Parents’ desire to use uncommon boy names is relatively recent. Historically, sons were given family names passed down through generations, but over time, the 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 popular boy names of 2023 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 2023, the last year on record.
Top Boy Names → Uncommon Boy Names
Liam → Leland
Noah → Joah
Oliver → Franklin
James → Ames
Elijah → Uriah
Mateo → Tadeo
Theodore → Isidore
Henry → Harvey
Lucas → Lucian
William → Winston
Benjamin → Benedict
Levi → Levon
Sebastian → Augustus
Jack → Mack
Ezra → Ira
Michael → Russell
Daniel → Dashiell
Leo → Lenny
Owen → Lowen
Samuel → Samson
Top Boy Names → Uncommon Boy Names
Hudson → Halston
Alexander → Alistair
Asher → Asa
Luca → Luan
Ethan → Eben
John → Jay
David → Desmond
Jackson → Jensen
Joseph → Philip
Mason → Miller
Luke → Zeke
Matthew → Matthias
Julian → Julius
Dylan → Damon
Elias → Amias
Jacob → Jaco
Maverick → Titan
Gabriel → Abdiel
Logan → Lorcan
Aiden → Alden
Top Boy Names → Uncommon Boy Names
Thomas → Thaddeus
Isaac → Zaccai
Miles → Wells
Grayson → Granger
Santiago → Santino
Anthony → Anton
Wyatt → Wilder
Carter → Carver
Jayden → Raiden
Ezekiel → Azriel
Caleb → Calder
Cooper → Kiefer
Josiah → Jesiah
Charles → Conrad
Christopher → Crispin
Isaiah → Isaias
Nolan → Flynn
Cameron → Kieran
Nathan → Lathan
Joshua → Elisha
Top Boy Names → Uncommon Boy Names
Kai → Rio
Waylon → Warren
Angel → Noel
Lincoln → Ford
Andrew → Ambrose
Roman → Magnus
Adrian → Fabian
Aaron → Efron
Wesley → Wiley
Ian → Eamon
Thiago → Inigo
Axel → Kenzo
Brooks → Briggs
Bennett → Hewitt
Weston → Dutton
Rowan → Briar
Christian → Shepherd
Theo → Hugo
Beau → Rowe
Eli → Ari
Top Boy Names → Uncommon Boy Names
Silas → Jonas
Jonathan → Jotham
Ryan → Ryland
Leonardo → Leandro
Walker → Warner
Jaxon → Maxon
Micah → Adlai
Everett → Evander
Robert → Albert
Enzo → Elio
Parker → Parson
Jeremiah → Jericho
Jose → Rey
Colton → Coleson
Luka → Rafa
Easton → Edison
Landon → Langston
Jordan → Riordan
Amir → Amil
Gael → Nael
Sophie Kihm
Sophie Kihm has been writing for Nameberry since 2015. She has contributed stories on the top 2020s names, Gen Z names, and cottagecore baby names. Sophie is Nameberry’s resident Name Guru to the Stars, where she suggests names for celebrity babies. She also manages the Nameberry Instagram and Pinterest.
Sophie Kihm's articles on names have run on People, Today, The Huffington Post, and more. She has been quoted as a name expert by The Washington Post, People, The Huffington Post, and more. You can follow her personally on Instagram or Pinterest, or contact her at sophie@nameberry.com. Sophie lives in Chicago.