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 popular boy names of 2020 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 2020, the last year on record.
Uncommon Boy Names to Substitute
Liam → Leland
Noah → Joah
Oliver → Gulliver
Elijah → Uriah
William → Winston
James → Ames
Benjamin → Benedict
Lucas → Lucan
Henry → Harvey
Alexander → Alistair
Mason → Miller
Michael → Makai
Ethan → Eben
Daniel → Dashiell
Jacob → Jaco
Logan → Lorcan
Jackson → Jenson
Levi → Zevi
Sebastian → Augustus
Mateo → Tadeo
Uncommon Boy Names to Substitute
Jack → Mack
Owen → Lowen
Theodore → Isidore
Aiden → Alden
Samuel → Samson
Joseph → Philip
John → Jones
David → Desmond
Wyatt → Wilder
Matthew → Matthias
Luke → Zuko
Asher → Asa
Carter → Carver
Julian → Julius
Grayson → Wilson
Leo → Otto
Jayden → Raiden
Gabriel → Abdiel
Isaac → Zaccai
Lincoln → Ford
Uncommon Boy Names to Substitute
Anthony → Anton
Hudson → Halston
Dylan → Damon
Ezra → Ira
Thomas → Thaddeus
Charles → Charleston
Christopher → Crispin
Jaxon → Maxon
Maverick → Titan
Josiah → Jonas
Isaiah → Isaias
Andrew → Ambrose
Elias → Amias
Joshua → Elisha
Nathan → Lathan
Caleb → Callum
Ryan → Ryland
Adrian → Fabian
Miles → Wells
Eli → Ari
Uncommon Boy Names to Substitute
Nolan → Flynn
Christian → Shepherd
Aaron → Efron
Cameron → Kiernan
Ezekiel → Azriel
Colton → Coleson
Luca → Rafa
Landon → Langston
Hunter → Fletcher
Jonathan → Jotham
Santiago → Santino
Axel → Onyx
Easton → Edison
Cooper → Kiefer
Jeremiah → Jericho
Angel → Noel
Roman → Milan
Connor → Conrad
Jameson → Denison
Robert → Albert
Uncommon Boy Names to Substitute
Greyson → Greyden
Jordan → Riordan
Ian → Eamon
Carson → Callahan
Jaxson → Axton
Leonardo → Leandro
Nicholas → Nikolai
Dominic → Monico
Austin → Autry
Everett → Everest
Brooks → Briggs
Xavier → Zahavi
Kai → Koa
Jose → Rey
Parker → Parson
Adam → Adler
Jace → Case
Wesley → Wiley
Kayden → Keaton
Silas → Cyrus