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Extinct Baby Names

If you're hoping to find a list of wonderful extinct baby names ready for revival, keep looking. What we have here are extinct names that were commonly used for babies a century ago, but today have faded from use for reasons that may be obvious.

Perhaps it was not difficult to be named Nimrod or Elmo in 1920, but those names would be difficult for any child to carry today. Some of these baby names have gone extinct because of changes in slang, some because of changes in values or unpleasant associations.

Whatever the reason, many of these extinct baby names should probably stay extinct. Read the list for a laugh -- did people really do that?!? -- but if you're looking for a lovely antique baby name, keep looking.

For even more choices, see our blog on Extinct Names.

Wilt

Meaning: place by a stream

Origin:Diminutive of Wilton, English
6827
Rube The name Rube is of the Hebrew origin. The m...
Origin:Hebrew
7012
Friend The definition of the term friend has stayed...
Origin:Word name
10077
Mayo

Meaning: yew-tree plain

Origin:Irish place-name
5206
Origin:English
8612
Barber

Meaning: beard

Origin:French occupational name
8788
Plummer Plummer is a locational name after a minor p...
Origin:English occupational name
9002
Beryl

Meaning: sea-green jewel

Origin:Greek
1174
Gilda

Meaning: covered with gold

Origin:English
2149
Adolf

Meaning: noble wolf

Origin:German
494
Buford

Meaning: beautiful fort

Origin:English variation of Beaufort, French
3007
Origin:Spelling variation of Gail
7402
Origin:Nature name
1649
Dory

Meaning: gift of God

Origin:French
5884
Hortense

Meaning: of the garden

Origin:Latin
1535
Nicki

Meaning: people of victory

Origin:Diminutive of Nicola, Nicole, Nicolette
1844
Nance Nance is a name mostly for baby girls. The n...
Origin:Hebrew
8686
Orange Orange is a very odd and unconventional name...
Origin:American
8982
Helga

Meaning: holy, blessed

Origin:Scandinavian
1495
Adolph

Meaning: noble wolf

Origin:German
2245