Bartholomew is an apostle's name that's been out of favor for centuries but might appeal again to the parent in search of an old but rare choice. The challenge could be to avoid the Simpson-ish nickname. That character, by the way, has the full name of Bartholomew JoJo Simpson, and creator Matt Groening came up with Bart as an--uh oh--anagram for brat. Two old alternate nicknames are Barty and Tolly.

Christopher derived from the Greek Christophoros, which is composed of the elements Christos, referring to Christ, and phero, meaning "to bear."

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.

Everybody knows Huckleberry Finn, the Mark Twain character named, Twain said, for the 19th century slang term for "humble." A few modern parents have put it on a birth certificate, including "Man Vs. Wild" star Bear Grylls, who, like many parents, will call the boy the much more manageable Huck. It was also the name of a child on TV's West Wing,

The Christian name of the dashing Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice— it was his mother's maiden name— is just one of several Fitz names, including Fitzroy, Fitzgerald, Fitzpatrick, that could be used to honor a dad named William, Roy, Gerald or Patrick.

The name of the capital city of ancient Syria, an important centre in early Christianity. Its founder Seleucus I Nictor named it after his father, Antiochus. Antiochus was the name of several early rulers and saints, including the patron saint of Sardinia.

This is a Spanish variation of Maximilian that has begun to gain some popularity. It has a luxurious feel -- maybe it's the suggestion of "millions"? -- but this is one of those Spanish baby names that come with Anglicized nicknames that can make it work across cultures.

Macallister as a first name is attracting new attention as the name chosen by Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and venture capitalist Zack Bogue for their young son. Macallister is usually heard as a patronymic surname, meaning son of Alasdair or Alistair or any one of the spellings of the Scottish form of Alexander. Like all other names of this type, Macallister leads to the cute short form Mac.

This extravagant name of a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher could make for a bold alternative to Alexander.

Unique baby name and poetic Gallic choice. Guillaume Apollinaire was a French poet and novelist active in the early 20th century arts community, who is said to have coined the terms cubism and surrealism. He based his unique surname de plume on his Polish middle name, Apolinary.

Innovative architect, inventor, and thinker Buckminster (universally known as Bucky) Fuller makes this vaguely possible.

Maximillion is an elaborate, extended form of the Latin name Maximilian, itself derived from Maximus, meaning 'greatest.' This masculine name offers a grandiose quality while maintaining aristocratic roots. Relatively uncommon, Maximillion appears occasionally in English-speaking countries as parents seek distinctive alternatives to the more common Max or Maximilian. The name carries associations of abundance and magnitude, literally suggesting 'a million to the max.' Popularized somewhat by notable bearers like fashion designer Maximillion Cooper, the name conveys ambition and expansiveness. While not ranking on most popularity charts, Maximillion appeals to parents desiring a formal, sophisticated name with built-in nickname options like Max or Milo.

One for the truly adventurous baby namers, or perhaps an unexpected middle name to liven up a more traditional first. But on trend short form Bo does make it feel a little more accessible.

This name will forever be associated with the Bard and would likely prove hard to live up to. It might be cool for a pet though.

Meaning "golden flower", this name was borne by a semi-legendary 3rd century saint.

An ancient Welsh name belonging to an early modern king and saint, among others. The Irish cognate, Cathal, is more widely known.

The lively Spanish & Portuguese form of Constantine.

Philopateer is a masculine name of Coptic Egyptian origin, derived from Greek elements 'philo' meaning 'lover of' and 'pater' meaning 'father,' thus signifying 'lover of the father' or 'one who loves the Father (God).' The name has deep religious significance in the Coptic Christian tradition, where it's associated with martyrs and saints. Most notably, Saint Philopateer Mercurius was a 3rd-century Roman soldier who became a Christian martyr and is highly venerated in the Coptic Orthodox Church. The name remains primarily used within the Coptic Christian community in Egypt and its diaspora. While uncommon in Western countries, it carries profound cultural and religious significance for those connected to this tradition. Philopateer conveys devotion, faith, and cultural heritage, making it a meaningful choice for families wishing to honor their Coptic Christian roots.

In Choctaw culture, new names were given after major life events. This would have been bestowed on a man following a hunting achievement.