The baby names 'at risk of extinction in the UK'

Looking for a name that won’t be common in the classroom? Pick one of these

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Are you an Arnold, Carl or Bonny? Well, you could be among a rapidly diminishing number after research suggested the monikers were at risk of becoming extinct.

If you’re expecting a new arrival any time soon, you’ll know the pressures of choosing the perfect name for your baby all too well.

But, while it might be tempting to call your child something obscure like Seven or Apple in a bid to be original, you might be better off resorting back to more conventional names that appear to be falling out of favour.

Tracking name data from its database, online parenting resource Bounty has compiled a list of 20 once-popular names that look set to disappear altogether in 2018.

They say names like Arnold, Carl, Bridie, Bonny, Cecily and Cecelia are among those set to become extinct alongside Leroy, Guy, Roxanne and Mimi.

Meanwhile, the first name of Home Alone child star Macauley Culkin, which inspired lots of parents during the early 1990s, has fallen in the ranks, as has Kourtney, despite the popularity of reality TV family Kardashians.

Other boys names such as Jago, Fabio, Soren, Ivor and Marcos are also heading for extinction alongside Aurbie, Mika and Alora for girls.

These aren’t the only monikers expected to disappear in the next few years though.

According to parenting website BabyCentre, Harvey has become one of the most unpopular names of 2018 in the wake of the sexual assault scandal surrounding producer Harvey Weinstein.

The organisation reports that the boys name has fallen in popularity by 30 per cent so far this year and could be set to disappear from the top 100 completely.

On the flipside, BabyCentre also revealed the most popular names of 2018 so far.

Topping the girl’s chart, Olivia kept hold of the coveted number one spot for the fourth year running, followed by Sophia, Amelia, Lily, Emily, Ava, Isla, Aria, Mia and Isabella.

Meanwhile, Muhammed remains at the top for boys, with Oliver, Noah, George, Harry, Leo, Charlie, Jack, Freddie and Alfie also making it into the top 10.