Experts have identified a concerning trend regarding the decline of non-Anglo names in the UK, implying a broader loss of linguistic diversity. Despite a 63% rise in births to non-UK-born mothers between 2003 and 2023, non-British names have only increased by 22%, suggesting that many parents choose more familiar Western names. A list of endangered non-Anglo names reveals that several, including names from Arabic and Indian origins, are at risk of extinction as the cultural landscape shifts amidst assimilation pressures and mispronunciations.
'What we're seeing here is different - entire linguistic origins are fading from UK birth records,' Anna Pyshna, spokeswoman for Preply, said.
'This is happening even as more children are being born to non-UK-born mothers, pointing to a deeper loss of language diversity, not just changing trends.
'Assimilation plays a part, but our research shows that mispronunciations and negative reactions also push parents to choose names that feel more familiar.
Analysis also revealed that between 2003 and 2023, births to non-UK-born mothers rose by 63 percent. However, non-British baby names increased by just 22 percent.
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