Best Unique Boy Names: Under 50 Births

  1. Lowell
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "young wolf"
    • Description:

      Lowell is an upstanding and somewhat conservative name that calls to mind the genteel patrician families of nineteenth century New England, such as the one poet Robert Lowell was born into. Two other Lowell-surnamed poets are Amy and James Russell.
  2. Aurelian
    • Origin:

      English form of Aurelius, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "golden one"
    • Description:

      Aurelian is an ancient name gaining contemporary visibility along with many other forms of the Ancient Roman Aurelius, including Aurelia and Aurelio.
  3. Oisin
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little deer"
    • Description:

      Oisin is one of the most popular Irish baby names in its native land, though largely unknown in the US. The original Oisin was the mythological son of Finn McCool and Sadb, the goddess who was changed into a deer. A legendary war hero and poet, Oisin had a name that is also reminiscent in sound of the ocean. Pronounced correctly, this name has an attractive sheen.
  4. Murray
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "settlement by the sea"
    • Description:

      Murray, you may be surprised to discover, is a Scottish surname name --that of an ancient noble clan--with a sea-swept meaning, and just could be in the next wave of reevaluated grandpa names. Currently Number 60 for baby boys born in its native Scotland; it was at its highest in the US in 1922, when it reached Number 208, but has been off the list since 1975. Could it be time for a comeback?
  5. Lark
    • Origin:

      Bird name
    • Description:

      In one recent year there were 60 baby girls in the US named Lark....and only eight baby boys. But there's no reason this bird name can't also be masculine, especially given that Robin is making a comeback for boys and Sparrow is a notable starbaby boy (he's Nicole Richie and Joel Madden's son).
  6. Penn
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "enclosure"
    • Description:

      This simple, elegant name offers something for many kinds of parents, from writers and history buffs to photographers to Pennsylvania dwellers. Most famous bearers are comedian Penn Jillette and Gossip Girl hottie Penn Badgley, both of whom were given this distinctive name at birth. Long obscure, Penn seems destined for greater usage.
  7. Grover
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "one who lives near a grove of trees"
    • Description:

      Forget the furry blue Muppet, forget corpulent President Cleveland (not too difficult), and consider this name anew. We think it's spunky, a little funky, and well worth a second look, similar in style to the likes of Wilder and Ranger, to Sullivan, Chester, and Stanley.
  8. Mika
    • Origin:

      Finnish short form of Mikael
    • Meaning:

      "who is like God"
    • Description:

      This short form of Mikael, a variation of Michael, may originate in Finland but it's most popular in Germany and The Netherlands. Mika can make a cute and original way to honor a Michael in the family, but be prepared for a lot of people pronouncing it with a long i as in Mike.
  9. Galen
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "calm, healer"
    • Description:

      Many will associate this name with Galen of Pergamon, the second-century physician considered to be the founding father of medicine. A more recent reference is Star Wars character Galen Erso. The name still projects a gentle, scholarly image, while sharing sounds with more popular names like Aiden and Nathan. Bonus: it's also an anagram of Angel.
  10. Beauregard
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "beautiful gaze"
    • Description:

      In the past this was seen as a jokey Southern colonel name, but we have heard of some parents considering it as a path to the likeable Beau.
  11. Willow
    • Origin:

      English tree name
    • Meaning:

      "willow tree"
    • Description:

      Fresh and surprising on a boy – and how can you not love the cool classic nickname Will?
  12. Kitto
    • Origin:

      Cornish, diminutive of Christopher, Greek and Latin
    • Meaning:

      "bearer of Christ"
    • Description:

      Kitto updates Dad Name Christopher with a trendy o-ending short form. Use it as an honor name or an original nickname.
  13. Echo
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name
    • Meaning:

      "echo or sound"
    • Description:

      Although this is traditionally seen as a female name, via the classical mythological nymph who pined away for Narcissus until all that remained of her was a disembodied voice — it can also be used for boys. Remember that old song, 'Little sir echo, how do you do?'
  14. Eben
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, diminutive of Ebenezer
    • Meaning:

      "stone of help"
    • Description:

      Though most parents would shy away from Ebenezer, short form Eben is affable and creative and perfectly able to stand alone; nothing Scroogish about it. This also makes a fresh new spin on the very popular Ethan or Evan.
  15. Dacre
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "trickling stream"
    • Description:

      A locational surname with its origins in the North of England, occasionally also used as a first name. Notable bearers include actor Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things) and author and filmmaker Dacre Stoker, the great-grandnephew of Dracula author Bram Stoker.
  16. Miro
    • Origin:

      Slavic
    • Meaning:

      "peace, world"
    • Description:

      Miro comes from the Slavic root word mir meaning "peace, world". Sometimes Miro is used as a diminutive of longer names like Miroslav or Vladimir, but it can also be given as a name in its own right. Miro has a wonderful meaning and fits right in with trendy names Arlo and Milo, as well as being an artistic honor name for Spanish painter and sculptor Joan Miró.
  17. Clancy
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "red-haired warrior"
    • Description:

      Clancy, one of the original crossover Irish surname names, is as energetic and appealing as ever — full of moxie, more distinctive than Casey, and also one of the less obvious of the red-headed names.
  18. Hubert
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "bright, shining intellect"
    • Description:

      A name that sounds so old-fashioned some parents out there might conceivably find it quirky enough for a comeback, along with other one-time fuddie-duddies like Oscar and Homer.
  19. Reeve
    • Origin:

      English occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "bailiff, sheriff, local official"
    • Description:

      Cool and dignified, sophisticated and modern, Reeve might be seen as alternative to long-familiar Reese. A medieval occupational name, a reeve was an English manor officer responsible for overseeing the discharge of feudal obligations; as such, it has been linked to bailiffs and sheriffs.
  20. Corwin
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "heart's friend"
    • Description:

      Corwin is an upstanding surname name that has been seen occasionally as a first in literature, but rarely in real life. But maybe with the recent acceptance of Darwin, that might change.

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