Popular Names and Name Trends · Unusual, Rare, and Unique Baby Names
Otherworldly Names
Across 5 pages
of 5
Elva
Feminine form of Alf or anglicized form of Ailbhe, Danish, Icelandic, Irish
"elf; bright, light, white"
Elva is a multicultural choice, being both an anglicization of the Irish Ailbhe and an feminine form of the name Alf, meaning "elf". Popular in the US at the beginning of the 20th century, it…
Elvira
Spanish
"white, fair"
Before there was the campy TV Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Elvira was the long-suffering wife of Don Juan, and remnants of those negative, gothic images still cling to it, though they are fading.…
Ignatius
Latin
"fiery"
The striking Ignatius is making a truly surprising comeback, sparked by its selection by not one but two celebrities — Cate Blanchett and Julianne Nicholson. With its fiery qualities and magical…
Perseus
Greek
"to destroy"
Perseus is an up-and-coming name with a plenty going for it, so it's no wonder it's almost tripled in usage since the 2010s. Given to nearly 170 boys in the US in a recent year, Perseus ticks the…
Oleander
Botanical name
The name of this pretty Mediterranean shrub is reminiscent of popular classic Oliver, and interestingly its etymology appears to overlap too: oleander most likely derives from Greek rhododendron…
Nixie
German
"water nymph"
If you love Dixie, Trixie and Pixie, this name of a mermaid-like sprite in German folklore may be for you. It might also make an update for Nicki.
Horus
Egyptian
"sun god"
Sounds like Horace, looks like the head of a hawk on the body of a human.
Iridiana
Spanish, Greek
"rainbow"
Iridiana is a name, predominantly used in Mexico, used as an even more elaborate form of Iridián. Both of these names are related to the Greek name Iris, who in Greek mythology was the…
Astraea
Greek
"of the stars"
Astraea —also found as Astraia — is the Greek goddess of justice and innocence who left earth to become the constellation Virgo after she grew unhappy with the state of humanity. She was prophesised…
Parisa
Iranian, Persian
"like a fairy"
Funny how one letter can turn a name from ordinary to special. Parisa is so much more distinctive than either Marisa or Paris, with its sparkly meaning. It ultimately comes from the Persian word parī…
Cosmos
Greek, English
"order, beauty, universe"
The cosmos is another name for the universe in English, giving this name a spacier, more scientific feel than the near-identical Cosmo. Additionally, Cosmos is a flower name, making this both…
Cielle
French
"sky, heavens"
Cielle is a French name inspired by the word ciel, meaning "sky". Not used in France itself, spelling it with the -elle ending makes it feel both more feminine and more "name-y". The name might also…
Charm
English word name
"lucky token"
A lucky word name that started to rise out of obscurity in the 2010s. Like Dream and True, Charm could be just one celebrity baby away from becoming a big trend. In fact, the Australian YouTube…
Iridessa
Fictional name
A name invented for a fairy in the Disney Tinker Bell series, played by Raven-Symoné.
Aira
Variation of Air, Ayra, or Ara, English, Sanskrit, Finnish, Lithuanian
"air; noble; messenger; river place name"
Playful but concise, Aira has become a rising star in England and Wales in recent years. Light and well, airy, it has also been trending upwards in the US. while in the US. Short and simple as it may…
Atreides
Literature, Greek
"child of Atreus; child of fearlessness"
An epic sci-fi name, drawn from Frank Herbert's Dune novels, Atreides appeared in the US stats for the first time in 2024, with parents likely drawing inspiration from the recent film adaptions,…
Samwise
Variant of Samuel
Samwise Gamgee is the name of Frodo's most loyal companion in Lord of the Rings , played by Sean Astin in Peter Jackson's movie adaptations. Like the related Samwell from Game of Thrones , it could…
Valinor
Literature
"Vala land"
Part Valor, part Elinor, this distinctive choice is in fact a region in JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings universe. Meaning "Vala land", The Vala being a group of divine individuals who governed under…
Tigris
Historical, Celtic, Greek, Latin
"lady; running water; tiger"
The name of a river in West Asia, Tigris may have its origins in Ancient Greek, in which case it means "running water" or "swift water". Alternatively, it's a saintly choice, possibly borne by a…
Lestat
Literature, Old French, Louisianan
"status, state; people's stone; beloved stone"
This literary creation was used by Anne Rice in her popular book series the Vampire Chronicles . It is borne by the anti-hero and central character, Lestat de Lioncourt, an immortal vampire from the…