I haven’t yet got around to Facebook stalking each and every reader but I’m sure most of you have a friend named Gary. Maybe you call him G-Rad, G-Rizzo, Gazza or G-Spot (he’s your mate, not mine) but you’re rather fond of him. Well, if recent findings are to be believed, you should give him a cuddle and hold him close – he is a dying breed.

The popularity of the name Gary has plummeted and is now ranked the 578th most popular baby name in the USA. The year 2013 saw just 442 Yankee Gary babies, as opposed to the 1950’s where there were up to 39 000 in a single year.

Oh, you’re one of those who demands to see everything in graph form. We be having it.

The name has also seen a marked decrease in popularity in the UK, where it has dropped out of the top 100. That list is now dominated by Mohamed, Oliver and Noah. 2013 saw just 28 male babies named Gary in the whole of the UK.

Chin up Gazza, at least your name isn’t Oscar, Jacob or Julius.

[source:metro]