Baby Names That Went Out Of Style In 2026

While many baby names are making a comeback in 2026, from popular '80s-inspired names to old-school names from the '30s and beyond, others are no longer in style this year. Two once-popular girl names that didn't make BabyCenter's top 100 list of baby names of 2026 for the first time in years are Leah and Brooklyn. You could say that Leah is having the same issue as Lisa, in that it feels older now. "Lisa used to be a baby name, now Lisa's HOA president bringing her grandkids candy," baby name consultant Colleen Slagen told People in 2026. It seems new parents are opting for trendier "L" names like Luna and Layla. As for Brooklyn, parents are apparently over place-inspired names. Dallas, London, and Malaysia have all dropped in popularity as well. 

As for boy names that are no longer in style, Ryan and Christian notably left BabyCenter's top 100 list this year. Ryan seems to have a similar problem as Leah, in that it feels more like a millennial or even a Gen X name. Yet it's surprising that Christian didn't make the cut, since other biblical names like Noah and Elijah ranked in the top 5. Baby name trends specialist Rebekah Wahlberg even told HuffPost in 2026, "It doesn't surprise me that many of our timeless names are rooted in ancient cultures or biblical texts." While Christian isn't trending anymore, new names have emerged this year as fashionable instead. 

Some longtime favorite baby names may no longer be in style, but there's a crop of new fashionable baby names that made BabyCenter's top 100 list this year. Magnolia is the only girl name that debuted on the 2026 list, most likely due to its retro appeal, since parents are making vintage baby names feel fresh. As Steph Coffield, baby name advisor for BabyCenter, explained, "The trends this year show parents are ready to dig into the archives with some modern appreciation for the ancient, the vintage, the classic." Milo and Dean, boy names that also debuted on this year's list, have that classic feel as well. Yet, according to BabyCenter, Dean's spike could be attributed to millennial parents re-watching "Gilmore Girls." Unsurprisingly, the names Rory and Lorelei have shot up in popularity too.

Then there are the parents who apparently prefer watching "Yellowstone," because Western baby names are making a major comeback in 2026. Not only does Magnolia sound Western, but the name Stetson also cracked the top 100 baby name list. Similar sounding to Magnolia, Eliana is very in for girls in 2026, having climbed 12 spots on BabyCenter's list in just two years. Names that sound like last names have also risen in popularity in recent years. Archer is one, having made the list for the first time ever this year.  If your dream baby name is out of style in 2026, don't fret, because, as we mentioned, names from the past eventually come back around.