Rare, Unique, and Unusual Boy Names
- Wulfric
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"wolf power"Description:
Most famous as one of the many middle names of Professor Dumbledore from Harry Potter, Wulfric is an earlier form of the medieval English name Ulric. It has also belonged to an 11th- century Earl of Mercia and a 12th-century saint.
- Hale
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"someone who lives in a hollow; strong and hearty"Description:
This name projects a sense of well-being, as in "hale and hearty", while also having a nature-adjacent meaning, referring to someone who lives near a hollow, a nook, or a remote area of land. Rhyming word hail adds a hint of storminess to the name too.
- Frasier
Origin:
Variation of Fraser, ScottishMeaning:
"strawberry"Description:
Although Fraser is the more common (and original) form of this surname, Frasier is perhaps more familiar in the US thanks to the eponymous sitcom. Kelsey Grammer portrayed psychiatrist Frasier Crane from 1984 to 2004 — first on Cheers and then in his own spinoff series, Frasier.
- Tycho
Origin:
Greek, Dutch, Old NorseMeaning:
"hitting the mark; chance, luck; thunder"Description:
A name with a number of variations including the Danish Tyge, the Swedish Tyko, and the Dutch Tygo, which are popular throughout modern Europe. Tycho was also the name of both a 5th century Greek saint and the Danish astronomer, Tycho Brahe.
- Fennec
Origin:
Animal nameMeaning:
"fox"Description:
The name of an adorably small, big-eared fox native to Africa would make an inspired choice for a little boy -- though confusion with Hunger Games name Finnick is all but certain. Given the rise of animal names and the fashionability of names that start with F among the leading baby name trends, Fennec may find more favor.
- Rembrandt
Origin:
Dutch artist nameDescription:
The name of the most renowned of the Old Masters is a potential option for families who put an emphasis on the creative. Rembrandt Peale was a member of the Peale family of painters, all named for famous artists.
- Howie
Description:
Howie is a masculine name that originated as a diminutive form of Howard, though it's now often used as an independent given name. Howard derives from the Old Norse name Hávarðr, meaning "high or chief guardian." Howie carries a friendly, approachable quality typical of nicknames ending with the -ie suffix. The name reached its peak popularity in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s, aligning with the success of figures like musician Howie Day and television host Howie Mandel. While retaining a certain boyish charm, Howie has declined in usage in recent decades, giving it a distinctive retro quality that might appeal to parents looking for a friendly, unpretentious name with historical roots.
- Whittaker
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"white field"Description:
If you discount the connection to the controversial Whittaker Chambers in the days of the Red Scare, Whittaker is a pleasant enough British surname with the preppyish nickname Whit.
- Zevi
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"gazelle, roebuck"Description:
Zevi is an alternative transcription of the Hebrew name Zvi or Tzvi, the latter of which is a Top 100 pick in Israel. It's a cool, sharp-sounding name which would make for a great distinctive alternative to Levi.
- Shaw
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"dweller by the wood"Description:
With the current taste for last names first, this sounds a lot cooler than Shawn; it also has creative connections to the great Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw, novelist Irwin Shaw, and Big Band Era clarinetist/bandleader and one-time Ava Gardner husband Artie Shaw.
- Wally
Origin:
English, diminutive of Walter or WallaceDescription:
A Leave It to Beaver/old comic-strip name, vacationing for years with the Griswolds in WallyWorld, but now back as WALL-E?
- Brio
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"vivacity, zest"Description:
Musical term with a lot of energy.
- Georgie
Origin:
Diminutive of George, GreekMeaning:
"farmer"Description:
A warm and cuddly nickname name, although he famously "kissed the girls and made them cry" in the old nursery rhyme.
- Celio
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"belonging to heaven"Description:
A welcoming name that seems to say "hello". Celio can be thought of as a much rarer male variation of Celia. With heavenly names in the ascendant, we may be hearing lots more of Celio.
- Roark
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"illustrious and mighty"Description:
This distinguished surname belonged to one of Ireland's great princely families. Its many variations include Rourke (as in actor Mickey), and O'Rourke. The family surname is thought to be one of the oldest in the world, originating in the tenth century, following the death of a young prince named Ruarc. It has literary cred via Howard Roark, the protagonist of Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead.
- Devlin
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"unlucky"Description:
Devlin is an Irish name that's fresher and even more devilish than Devin.The earliest written record of this surname occurs in the thirteenth century, when an O'Devlin was appointed Bishop of Kells in 1211.
- Helix
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"a curve in three-dimensional space"Description:
A scientific word name that would work wonderfully as a given name, given its similarity to Felix.
- Moe
Origin:
English, diminutive of MosesMeaning:
"delivered"Description:
If Gus and Max have made it, why not Moe? Can it be the lingering Three Stooges effect? We think that Moe, like Joe, is one of the friendliest and most open of regular guy nickname names and should get a little more attention.
- Timo
Origin:
Norwegian, Finnish, German, and Dutch variation of TimothyMeaning:
"honoring God"Description:
Popular in its own right in Germany and definitely makes a more intriguing and grownup short form of the classic Timothy than Timmy or even Tim.
- Hughes
Origin:
English, Scottish, Irish surnameMeaning:
"mind, intellect; son of Aodh"Description:
Part of the next generation of preppy H-beginning surnames. Once Harrison, Hudson, and Holden are no longer fresh, expect to hear more little boys being called Hughes, Hutch, and Henderson on the playground.