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Unique Names from History

Sophie Kihm
By Sophie Kihm
Updated Thu Aug 22 2024
Unique Names from History

Unique baby names aren't only the new and the invented; there are also many highly unusual names with deep historic roots. Celebrities have chosen unique historical names such as Hero and Lozen for their children.

Along with Hero and Lozen, other fashionable and unique names from history that would work well on modern babies include Alaric, Cassia, Cato, Eluned, Isolde, Leonidas, Meliora, and Xerxes. Among those with the strongest ties to their historical figures are Cicero, Godiva, Nefertiti, and Siddhartha.

Read more about this topic in our overview on unique names of every kind. Here's a selection of the most intriguing, but you'll find many more in our lists of mythological names, biblical names, and names from ancient cultures.

Names are ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.

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Unique Names

Vintage Names

  1. Aurelius

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "the golden one"

    • Description:

      Since Aurelius was given the supermodel seal of approval by Elle Macpherson, it has joined Augustus as an ancient Roman name that feels usable today. Slightly mystical and magical with a golden hue, Aurelius is grounded by its similarity to rising stars Aurora, Aurelia, and Atticus.
  2. Isolde

    • Origin:

      Welsh, German

    • Meaning:

      "ice ruler"

    • Description:

      Now that Tristan has been rediscovered, maybe it's time for his fabled lover in the Arthurian romances and Wagnerian opera, a beautiful Irish princess, to be brought back into the light as well.
  3. Leif

    • Origin:

      Swedish; Danish; Norwegian

    • Meaning:

      "heir, descendant"

    • Description:

      Leif is one of the most recognizable Scandinavian names, thanks to Icelandic explorer Leif Erikson, and is still one of the best, with a pleasant aural association with the word leaf.
  4. Ivo

    • Origin:

      Germanic, Slavic

    • Meaning:

      "yew wood, archer; God is gracious"

    • Description:

      Succinct, stylish, and catchy, Ivo has the energetic impact of other names ending in -o. It is a multicultural choice with two distinct origins, and, as such, is familiar across a variety of countries, ranging from the Netherlands to Brazil, from Portugal to Czechia.
  5. Cassia

    • Origin:

      Feminine form of Cassius or Greek

    • Meaning:

      "cinnamon"

    • Description:

      Cassia is related to the cassia tree, which has yellow flowers and produces a spice that can be a substitute for cinnamon. Keziah, the name of Job’s daughter in the Old Testament, derives from the name of the plant as well. Cassia also has ties to the Ancient Roman name Cassius, an Ancient Roman family name meaning "hollow."
  6. Alaric

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "all-powerful ruler"

    • Description:

      Alaric is an ancient regal name that sounds modern enough to be considered. Alaric was a traditional name for the kings of the Ostrogoths, the most famous of whom was Alaric I, the King of the West Goths who sacked Rome in 410.
  7. Livia

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Olivia or Latin

    • Meaning:

      "blue, envious"

    • Description:

      Though it sounds like a chopped-off variation of Olivia, which means olive, the distinctively attractive Livia has been an independent name since the days of the ancient Romans, when it belonged to Livia Drusilla—the powerful wife of the Emperor Augustus—and is still commonly heard in modern Italy.
  8. Erasmus

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "beloved, desired"

    • Description:

      Erasmus has long retained the image of the bearded and bespectacled Dutch philosopher, but could be one that the audacious baby namer just might dare to dust off.
  9. Cato

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "all-knowing"

    • Description:

      Cato conjures up images of ancient Roman statesmen and southern antebellum retainers; it could have revival potential, with its 'O' ending and the current interest in the names of Greek and Roman antiquity.
  10. Acacius

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "thorny; or, innocent, not evil"

    • Description:

      Acacius is a Latinized form of the Ancient Greek Akakios and can be interpreted to relate to the same root as the name Acacia, for the thorn bush, or Akakios which means "not evil." With the modern taste for ancient names that end in "us," this obscure but attractive choice may have a chance of new life. Acacius is the name of three early saints.
  11. Alia

    • Origin:

      Arabic feminine form of Ali

    • Meaning:

      "supreme, exalted"

    • Description:

      Alia is the most classic and feminine form of Ali, one of the 99 attributes of Allah within Islam. Meaning "supreme, exalted, high, sublime", it is pretty, powerful and spirited.
  12. Galen

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "calm, healer"

    • Description:

      Many will associate this name with Galen of Pergamon, the second-century physician considered to be the founding father of medicine. A more recent reference is Star Wars character Galen Erso. The name still projects a gentle, scholarly image, while sharing sounds with more popular names like Aiden and Nathan. Bonus: it's also an anagram of Angel.
  13. Xerxes

    • Origin:

      Persian

    • Meaning:

      "hero among heroes"

    • Description:

      The two X's may be a challenge for even the most intrepid baby namer. Xerxes was the name of two early kings of Persia and the Handel opera Serse or Xerxes is loosely based on Xerxes I.
  14. Leonidas

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "lion"

    • Description:

      Leonidas is an ancient name that has started rising again along with centuries-old names such as Augustus and Cato. The original Leonidas was the most famous of Sparta's warriors, sacrificing his life at the Battle of Thermopylae; there is also a saint Leonidas.
  15. Anselm

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "with divine protection"

    • Description:

      A somewhat solemn appellation, Anselm is a saint's name, connected to the twelfth century archbishop of Canterbury, and in modern times tied to the German neo-expressionist painter Anselm Kiefer.
  16. Bathsheba

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "daughter of an oath"

    • Description:

      Popular with the Puritans, this name of the shrewd and beautiful wife of King David and mother of King Solomon could be a bit of a load for a modern girl to carry.
  17. Artemisia

    • Origin:

      Greek, variation of Artemis

    • Description:

      You might think Artemisia is the feminine form of the name, but in fact the original Artemis is feminine too, the name of the Greek mythological goddess of the moon. Artemisia Gentileschi was an esteemed Italian Baroque painter, unusual in an era when not many women were acknowledged. Artemisia is also a genus of plants which include sagebrush and tarragon.
  18. Ambrosia

    • Origin:

      Latin, feminine form of Ambrose

    • Meaning:

      "Immortal"

    • Description:

      Ambrosia combines some of the more whimsical qualities of more popular Aurora and Isabella, with a heavenly meaning.
  19. Pippin

    • Origin:

      Variation of Pepin

    • Meaning:

      "awe-inspiring"

    • Description:

      Super-sweet name that was the title of a Broadway play -- but best known as a type of apple. The Dutch variation is Pepijn is finding some popularity in that country, where short nickname names are stylish.
  20. Constantine

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "steadfast"

    • Description:

      This Roman Emperor's name has long been considered too grand for an American boy. But in this era of children named Augustine and Atticus, it just may be prime for an unlikely comeback.