Classic 1990s baby names have fallen dramatically out of fashion, experts have warned.
The trend is particularly acute among girls’ names, with baby Courtneys, Shannons and Danielles now vanishingly rare.
Experts from baby brand Nuby analysed the Office for National Statistics' list of the most popular baby names in Britain, which has been published each year since 1996, to find out what the most popular baby names were in the 1990s, and how far they've fallen in 25 years.
They found that Courtney had the biggest fall out of the girls’ names analysed, dropping 2261 places from its highest 90s ranking of 17th in 1998 to 2278th in 2025. Shannon fell from 11th place in 1996 to 2138th, while Danielle dropped from 20th in 1996 to 1454th. Lauren, which was once a top five name in the 90s, fell from 5th in 1996 to 1166th in 2025.
Top 10 1990s girls' names with the biggest fall in popularity
| Position | Name | Highest rank 1996-1999 | 2025 rank | Places fallen |
| 1 | Courtney | 17 | 2278 | 2261 |
| 2 | Shannon | 11 | 2138 | 2127 |
| 3 | Danielle | 20 | 1454 | 1434 |
| 4 | Lauren | 5 | 1166 | 1161 |
| 5 | Megan | 3 | 816 | 813 |
| 6 | Jade | 19 | 747 | 728 |
| 7 | Katie | 12 | 650 | 638 |
| 8 | Bethany | 11 | 585 | 574 |
| 9 | Rebecca | 8 | 413 | 405 |
| 10 | Amy | 9 | 366 | 357 |
The most popular girls' name overall in 1996 was Sophie, which was ranked 63rd in 2025. The most popular girls' name in 2025 was Olivia, which was ranked 24th in 1996.
Among boys' names, Connor had fallen the most places, from 11th in 1998 to 299th in 2025. Callum, once ranked 8th in 1998, fell to 251st, while Jordan dropped from 10th in both 1997 and 1998 to 248th in 2025.
Top 10 1990s' boys' names with the biggest fall in popularity
| Position | Name | Highest rank 1996-1999 | 2025 rank | Places fallen |
| 1 | Connor | 11 | 299 | 288 |
| 2 | Callum | 8 | 251 | 243 |
| 3 | Jordan | 10 | 248 | 238 |
| 4 | Lewis | 13 | 231 | 218 |
| 5 | Jake | 18 | 235 | 217 |
| 6 | Matthew | 6 | 153 | 147 |
| 7 | Ryan | 7 | 135 | 128 |
| 8 | Luke | 11 | 131 | 120 |
| 9 | Daniel | 2 | 62 | 60 |
| 10 | Samuel | 7 | 66 | 59 |
With 1990s fashion trends such as halterneck tops and bandanas making a comeback in recent times, James Russell-Watson, head of marketing at Nuby, suggested that 1990s baby names could return as well.
"For parents-to-be expecting a 2026 or 2027 baby, who want a name that no other children in the class will have, choosing a name like Lauren, Courtney or Shannon could be a way to give a classic 90s name a new lease of life," he said.
