The most unpopular baby names according to parents
Alexa, Stan and Ollie are among popular baby names being ditched by parents because they don’t fit with the modern world, according to new research.
While fashionable with older mums and dads, two thirds of young parents are rejecting Alexa because it's the same name as Amazon’s digital assistant.
Although it was ranked as the UK’s 21st most popular girl’s name in 2016, digitally-savvy parents don’t want their daughter sharing her name with a tech device.
Other popular names being dropped by millennial mums and dads include Stan - because of the hashtag #Stan which is used online to mean ‘stalker-fan’.
Ollie, the 69th most popular name for a boy, is also falling out of favour because of a bizarre internet phenomena which sees humans eat the American ‘Ollie’ brand dog food.
As a result, three in five young parents say they won’t pick it for their son.
Girls name ‘Felicia’ is being also shunned for baby girls because it is the subject of cruel internet Meme ‘Bye, Felicia’ - with 55 per cent of young parents not considering it for this reason.
The study by parenting site ChannelMum.com found the most common reason for not using a name was if it ‘reminds me of someone I don’t like’.
A whopping 83% of parents reject baby names for this reason, alongside 81% who rule out a moniker which doesn’t fit with their surname.
Seven in 10 have also struck out a name choice after realising it would mean their child’s initials spelled something rude or silly.
But the poll also found other names falling out of use for unusual reasons include Harvey - which is being shunned by 34 per cent on the back of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
And Scarlett for girls is becoming less popular, with 27% of mums and dads preferring the trendier 'Violet'.
SJ Strum, ChannelMum.com baby name expert, said: "Although Alexa was a popular choice a few years ago, the rapid proliferation of Amazon Alexas is killing it off. No one wants a daughter and a device with the same name.
"And this problem will only grow. If Facebook ever launches its rumoured AI personal assistant M, it will end the popularity of Emma, which is shortened to Em.
"And Samantha, Harmony and Solana are all definite no-nos as they're all brands of sex robot. These are problems no parent faced a few years ago."
UNPOPULAR GIRLS' NAMES...
Alexa - The popularity of Amazon Alexa is making this a tricky choice for modern parents. You can’t have a child and a device answering to the same name
Felicia - As ‘Bye, Felicia’ is a millennial insult and internet-breaking Meme
Katie / Cait - Whether it’s Katie Hopkins, the popularity of TV show ‘I Am Cait’ or worries over being a 'copyKate' to Kate Middleton, fewer parents are picking this pretty choice.
Scarlett - Being ditched for the even more on-trend and millennial pink Violet
Lauren - With way too many reality TV star connections, it’s no longer an aspirational choice
UNPOPULAR BOYS' NAMES...
Stan - Hashtag #Stan means ‘stalker fan’ in millennial slang
Ollie - It’s the name of a popular American pet food brand and is now a YouTube internet phenomenon with humans scoffing their dog’s dinners
Christian - Whether it’s Grey or a nod to religion in multi-cultural Britain, the popularity of this name is on the slide
Harvey - Weinstein, say no more
Ryan - Ryan where? This was once of the UK’s most popular names but is plunging in popularity, as parents don’t want their kids linked to a budget airline.
