Unusual, Rare, and Unique Baby Names
By Grace Royal · Updated September 2026
Across 21 pages
of 21
American invented name
An invented name most notably borne by Winnaretta Singer, heiress to the Singer sewing machine fortune. Singer spent most of her life in Paris after marrying Prince Louis de Scey-Montbéliard. Their…
Variation of Emilia, Latin
"rival"
Remilia is a pop cultural choice, most notably appearing on the character Remilia Scarlet in the video game series, The Touhou Project . In the case of the character, it was invented by the game's…
Combination of Jo and Beth
A Jo-plus name that sprang up in the 1940s.
Feminine form of Peter
"rock, stone"
Peterina feels like an awkward invented feminization, ala Davette. To honor an ancestral Peter, consider Petra.
Welsh and French compound name
"blessed yew tree; blessed rebirth"
Gwyniveth feels as if it could have stepped out of Arthurian, however, it is in fact a compound name, combining the Welsh element gwyn with Iveth , a French variation of Yvette. A direct…
Dutch, variation of Rosemary
"dew of the sea, or rosemary (herb)"
A beautiful Dutch variation of the aromatic Rosemary.
Filipino combination of Maria + Michelle
"drop of the sea + who is like God"
Marichelle is a lyrical name found in the Philippines, where both its mother names — Maria and Michelle — are common choices themselves. The smush of Marichelle modernizes Maria and updates Michelle,…
Azerbaijan compound name
"supreme, exalted + leader, ruler"
Ali̇xan is a cool and contemporary looking choice, currently popular in Azerbaijan. It combines the Arabic Ali with the Turkic title, Khan , to give the name the powerful meaning of "supreme and…
Compound name, blending Susan and Ellen
"shining lily"
Suellen is a smoosh name that combines two classic names into one that feels both mid-century and modern, a little like Carolyn, a bit like Elowen. Notably used by Margaret Hill in her novel, Gone…
Modern Invented
Sky has been a trending sound in recent years, from Skylar to Skye to Skyla. Skylette is a new one in recent years, combining the celestial first syllable with the fashionable "-ette" ending.
English
"always green"
Modern invented name
Mistelle is a modern invention combining Misty with the evergreen feminine suffix 'elle'. This name is occasionally seen in Australia.
Combination of Jesse and James, Hebrew
"God exists and supplanter"
While still rare, this compound name for boys jumped nearly 3000 places in rank last year, perhaps thanks to its cowboy-core vibe and its bad boy image.
"nobleman's estate"
One of the many El- names for boys that boomed in the 1910s and 1920s, but has long been out of fashion. This surname/place name has an aristocratic flavor, and a creative namesake in the artist…
English combination of Emma + Beth
"universal + pledged to God"
South African-raised actress Embeth Davidtz added this unique smooth name to the mix. Perfect if you can't decide between Emma and Elizabeth and more unusual than Annabeth.
French
"white flower"
A widely used name in medieval Europe that's been almost completely forgotten. Blanche still reads as old lady-ish, and the frilly "-fleur" doesn't make it feel younger. But it could be a striking,…
English, compound name
"beloved + pledged to god"
A pretty combination of Amy and Beth, borne by Anne with an E actress Amybeth McNulty. It gives Little Women and vintage vibes.
Italian
"flower of the dawn"
A lush, romantic flower name for people who think Rose, Violet and Lily are 1000 times too popular.
Literary name
"knight of the sea"
In Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene , Marinell is a knight and the son of a water nymph. He is wounded in battle against the valiant female knight Britomart.
Compound name, combining Betty and Jane
"Gracious God is my oath"
A smoosh name, blending Betty and Jane that made the US Top 1000 in the 1920s.
