Endangered Baby Names

One of the most popular nicknames of the fifties and sixties -- and who could forget the romantic heroine of "Wuthering Heights"? -- now largely ignored in favor of Cate or Kate.

Variant of Marianne or Maryann

Short and to the point, muscular and strong.

Cool a few decades ago, along with Lori and Tori. Currently out of fashion but may make a retro tomboy choice as an offbeat spin on Charlie.

See TRICIA.

Occasionally used as an independent name, but why.

Fast-food chain, no longer a baby.

Shaun might be thought of by some as a more feminine spelling of Sean, but in fact in the most recent year counted there were only six baby girls called Shaun and five called Sean, which makes this a no longer a unisex name by any reckoning. In its heyday in the early 70s, though, Shaun and Shawn were given much more frequently to baby girls. In all spellings, this is one of the rare names that's become more masculine over time.

Prime pert-teenager name in midcentury TV shows, replaced by Maggie.

Short but substantial, Russ does not need the full-form Russell to go on the birth certificate. Russ strikes a nice balance between familiar, friendly, and underused.

Somehow, the S versions are even more passe than the C's.

Part of a group of similar midcentury names rarely given to babies today.

Rob has claimed Bob's turf.

This Corey variation is getting a fresh shot of style juice thanks to young It Girl Cory Kennedy (not to be confused with RFK daughter, filmmaker Rory Kennedy).

Sounding both tomboyish and feminine at the same time, this name is mostly associated with actresses Joely Richardson and Joely Fisher.

A gentle old-fashioned compound name that has never been epidemically popular, but is now almost unused.