Unusual, Rare, and Unique Baby Names · Popular Names and Name Trends · Cool Baby Names
Unusual Baby Names
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Yana
Slavic variation of Jana, feminine variation of John
"God is gracious"
A Slavic classic, as common as Jane or Joan here. If you live in an Anglophone culture and you want it pronounced with a Y sound at the beginning, use the Y spelling.
Colm
Irish variation of Latin Columba
"dove"
Colm is a popular Irish name for boys that could immigrate, especially with its peaceful meaning. Colm Toibin is a contemporary Irish novelist and critic, author of The Master and Brooklyn ; Colm…
Blaise
French
"to lisp, stammer"
As modern as it sounds, Blaise is an ancient Christian martyr name. In Arthurian legend, Blaise is the name of Merlin the Magician's secretary. Its relation to the word and name Blaze gives it a…
Miray
Turkish
"shining like the moon"
Very popular in its native Turkey (Top 20 since 2014), this beautiful, celestial name has international appeal. The meaning of Miray is occasionally debated, with "shining like the moon" as one…
Nasrin
Persian
"wild rose"
Nasrin has a strong sound and lovely floral meaning. International variants include the Turkish Nesrin and Egyptian Nesreen.
Timur
Turkish
An ancient name used by numerous conquerors throughout history, most notably the Central Asian leader popularly known as Tamerlane.
Ruslan
Slavic from Turkic
"lion"
A fairly common name in many Slavic countries, especially Russia – perhaps in part because it sounds close to the name of the country, although the two words are unrelated etymologically. The name…
Elmira
English, Turkish
"noblewoman; country, world commander; ruler of the people"
A name with various origins, Elmira combines the sounds of multicultural Mira with the popular El- beginning. Despite this, the name is rarely heard in the US, though it does rank in the Top 100…
Olwen
Welsh
"white footprint"
Olwen is a Welsh favorite, the name of a legendary princess in what is believed to have been the earliest Arthurian romance, and in fact one of the first recorded examples of Welsh prose. In this…
Delyth
Welsh
"pretty and blessed"
If you like soft, lispy Welsh names like Gwyneth, or want an alternative to Delilah, Adele, or Edith, consider this out-of-the-ordinary option.
Delfina
Italian and Spanish variation of Delphine
The Spanish and Italian variation of the sophisticated French Delphine is also the word for "dolphin". A popular choice in Uruguay and Argentina, the name is rarely used in the US.
Lautaro
Mapuche
"swift hawk"
The most famous Lautaro was a leader of the indigenous resistance against the Spanish in Chile in the 16th-century, making it a historically significant choice, still used today in Argentina, Chile,…
Monte
Diminutive of Montgomery, Norman, Spanish
"man power; mountain"
Monte, pronounced with two syllables as brother Monty, is an old-fashioned nickname-name that's reclaiming a certain amount of dash and charm. It was recently chosen by actor Guy Pearce--which may…
Meri
Finnish; Maori
"sea; Mary"
Upbeat name that cheers you as soon as you hear it. One famous bearer is Maori feminist Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia. As Finnish name, it is connected to the sea.
Narine
Armenian
"pomegranate"
Narine has been a top name in Armenia since records began in 2007, though it's even more popular in its diminutive form, Nare, which has taken the top spot on the Armenian charts almost every year…
Moritz
German form of Maurice
"dark-skinned"
The unusual-to-the-English-ear Moritz is a Top 25 name in Austria and a form of Maurice or Morris, which are modern variations of the ancient Roman Maurus. There were several early saints named…
Florian
Latin
"flowering"
If Flora and Florence have returned full force, then Florian, with its strong Latinate ending and its botanical meaning in one to watch out for. Popular in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and…
Solange
French
"solemn"
This is a soft, soignée French girls' name that has become familiar here via singer Solange Knowles, younger sister of Beyonce. It is also the name of a martyred ninth century saint, a poor…
Ralph
English from German
"wolf-counsel"
Ralph has two diametrically different images: there's the suave Ralph Fiennes-type Brit (often pronounced Rafe), and then there's the Jackie Gleason blue-collar, bowling blowhard Ralph Kramden bus…
Aled
Welsh geographical name
This simple, solid Welsh name enjoyed moderate popularity in England and Wales in the '80s and '90s, after the success of choirboy Aled Jones.