Rare but Recognizable Names
Across 9 pages
of 9
Fennell
Fennell is a masculine name that originated as a surname before occasionally crossing over to first-name usage. It derives from the herb fennel, ultimately from Latin 'foeniculum.' As a surname, it…
Fate
Short form of Lafayette, French, English word name
"faith; predestined, destiny, chance"
Fate was in the US Top 1000 for boys in the late 19th century, not as a word name but as a short form of the old French name, Lafayette. In the contemporary landscape however, it may well be…
Brynmor
Welsh
"great hill"
Derived from the Welsh place name Brynmawr, this adventurous sounding name, feels at once as rugged as its meaning but with a hint of gentleness, thanks to the unisex Bryn . While this name wouldn't…
Sinclair
Scottish
"from the town of St. Clair"
Could be a novel way for a boy's name to honor an ancestral Claire.
Fleury
Masculine form of Fleur, French
"flower"
Also used as a surname, this floral choice was the name of an 11th century French prince, and a familiar choice in France during the early 20th century. While it faded out of style in the '40s, could…
Cordy
Diminutive of Conrad, German
"brave"
A unisex nickname, originating from Conrad. It could be an unexpected alternative to Casey or Cory. Kordy and Korde are alternative spellings.
Keats
English literary name
"kite"
Poetic and easy to pronounce (it's keets), this is one of many poets' names to consider, such as Auden, Eliot, Frost, Byron, Lorca, Marlowe, Blake, Emerson and Tennyson. Likely meaning "kite", in…
Digby
English, Norse
"town by the ditch"
Digby is a place-name in Lincolnshire turned surname turned quirky first name that is starting to get some attention. In fact, it ranked in the UK Top 1000 in a recent year where it fits in with the…
Levar
African American, Latin, English surname
"the truth; one who lives where rushes grow"
Brought into the mainstream by actor and TV host LeVar Burton who starred in the 70s miniseries Roots and in Star Trek: The Next Generation , Levar, or LeVar as it may be stylized, is a name of…
Lurline
Variation of Lorelei, German
"alluring temptress"
The lilting Lorelei has given birth to many variations, including this one, now extinct.
Sylvander
Variation of Silvanus, combination of Sylvester and Anders
"man of the woods"
Also spelled Silvander, this poetic and woodsy name was used in various works of literature throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Deriving from the Roman and Biblical name Silvanus, Sylvander could…
Wystan
English
"battle stone"
Dignified first name of poet W. H. Auden, less exposed than his currently stylish surname.
Wyeth
Old English, French
"willow; guide"
Landing somewhere between Wyatt, Gareth, and Wilf, Wyeth is a surname inspired name, notably associated with 20th century American artist, N. C. Wyeth and his family, many of whom were also artists,…
Rosen
German; Bulgarian
"rose; burning bush"
This masculine floral name literally means "burning bush", and is the Bulgarian word for the dittany plant. The name derives from the highly volatile oils produced by the plant, which can actually…
Elioenai
Hebrew
"my eyes look to Yahweh"
The name of several minor characters in the Old Testament, including a leader of the Tribe of Simeon and a priest involved in the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, Elioenai is a rare Biblical…
Stratton
English
"town with the paved street or highway"
A sleek and stylish sounding surname, Stratton derived from a variety of places in England and Scotland. Referring to a town or yard with a paved street or highway, it was given to 71 boys and 7…
Taten
Variation of Tate, Tatum, or Tatton, English
"cheerful, happy, glad; Tata's homestead; Tata's town"
A surname style name, reminiscent of cheerful Tate and unisex Tatum, along with modern choices like Talon, Tanner, and Sutton. Taten has been used as a baby name since the early 90s and in a recent…
Caedmon
Anglo-Saxon, Brythonic
"battle, wise warrior"
An ancient name with poetic and mystical qualities, Caedmon was borne by a 7th-century poet, notable for being the first English poet to have their name recorded. Caedmon appears in the 8th-century…
Hewitt
English, Scottish, and Irish surname
"descendant of Hugh; one who lives near the wood clearing"
Modern way to honor an ancestral Hugh.
Otso
Finnish
"bear"
A common animal name in Finland, it could work as an alternative to Otto or Otis.