Transforming Top to Uncommon Boy Names
Parents’ desire to use uncommon boy names is relatively recent. Historically, sons were given family names passed down through generations, but over time, the has emphasis has shifted from tradition to distinction. Many modern parents are seeking out boy names that make their sons stand out not only within the family, but among their peers.
It’s more than okay to go ahead and use a Top 100, even Top 10 name if that’s the one you love (you do you!). But if you can’t bear the thought of your son going by Benjamin L. or Maverick P., you might want to search for an uncommon alternative.
We’ve taken the Top 100 boy names of 2019 and matched them with their rarer counterparts. They’re paired based on style, sound, or origin — sometimes all three.
All of the uncommon boy names are below the official US Top 300 and given to fewer than 1000 baby boys in 2019, the last year on record.
Uncommon Boy Names to Substitute
Liam → Leland
Noah → Joah
Oliver → Gulliver
William → Winston
Elijah → Uriah
James → Ames
Benjamin → Benedict
Lucas → Lucian
Mason → Miller
Ethan → Eben
Alexander → Alistair
Henry → Harvey
Jacob → Jaco
Michael → Makai
Daniel → Dashiell
Logan → Lorcan
Jackson → Jenson
Sebastian → Augustus
Jack → Mack
Aiden → Alden
Owen → Lowen
Samuel → Samson
Matthew → Matthias
Joseph → Philip
Levi → Zevi
Mateo → Tadeo
David → Desmond
John → Jones
Wyatt → Wilder
Carter → Carver
Julian → Julius
Luke → Zuko
Grayson → Wilson
Isaac → Zaccai
Jayden → Raiden
Theodore → Isidore
Gabriel → Abdiel
Anthony → Anton
Dylan → Damon
Leo → Otto
Lincoln → Ford
Jaxon → Maxon
Asher → Asa
Christopher → Crispin
Josiah → Jonas
Andrew → Ambrose
Thomas → Thaddeus
Joshua → Elisha
Ezra → Ira
Hudson → Halston
Charles → Charleston
Caleb → Callum
Isaiah → Isaias
Ryan → Ryland
Nathan → Lathan
Adrian → Fabian
Christian → Shepherd
Maverick → Titan
Colton → Coleson
Elias → Amias
Aaron → Efron
Eli → Ari
Landon → Langston
Jonathan → Jotham
Nolan → Flynn
Hunter → Fletcher
Cameron → Kiernan
Connor → Conrad
Santiago → Santino
Jeremiah → Jericho
Ezekiel → Azriel
Angel → Noel
Roman → Milan
Easton → Edison
Miles → Wells
Robert → Stanley
Jameson → Denison
Nicholas → Nikolai
Greyson → Greyden
Cooper → Kiefer
Ian → Eamon
Carson → Callahan
Axel → Onyx
Jaxson → Paxton
Dominic → Monico
Leonardo → Leandro
Luca → Rafa
Austin → Autry
Jordan → Riordan
Adam → Adler
Xavier → Zahavi
Jose → Rey
Jace → Case
Everett → Everest
Declan → Lachlan
Evan → Ever
Kayden → Keaton
Parker → Parson
Wesley → Wiley
Kai → Koa