Popular Names and Name Trends · Unusual, Rare, and Unique Baby Names
Otherworldly Names
Across 5 pages
of 5
Sylphiette
Popular culture
"air spirit; little sylph"
The name of a green-haired half-elf character in the manga and anime, Mushoku Tensei , Sylphiette is likely inspired by the mythological air spirits known as sylphs. Part Seraphina "Sephy" and part…
Wisdom
Word name
A bit too self-congratulatory and, understandably, exceedingly rare. Still, if you're looking for a modern virtue name for your daughter, this may be one of the best qualities to exemplify.
Wise
English word name
Wise is a lovely virtue to bestow upon a baby, as seen through the increasingly popular unisex choice Sage. Wise would make for a perfect middle name with the one-syllable flow.
Rocket
Word name
Starbaby name that might prove too supercharged for real life, but if like director Robert Rodriguez you're interested only in boys' names starting with R , you may need to add Rocket (and Rebel and…
Pluto
Greek
"rich"
The Roman god of the underworld, the former ninth planet, a cartoon dog...but not a baby.
Lumiere
Helix
English word name
"a curve in three-dimensional space"
A scientific word name that would work wonderfully as a given name, given its similarity to Felix.
Odyssey
Greek
"story of Odysseus; long journey"
Literally, the Odyssey is Homer's epic tale of Odysseus's long voyage home from the Trojan wars, but more figuratively, it is used to describe any long, challenging, or eventful journey. A rare…
Vision
English word name
"the state of being able to see"
This newly-minted gender neutral word name has a spiritual and creative feel. It was given to 6 baby girls and 13 boys in 2021.
Isra
Arabic
"nocturnal journey"
An Arabic name with a powerful and alluring meaning, in Islamic tradition, Isra refers to one part of the Night Journey that the Prophet Muhammad, in which he led other prophets such as Ibrahim, Isa,…
Peregrine
Latin
"traveler, pilgrim"
Peregrine is considered to be an elegantly aristocratic name in England, but has never made it to the U.S., where it has been seen as extravagantly eccentric. In the new naming climate, though, it's…
Alta
Latin
"elevated, high"
Familiar in the 19th- and early 20th-centuries, Alta is little heard today, but it does have that four letter, A-a formula of Alma, Alba, Anna, Ayla, and Anya. Derived from the Latin altus , it has…
Sunset
English word name
Would make an unexpected middle name for a baby born at dusk.
Ridoc
Literature
Appearing in the popular fantasy series, Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, this name is borne by a dragon rider called Ridoc Gamlyn. Part Ryan and Ryder, part Caradoc and Roderick, it feels contemporary…
Astaria
Saga
Swedish word name
"story; seeress"
Apt name for a little drama queen with a long future ahead of her. Saga is a Top 30 girls' name in Sweden. Saga was the Norse goddess of poetry, storytelling, and history. She was a prophetess — able…
Esmeray
Turkish
"dark moon"
Lovers of Esme and Ayla might also like this beautiful Turkish name, with its mysterious, moonstruck meaning. The last syllable sounds like "rye", rather than with ray. A notable bearer was Esmeray…
Esmeree
Literary name, French
"to love, respect"
The name of a beautiful princess of Wales in Arthurian legend, Esmeree appears the French romance poem Le Bel Inconnu (The Fair Unknown) written by Renaut de Bâgé in the 12th-century. In the poem,…
Feyre
Literature, English
"fair, beautiful"
Created by Sarah J. Maas for the heroine of her Court of Thorns and Roses series of YA novels. The name was based on the Old English word for "fair" or "beautiful" and has an ethereal charm.
Rarity