The name of a controversial character in Game of Thrones, Stannis Baratheon. He's better liked by book readers -- who see him as the embodiment of rigorous law and order -- than show watchers. In HBO's version of the story, his character was mostly defined by his disastrous loyalty to the red priestess Melisandre.

In the Top 1,000 since 1996, a less expected alternative to Omar.

Khamari is a modern masculine name with African roots, particularly from Swahili origins. The name can be interpreted to mean 'moon' in some contexts, though interpretations vary. It's gained popularity in the United States since the 2000s as parents have sought distinctive names with cultural connections. Khamari offers a balance of uniqueness and accessibility, featuring melodic sounds with its three syllables and flowing rhythm. Often associated with qualities like strength and spirituality, Khamari represents a contemporary choice that stands out without being difficult to pronounce. The name has shown steady but modest usage, appealing to parents looking for a name that's uncommon while still feeling familiar and warm in tone.

Though it's a new name, sounds almost as dated as GARY and DARREN.

If you're not finding Nemo unusual enough, consider the even more eccentric Emo, which may have been invented by comedian Emo Philips.

This attempt to masculinize Jules has made its way into the Top 1000. We recommend using the more traditional spelling, as this one will likely appear dated in a few years' time.

Ryler is one of those names created by marrying two trending sounds, the Ry beginning as in Riley, Rylen, and the literary Ryle, and the er ending, as in hundreds of boys' names trending over the past several years.

Single-named R&B singer Jaheim could inspire others to pick up on this unusual name.

Reaver sure sounds like an occupational surname, thanks to its -er ending and similarity to names like Reeve, but it is actually a name invented by science fiction writers.

The first documentation of the use of Reaver was in 1988, as the name of a team of cyborgs in a Marvel comic book. More recently, Reaver was used in the TV show Firefly as the name of a group of cannibalistic humans.

Parents wanting to move beyond Jason and Mason, not to mention Taylor, have created Tayson. But like many smoosh baby names, this choice is less than the sum of its parts.

Okay, it's a little bit like Trey, and a little bit like Taylor, but exactly like....trailer?

Parents outside France may not know this name, but it slipped into the French Top 100 after Insta-celebrity couple Jessica and Thibault Garcia gave it to their son in 2019. It helps that it sounds similar to other currently popular French boy names, like Maël, Malo and Milan. Look out for his little sister Leewane's name in the charts in future years.

Author Suzanne Collins created this soft-spoken Peter variation for one of her heroes in her series The Hunger Games.

This modern name boasts a strong sound and a cool-guy image, thanks to its most famous bearer, American musician Pharrell Williams.

We can't believe we're saying this, but we'd even prefer Arnie or Barney.

Top 100 choice in Puerto Rico that is relatively unknown outside of the territory.

Kasyn is a modern masculine name that has emerged in recent decades as part of the trend toward unique spellings and contemporary-sounding names. It likely developed as a variant of Casey or possibly as an alternative spelling of Cason. The name has a strong, succinct sound with its crisp consonants and straightforward pronunciation. While its specific etymological origins are not firmly established, it shares qualities with both Celtic names (like Casey, meaning 'vigilant' or 'alert') and surnames-turned-first-names. Kasyn remains relatively uncommon, appealing to parents seeking a distinctive yet accessible modern name for their sons.

Tyler, with zest.

Samuel Beckett, inspired by the French surname Godeau, created the name Godot for his play, Waiting for Godot.

Americans tend to pronounce Godot with the emphasis on the second syllable, but Beckett has said this is incorrect. The correct pronunciation is GOD-oh, with the first syllable stressed.

A modern invented name, taken directly from the French phrase "J'adore", meaning "I love".