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Baby Names So Far Out They're In

Pamela Redmond
By Pamela Redmond
Updated Sun Mar 10 2024
Baby Names So Far Out They're In

A list of Names So Far Out They're In was one of the cornerstones of our very first book, Beyond Jennifer & Jason. Way back in 1988, before many of today's new parents were born, we predicted which rare, unique, uncommon, unusual, and sometimes downright weird names would be coming into style in the future.

It may be difficult to believe this now, but so many names in that chapter have become trendy names today. We had a category of boys' names ending in O, for instance, including Otto, Arlo, and Milo. We had a list of Irish Surname Names, like Wylie and Finn.

We also predicted the advent of flower names like Violet and Magnolia, along with serious names -- we called them Baby Men and Women Names -- such as Cora and Hazel, Felix and Gus.

I tell you this in an attempt to persuade you to take the names on this list seriously. The entire Nameberry staff collaborated to pick our favorite names that might sound strange and be highly unusual today, but are destined to trend for decades to come.

If you want a truly rare and uncommon baby name with staying power, consult the choices here. These are our latest batch of names that are so far out they're in, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.

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Unusual Baby Names

Best Unique Baby Names

  1. Eluned

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "idol, image"

    • Description:

      Romantic and mysterious, Eluned's beauty and intelligence were legendary in Welsh legend; she was the handmaiden of the Lady of the Fountain in a Welsh Arthurian romance, who had a magic ring that made the wearer invisible. Pronunciation is usually similar in emphasis to Eleanor, but with ned instead of nor at the end. However, it's sometimes also pronounced el-LIN-ed or even shortened to Luned, the sounce of Lynette, in Tennyson's Gareth and Lynette.
  2. Ralph

    • Origin:

      English from German

    • Meaning:

      "wolf-counsel"

    • Description:

      Ralph has two diametrically different images: there's the suave Ralph Fiennes-type Brit (often pronounced Rafe), and then there's the Jackie Gleason blue-collar, bowling blowhard Ralph Kramden bus driver. It's all in the eye of the beholder, though its hip factor did rise when it was chosen for his son by cool U.K. actor Matthew Macfadyen.
  3. Agnes

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "pure, virginal"

    • Description:

      Agnes is the Latin variation of the name Hagne, which itself derived from the Greek word hagnos, meaning "chaste." In medieval times, St. Agnes was a very popular saint, leading to its popularity as a girl's name. Agnes Grey is the title of one of the two novels written by Anne Brontë.
  4. Harriet

    • Origin:

      English variation of French Henriette

    • Meaning:

      "estate ruler"

    • Description:

      Harriet has long been considered a stylish, upscale name in England, but it's still waiting to be revived in the US—though some parents seeking a solid, serious semi-classic are beginning to consider it.
  5. Winifred

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "blessed peacemaking"

    • Description:

      One of the few remaining unrestored vintage gems, with a choice of two winning nicknames--the girlish Winnie and the tomboyish Freddie. Winifred, the name of a legendary Welsh saint, was a Top 200 name into the mid-1920's.
  6. Victor

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "conqueror"

    • Description:

      Victor is one of the earliest Christian names, borne (as Vittorio) by several saints and popes, symbolizing Christ's victory over death. It has been quietly in the Top 200 since 1880, but just recently has taken on a cool edge by fashionable parents in London and seems ripe for a similar reevaluation here too.
  7. Lavinia

    • Origin:

      Latin, from ancient place name Lavinium

    • Description:

      Lavinia is a charmingly prim and proper Victorian-sounding name which actually dates back to classical mythology, where it was the name of the wife of the Trojan hero Aeneas, who was considered the mother of the Roman people.
  8. Crusoe

    • Origin:

      Literary surname

    • Description:

      Crusoe, as in castaway hero Robinson, is a literary invention by author Daniel Defoe. In the novel, the character says his name is an Anglicization of the German Kreutznaer, which may be a place name or refer to a crossing of the river Nahe. Alternatively, it may translate to "dweller by the cross", from Kreuzbewohner.
  9. Alfred

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "wise counselor; elf counsel"

    • Description:

      Alfred is up off his recliner! If you're looking for a path to Fred, you can go directly to Frederick or take the long way around with the so-out-it's-in-again Alfred. Alfred is quite popular in several European countries, especially England and Wales, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
  10. Florian

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "flowering"

    • Description:

      If Flora and Florence have returned full force, Florian, with its trendy Latinate ending, could also have a chance. Popular in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and France, St Florian was the venerated patron saint of those in danger from water and the patron saint of firefighters.
  11. Isidore

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "gift of Isis"

    • Description:

      Isabel, Theodore, and Isadora are back: could it now be time for a more widespread revival of Isidore? Yet to see any big moves up the charts, Isidore was given to more than 30 boys in a recent year: twice the number it was given to a decade ago.
  12. Cassia

    • Origin:

      Feminine form of Cassius or Greek

    • Meaning:

      "cinnamon"

    • Description:

      Cassia is related to the cassia tree, which has yellow flowers and produces a spice that can be a substitute for cinnamon. Keziah, the name of Job’s daughter in the Old Testament, derives from the name of the plant as well. Cassia also has ties to the Ancient Roman name Cassius, an Ancient Roman family name meaning "hollow."
  13. Xanthe

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "golden, yellow"

    • Description:

      X marks the spot in names these days, usually at the middles or ends of names, but here is one that puts it squarely up front.
  14. Cosima

    • Origin:

      Italian feminine variation of Cosmo, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "order, beauty, universe"

    • Description:

      Cosima, the kind of elegant and unusual name the British upper classes love to use for their daughters, is given to a handful of baby girls in the US after being chosen by two high-profile celebs in the same month; cool couple Sofia Coppola and Thomas Mars as well as supermodel Claudia Schiffer. It was used earlier by celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, while the male form, Cosimo, was given to the son of Marissa Ribisi and Beck.
  15. Howard

    • Origin:

      German, English

    • Meaning:

      "high guardian; brave heart"

    • Description:

      Howard, once hugely popular -- in the Top 50 from the 1870s to early 1950s, hitting Number 24 in 1920 -- has been stuck in Dad-Grandad limbo for decades, but is showing some signs of stirring back to life. Along with such formerly-fusty names as George and Harold, Howard may soon feel baby-appropriate, perhaps with the short form Ward, or the clunky-cute Howie.
  16. Helen

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "torch; shining light"

    • Description:

      Helen is a name that has connoted beauty since ancient times – Helen of Troy was the the mythological "face that launched a thousand ships," over whom the ten-year Trojan War was fought.
  17. Rosalind

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "soft horse or pretty rose"

    • Description:

      Rosalind has a distinguished literary history – used and popularized by Edmund Spenser and Shakespeare via one of his most charming heroines, in As You Like It. Along with a bouquet of other Rose names, Rosalind might be ready for a comeback.
  18. Agatha

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "good woman"

    • Description:

      Agatha until recently summoned up visions of martyred saints, mauve silk dresses, and high lace collars, but now that some dauntless excavators have begun to resurrect it, we're sure more will follow their lead. Actor Thomas Gibson used it for his daughter in 2004.
  19. Albert

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "noble, bright"

    • Description:

      Albert has acquired a new gloss as one of the top royal baby boy names, a considerable upgrade from its serious, studious image (think Einstein, Schweitzer).
  20. Edmund

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "fortunate protector"

    • Description:

      The sophisticated Edmund and its nearly-identical French twin Edmond are coming out of mothballs now that Edward, inspired by Twilight, is once again a hot name. In fact, it's already a fairly popular choice on Nameberry and a solid presence on the England and Wales charts, where it's featured in the latter half since the 90s.

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