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Daily Record
Daily Record
Lifestyle
Lisa Hodge

The baby names in danger of becoming extinct in Scotland - with Nicola and Gavin top of the list

A list of popular baby names could be eradicated completely from the UK - with some already down to single figures.

The latest figures show the typical favourites Olivia and Jack of parents - are still the most popular in the country with hundreds of babies given the names every year.

But some of the most popular names of the last century have fallen out of favour, including that of Scotland's First Minister.

Andy Newman's daughter is close to having a baby. Generic picture. (Getty)

According to National Record Scotland, Nicola was the top girls’ name in 1974, and one of the top four girls’ names in every year until 1988. Thereafter, its popularity has plummeted: for example, it was sixth in 1989, 20th in 1994, joint 57th in 1999. 

Nicola was last in the girls’ Top 100 in 2002, when it was joint 80th.

In 2019 only three babies were named Nicola, placing the name at 765th place.

Two couples became locked in "nightmare" legal case when a mum changed her mind about giving her baby up for adoption (Generic photo) (PA)

Other names down to single figures include Michelle, Jacqueline, Joyce, Kimberley, marion and Karen - all of which had just two babies each given the once common monikers.

Some boys names were also down to single figures. Last year just three babies were named Kenneth, one was named Phillip, three named Roy and just six named Gavin.

While Freddie is growing in popularity with 137 given the name in 2019, only two babies in Scotland were named the original version, Frederick the same year.

Popular boys' name David has suffered a similar fate. It was the top boys’ name in every year from 1974 until 1992.

The tot is the child of a single parent who was born a woman but now lives as a man after undergoing surgery (stock photo) (PA)

Since then, its popularity has declined. For example, it was ninth in 1997, 25th in 2002, 24th in 2007, 45th in 2012 and 41st in 2015.

Last year it was down to 57th place with just 101 babies given the name.

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