UK parents ditch American baby name trend as Tiger and Buddy drop in popularity

15 February 2024 , 10:28

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The name Tiger is commonly associated with the famous golfer - but it is falling out of favour with Brits

Despite the UK's obsession with the old-money aesthetic and Hollywood glamour, Brits are turning their back on American names.

In the early noughties, you will have found nursery registers filling up with baby names influenced by stars from across the pond. Orlando? Here. Arnold? He's gone to the loo miss, but he'll be back.

However, data from BabyCentre, shared exclusively with the Mirror ,show the US' influence is weaning fast. The parenting site has analysed the names which saw the biggest dip in ranking from 2022 to 2023 - and it's bad news for names you'd expect to be greeted by when shopping at Hollister.

When you hear the name Buddy (depending on your age) you'll probably instantly think of the American musician who rose to fame for hits like That'll Be The Day and Peggy Sue. The star sadly died in a celeb-filled plane crash back in 1959 - but his legacy lived on.

In 2016, BabyCentre says there were 385 newborns with the name Buddy per million babies - and in 2010 TV chef Jamie Oliver welcomed his son, Buddy Oliver, into the world. But in 2023, there were only 31 babies per million with the name. It's a similar story for the name Tiger - no doubt associated with the golfing champ Tiger Woods.

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In 2004, when Woods had an eponymously named PlayStation game released, there was a huge spike in babies named Tiger (403 per million). Now, that figure stands at just 31 per million.

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Experts say Keanu, Leroy, and Nelson have also fallen out of favour with Brits over recent years. Similarly, the name Preston has been 'teetering on the edge of extinction for the past decade' - unless there's a sudden boom in interest.

“These names might have fallen out of popularity, but they could be the perfect choice for your new arrival if you want a unique baby name," said BabyCentre's Chief Marketing Officer, Faye Mingo. "Though these names are familiar, they're likely to be the only child in their class with the name!"

Here is a full list of names which are declining in popularity, and therefore at risk of being extinct in 2024.

What do you think of the American name trend? Let us know in the comments section below

Liam Gilliver