Updated October 2026
Across 4 pages
of 4
Egyptian
"fertile spot in a desert"
Oasis is an ultra-rare word name that has only ever been used for a handful of babies born in the US. Its appeal is undeniable, though. An oasis can be a place of refuge, or a place of beauty, in an…
English
"divine protection"
Once too tightly tied to the aging musical clan featuring Donny and Marie, Osmond may now be able to escape that association and join the cooler group of Os and Oz names, which include Osgood, Ozias,…
"divine ruler"
Clad in armor. But while this name may have been forbiddingly antiquated not that long ago, the connection to the trendy nickname Os or Oz makes it a real possibility.
"month name"
What is so rare as a month named June? October – and November and December – are a lot rarer. Brisk and substantial, they're so much more memorable and modern than April or May. October got its name…
"from the oak valley"
Rarely used surname, associated with humorous poet Ogden Nash.
Greek
"story of Odysseus; long journey"
Odyssey is a rare and weighty word name — following the footsteps of Hero, Legend, Prosper, and Story. Despite its literal connection to Odysseus, Homer's epic hero, Odyssey has always been slightly…
Variation of Otho
"wealth, fortune"
Possibly created as an elaboration of Otho or Otto, Othello is almost exclusively associated with Shakespeare's 1603 tragedy of the same name. Borne by a Moorish General who is tricked and…
Hebrew
"light of God"
Unisex name in Israel, ideal for a Hanukkah baby.
Norse
"ancestor's relic"
Olaf, though sainted and regal in Norway, is slightly oafish here. It is one of those names that has become completely familiar in the U.S. without ever becoming assimilated. Now that he's a comical…
Esan
"first born of twins"
Strong name from the Esan language of Nigeria, with a satisfyingly specific meaning for a child's place in the family.
Fruit and color name
No babies of any gender were named Orange in the US in the most recent year counted. But that doesn't mean, in this era of anything-goes baby names, that it couldn't happen. In fact, Orange did…
Greek mythology name
"the darkness of the night"
Name of the legendary ancient Greek poet and musician — whose music was so beautiful it made trees dance and rivers stop to listen — would provide a child with a challenging but indelible identity.
Spanish name
"dweller at the sign of the grouse"
Dashing Latin surname name -- but also a well-known brand of Spanish packaged foods.
Aragonese variation of Horatio
"hour, time"
The variation of Horatio used in Aragon, Spain.
Irish surname
To modernize and add some oomph to the dated CASEY, add an O'-and also honor the great Irish playwright Sean.
Latin from Greek
"oath"
Orcus is the Roman equivalent of the Greek Hades, god of the underworld. His name is ultimately derived from the Greek word hórkos , meaning "oath,"
Literary name
Is it a real name....or no?
"descendant of Brian"
The use of O-prefixes could create the next wave of Irish inflected names, offering an innovative way of honoring a relative with a behind the times moniker.
Irish
"son of the courageous one"
Reilly and Riley are hugely popular, but O'Reilly is still an up-and-comer.
Luo; Japanese
"bending or leaning; little beach"
The surname of the 44th US President has been been adopted as a first, for girls as well as boys, by admiring parents around the world. And the O beginning even makes it fashionable. Though Barack…