A pub landlord has vowed to save Britain from running out of Nigels after it was revealed the name was going extinct.
The latest Office for National Statistics data has shown that no boys were called Nigel in 2020 , and that the name may be going extinct.
In response, pub landlord Nigel Smith has vowed to throw the world’s biggest ‘Nige-fest’ to help save the name.
Nigel came up with the idea after the new data was released, in a desperate effort to save the name from the annals of history.
The 58-year-old is inviting Nigels from across the world for a celebration that would see prizes given for parents who name their children Nigel.
Nigel has promised a free pint for every Nigel who can provide ID as well.
The call to arms of Nigels everywhere emerged after the new data showed that there were no new Nigels last year.
However, if anyone were to stop this trend, it would be Nigel, who runs the Fleece Inn in Bretforton.
He currently holds the world record for the largest gathering of Nigels when 432 Nigels joined him for a pint in 2019.
Every attendee brought photo ID and signed ‘The Book of Nigel’ to allow the Guiness Book of Records to verify their achievement.
Now he wants to smash his own record and is planning a weekend Nige-fest at his pub next year.
Nigel said: "It started as a laugh to get Nigels together.
"There were no Nigels registered in 2016 so I thought it would be a good idea to get us all together.
"When I found out no new Nigels were born in 2020 I got worried and was determined to celebrate the name before it dies out.
"We've sent the word out across the world to get as many Nigels here as we possibly can.
"They'll be prizes for anyone who has named their child Nigel and for any expectant mums who promise to name their sons Nigel too.
"In the year I was born, 1963, there were over 5,000 Nigels born. It was peak Nigel.
"It was so ubiquitous and it became much-maligned. At school I used to have the mickey taken out of me. I've got two children and neither are called Nigel.
"I think names are cyclical and it's gone out of fashion. A lot of people don't like the name but I think we can make it popular again."
Nigel, who runs the pub with partner Tash, 42, believes one of the reasons the name has become so unpopular is down to ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage.
He added: "I think we can get the name back in vogue again. When we held the Nigel record attempt in 2019 we had a Nigel come all the way over from Texas.
"We're hoping to smash the record next year. All our rooms are booked for the weekend and we hope to get over 1,000 Nigels here."
