Unusual, Rare, and Unique Baby Names · Historic and Vintage Names
Unique Names from History
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Durant
English and French from Latin
"enduring"
Durant's meaning signifies staying power, a good quality to impart to your child. Notables with the surname Durant include Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Will and Ariel Durant, most famous for their…
Edda
Norse
"poetry"
This Old Norse girl name has a lovely meaning and a familiar yet distinctive sound.
Eluned
Welsh
"idol, image"
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…
Erasmus
Greek
"beloved, desired"
Erasmus has long retained the image of the bearded and bespectacled Dutch philosopher, but could be one that the audacious baby namer just might dare to dust off. The fourth century Saint Erasmus was…
Evadne
Greek
"pleasing one"
In Greek mythology, Evadne was the daughter of Poseidon. Evadne also appears in literature (Mary Shelley's "The Last Man") and has a pop culture reference as the cousin of Wonder Woman. A more…
Galen
Greek
"calm, healer"
Many will associate this name with Galen of Pergamon, the second-century physician considered to be the founding father of medicine. A more recent reference is Star Wars character Galen Erso. The…
Genghis
Mongolian
"universal ruler"
Everyone has heard of Genghis Khan, 12th century warrior and founder of the Mongol empire. The name was brought into the modern world by soccer star Hope Solo and football player Jerramy Stevens, who…
Gershom
Hebrew
"stranger, exodus"
Old Testament name of a son of Moses used by the Puritans, and now by Orthodox Jews.
Gervase
Variation of Gervaise, French
"skilled with a spear"
This venerable name was introduced to England by the Normans after the conquest of 1066 and was relatively common during the Middle Ages. Saint Gervase, a Christian martyr from Milan, has lent the…
Giffard
English
"puffy cheeks"
A popular first name in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, giving rise to surnames Gifford et al. Could enjoy a comeback thanks to trendy Griffin.
Gilgamesh
Akkadian from Sumerian
"the [kinsman] is a hero"
The Epic of Gilgamesh is an Akkadian poem from Mesopotamia and one of the oldest works of literature that survives today. It follows the story of Gilgamesh, a Sumerian king who journeys to find the…
Godiva
English
"God's gift"
Whether you think of the chocolates or the naked long-haired lady on the horse, Godiva is a name with baggage no child should have to carry.
Godric
Anglo-Saxon
"God's power"
Godric is one of the unique baby names that has found more exposure since J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter universe came into our lives. Godric Gryffindor is an important historical figure in the series.…
Haidee
Literature, English
"modest, reverant"
While Haidee may sound like a variant of Heidi or Hailey, it's actually a separate name with a literary history. First appearing in Byron's epic poem Don Juan (1819), it was likely inspired by the…
Hannibal
Punic and Assyrian
"grace of Baal, god of fertility and fortune"
These days, it's thought of less as the name of the great general and more as the first name of Lecter the fictional cannibal. Either association is too heavy for a child to bear.
Hero
Greek
"demi-god"
Despite the possibility of gender confusion, the Hero in Greek myth was a woman. Myleene Klass got that when she chose Hero for her daughter, and Sam Taylor-Wood and Aaron Johnson used it as their…
Hildegarde
French from German
"comrade in arms"
French form of Hildegard
Idonea
Idonea is a feminine name with medieval origins, derived from the Old English word 'idoneus' meaning 'suitable' or 'appropriate.' Used rarely in the Middle Ages, particularly in England, the name…
Innogen
Celtic
"daughter, maiden"
Innogen is the Shakespearean name that never was. Most sources will tell you that Shakespeare intended to use Innogen for a character in Cymbeline , but his printer mistook the twos Ns for an M, thus…
Iolo
Welsh
"weathy lord"
Rhythmic Welsh nickname name, derived from the Welsh royal name Iorwerth, which has sometimes been anglicized as Edward.