the early 2000s. Contemporary parents increasingly favor either vintage names or softer-sounding options. Once a popular choice, Alyssa now distinctly signals its era of origin.
3. **Taylor**: Taylor was a popular and stylish choice for girls in 2005, ranking at number 24. The name conveyed a modern and somewhat edgy vibe while remaining broadly accepted. Over the past two decades, Taylor’s popularity has diminished significantly, now positioned at number 261. Although its decline is less steep than some others, it has nonetheless moved far from the mainstream top tier.
Abby Sandel highlights Taylor when comparing names popular in 2005 to the “old-school antiques” favored today. She explains that names like Eleanor, Evelyn, and Hazel, expected to be popular in 2025, would have once seemed like “granny names” compared to Kayla, Taylor, and Destiny. This comparison places Taylor firmly within the early 2000s naming style.
The decline of Taylor reflects a broader pattern in which names closely linked to specific recent generations—such as those chosen by Millennial or Gen X parents—tend to lose favor as those generations age and new parents seek fresher options. Taylor, once a symbol of modern cool, now feels more connected to the generation that made it popular.
4. **Kayla**: Kayla was a highly popular name in 2005, ranking at number 25 and embodying the era’s favored phonetic style. Over the last two decades, however, the name has experienced a significant decline, currently positioned at number 324. This drop reflects a departure from the name’s former Top 30 status.
Sophie Kihm highlights a broader trend involving the decline of girl names featuring a strong initial ‘K’ sound. Names such as Katelyn, Kaitlyn, Katie, Kimberly, Kylie, Kaylee, and Kayla have all dropped by more than 100 ranks. This shift corresponds with a growing preference for names with more prominent vowel sounds, exemplified by contemporary choices like Eleanor, Aurora, and Eliana.
Kayla’s decreasing popularity illustrates a wider movement away from the strong ‘K’ sound that dominated early 2000s naming trends. Today’s parents are favoring names with different phonetic qualities, resulting in names like Kayla falling out of fashion and descending the popularity charts.
5. **Jessica**: Jessica exemplifies a name that enjoyed an exceptionally long period of popularity but has now experienced a significant decline. Although its peak occurred in the 1970s, Jessica remained strong in 2005, ranking at number 27, demonstrating its enduring appeal. Since then, however, the name has fallen sharply and currently stands at number 553, marking a substantial drop even from its 2005 position.
Sophie Kihm identifies Jessica among names that were still in the Top 100 in 2005 but had actually peaked decades earlier, particularly during the 1970s. She refers to names like Jennifer and Michelle, along with Brian and Eric for boys, as “true Gen X names” because they reached their height during that generation’s era. This observation aligns with the fact that Gen X parents were the primary users of these names for their children.
Today, with many Gen X individuals now grandparents, Kihm notes that contemporary parents tend to avoid names associated with older generations, favoring fresher alternatives. Jessica’s fall from number 27 in 2005 to 553 today reflects a gradual decline rather than an abrupt collapse, as newer generations seek names that feel less connected to their parents’ or grandparents’ era.
6. **Kaitlyn**: Kaitlyn exemplifies the trend of early 2000s names featuring strong ‘K’ sounds and specific endings losing popularity. In 2005, Kaitlyn was ranked at number 34, a widely chosen name with a distinctive phonetic style. Today, it has dropped dramatically to number 621, representing a fall of nearly 600 places.
Sophie Kihm identifies Kaitlyn as one of several girl names with a strong ‘K’ sound that have experienced significant declines. She associates this trend with a similar decrease in boy names ending with “-ayden.” Additionally, names such as Kaylee, Kailey, Kayleigh, Kaylie, Kaleigh, Kaley, Kayley, and Kayli have all declined, reflecting a broader move away from this particular naming pattern.
The sharp decline of Kaitlyn from the Top 50 to well outside the Top 600 highlights how certain name sounds can quickly fall out of favor. The combination of the strong ‘K’ sound and the ‘-lyn’ or ‘-it-n’ ending, which felt fresh and modern two decades ago, no longer appeals to today’s parents, who prefer different sounds and styles, as experts have observed.
7. **Megan**: Megan exemplifies the trend of Millennial-favored names experiencing a significant decline. Ranked at number 41 in 2005, it was a widely used and well-regarded name for girls. Since then, its popularity has dropped considerably, now resting at number 694. This represents a substantial fall for a name that was once ubiquitous.
Sophie Kihm identifies Megan as a quintessential “Millennial name” that has declined notably since 2005. She attributes this decrease to oversaturation and the association with older generations. As Millennials have become the current generation of parents, they often avoid names that were popular during their own upbringing when selecting names for their children. Abby Sandel succinctly captures this dynamic, stating, “now Megan is the mom, and she’s naming her baby Florence.”
This observation perfectly summarizes the shift. Megan has transitioned from being a popular choice for newborns to a name associated with the parent generation, which has contributed to its decline in infant naming. Its fall from number 41 to number 694 highlights the significant impact generational perceptions have on naming trends.
Moving from the girl names discussed, attention now turns to boys’ names. The changes among male names over the past two decades are equally notable. The following section explores seven boy names that were extremely popular in 2005 but have since slipped down the rankings according to the latest Social Security Administration data. Prepare to revisit the sounds that defined the early 2000s.
8. **Joshua**: Joshua was a dominant force among boys’ names in 2005, holding a prestigious rank at number three. This name was widely regarded as a classic, favored by parents nationwide and consistently appearing near the top of the popularity charts. For many years, Joshua was nearly ubiquitous, a name heard frequently across the country.
Two decades later, Joshua remains recognizable but has dropped significantly in ranking, currently positioned at number 60. This notable decline illustrates how even the most established favorites are susceptible to evolving parental preferences that favor names with a more contemporary feel.
Although the exact reasons behind Joshua’s decline are not explicitly identified, it reflects broader trends in name popularity which fluctuate due to various influences. Names that were fresh and mainstream in 2005 often begin to feel more characteristic of the parent generation, as noted by experts Sophie Kihm and Abby Sandel. Joshua exemplifies this transition, demonstrating that even the most prominent names eventually recede from their peak.
9. **Andrew**: Andrew was a highly popular name in 2005, ranking firmly at number six. It carried the appeal of a modern classic—strong, approachable, and widely favored by parents across the country. Two decades ago, Andrew comfortably held its place among the top ten boys’ names, resonating with families welcoming children into the new millennium.
Similar to Joshua, Andrew has experienced a notable decline in popularity, currently ranked at number 65. While the name remains familiar and recognizable, it no longer commands the top-tier status it once enjoyed when the generation of Andrews was just beginning school.
This shift illustrates how names closely tied to recent generations can lose appeal as new parents seek choices that feel distinct from their own. Although not explicitly labeled as a “Millennial name,” Andrew’s peak during this era may contribute to perceptions of it being less fresh among today’s parents. Abby Sandel highlights how names favored twenty years ago can feel dated compared to current favorites once described as “old-school antiques.” Andrew exemplifies this movement away from early 2000s naming trends.
10. **Tyler**: Tyler was a standout name in 2005, ranking at number 16. It embodied the early 2000s style—modern, cool, slightly edgy, and widely embraced nationwide. The name was ubiquitous in schools and playgrounds, capturing the essence of that era. However, Tyler has since dropped sharply in popularity, falling to number 177 and moving well outside the top 100 where it once comfortably belonged.
Both the article’s introduction and Abby Sandel emphasize Tyler as a name that clearly evokes the early 2000s, illustrating how quickly naming preferences can change. Sandel groups Tyler with names such as Brandon, Gavin, Justin, Kevin, Ethan, Ryan, Nathan, Logan, Dylan, Austin, and Evan, noting they “came to define the default sound for a 21st-century boy’s name.” A common thread among many of these names is their strong two-syllable structure with an ‘-n’ ending.
Although names ending in ‘-n’ have not disappeared entirely, Sandel observes a clear shift toward softer, more flowing names like Liam, Julian, and Sebastian, which have surged in popularity in recent years. Tyler’s notable decline exemplifies how phonetic trends influence the rise and fall of names as tastes evolve and new sounds become favored.
11. **Brandon**: Brandon was a popular choice in 2005, ranking at number 27. Its familiar sound and contemporary feel made it a mainstream favorite among many parents at the time. However, the article’s introduction raises an intriguing question about how the perception of the name Brandon may have changed over time, suggesting factors beyond general trends might have influenced its decline. Currently, Brandon has slipped to number 219, marking a significant drop.
Sophie Kihm, editor-in-chief at Nameberry, explicitly identifies Brandon as a “Millennial name,” indicating it gained popularity during the generation that is now becoming parents. She attributes the decline of names like Brandon to “oversaturation and feeling tied to older generations.” This observation aligns with the broader pattern of parents avoiding names closely associated with their own peer group or older siblings in favor of fresher options.
Adding further context, Abby Sandel categorizes Brandon alongside names such as Tyler, Gavin, Justin, and Kevin, which “came to define the default sound for a 21st-century boy’s name” due to their two-syllable structure and prominent ‘-n’ ending. Therefore, Brandon’s decline likely results from its strong association with the Millennial generation and its membership in a dominant phonetic trend that has since lost favor, as newer styles with different sounds, like vowel endings, have become more popular for boys.
12. **Kevin**: Kevin ranked at number 33 in 2005, a comfortably popular and approachable name for boys. It was widely heard and felt both classic and friendly. However, over the past two decades, its popularity has declined significantly, dropping to number 186 according to the latest Social Security Administration data. This shift places Kevin well outside the Top 100, marking a notable change from its position among the top names twenty years ago.
Sophie Kihm identifies Kevin as another clear example of a “Millennial name” experiencing a considerable decline since 2005. She attributes this trend to “oversaturation and feeling tied to older generations.” This dynamic reflects a common tendency among parents to select names that feel distinct from those of their own generation, leaving names like Kevin associated with older cohorts and less appealing for newborns.
Abby Sandel also groups Kevin with names such as Brandon, Gavin, Justin, Tyler, and Evan, which she describes as embodying the dominant “default sound for a 21st-century boy’s name,” characterized by a two-syllable structure and an ‘-n’ ending. Sophie Kihm contrasts these traditional Irish names with newer choices like Nolan and Rowan, signaling a shift even within ethnic or traditional categories. Kevin’s decline appears to result from both changing sound preferences and its strong generational association, rendering it less relevant to current naming trends.
13. **Justin**: Justin was a Top 40 staple in 2005, ranking at number 36. It had long been a popular choice, projecting a cool yet approachable vibe that made it familiar and well-liked across various social circles. However, Justin’s ranking has declined significantly, now sitting at number 185. This shift marks a clear movement away from its previous mainstream popularity among newborns.
Abby Sandel includes Justin among names such as Brandon, Gavin, Kevin, Tyler, and Evan, which collectively defined the “default sound for a 21st-century boy’s name.” These names share a two-syllable structure and a prominent ‘-n’ ending, traits that were highly favored two decades ago. As tastes have evolved, names strongly linked to this style have experienced declines in popularity.
Although Justin is not explicitly labeled as a “Millennial name” like Brandon or Kevin, it fits the broader pattern of names popular during the Millennial generation’s peak naming years. Parents today tend to avoid names that feel tied to their own cohort, opting instead for softer, more flowing names or those ending in vowels. Abby Sandel’s insights highlight this current shift in preferences, reflected in Justin’s drop from number 36 to 185.
14. **Evan**: Evan held a comfortable position in 2005, ranking at number 39. Its gentle sound made it a popular choice for parents who wanted a name that was familiar without being overly common. Although its decline is less steep than some higher-ranked names, Evan has still dropped significantly to number 137, placing it outside the Top 100.
Abby Sandel groups Evan with names such as Ethan, Ryan, Nathan, Logan, Dylan, and Austin, which collectively defined the “default sound for a 21st-century boy’s name.” This sound is characterized by a two-syllable structure and a prominent ‘-n’ ending, a phonetic trend that dominated the charts two decades ago. This widespread pattern shaped the identity of an entire generation of boys’ names.
While Evan’s decline is more moderate compared to others, it still reflects a clear move away from this once-dominant sound. According to Sandel’s observations, contemporary parents increasingly favor names ending in vowels, such as Elijah, Luca, Theo, and Kai. This trend, which was emerging around 2005, has accelerated significantly in recent years. Evan’s slide down the rankings exemplifies the ongoing evolution of phonetic preferences in baby names and the natural ebb and flow of popularity.
There you have it — fourteen names, seven for girls and seven for boys, that topped the popularity charts in 2005 but have experienced a significant decline over the past two decades. The rapid shifts in baby naming trends are truly fascinating. The decline of names featuring distinctive sounds, such as the strong “K” for girls and the dominant two-syllable, ‘-n’ ending for boys, illustrates how names can become strongly associated with specific generations like Millennials and Gen X. Consequently, the naming styles of 2005 now feel like a distinct era.
Current trends reveal a clear movement toward different phonetic styles, older vintage names, softer sounds, vowel endings, and an increase in gender-neutral options, mirroring broader cultural changes. Sophie Kihm highlights this growing acceptance of names like Parker, Charlie, and River across genders, a notable shift from the naming conventions of 2005. Whether any of these names will experience a surprising resurgence in the next twenty years remains to be seen. Time and the preferences of future parents will determine the next chapter in this ever-evolving cycle. This ongoing evolution makes observing naming trends year after year and decade after decade an engaging and insightful journey. Perhaps your favorite name from this list is destined for a revival.
