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998+ Unique, Rare, and Uncommon Boy Names (with Meanings and Origins)

Pamela Redmond
By Pamela Redmond
Updated Fri Oct 11 2024
998+ Unique, Rare, and Uncommon Boy Names (with Meanings and Origins)

Unique boy names are trending now more than ever before. Today's unique names for boys range from new inventions to ancient treasures, from names that cross gender boundaries to names drawn from international cultures.

Fifty years ago, the Top 20 boys' names represented 41% of all male children. Now, the Top 20 boy names represent less than 15% of all baby boys, with many more boys given rare or unusual names. That means that unique and unusual boy names are more likely to be accepted at school or in the workplace.

Some of the coolest unique names for boys today are mythological names and names from ancient cultures, such as Caius and Lucius from Ancient Rome and Linus from Ancient Greece. The Bible is a rich source of unique boys' names, as are nature, word, and surname names.

What are the most unique boy names? That distinction has to go to names you invent yourself or names you fashion from a family surname, a meaningful place name, or a word with personal significance.

Boy names uncommon in your neighborhood may be very different from city to city, state to state, and of course country to country. For all the lists of popular and unique boy names around the world, go to the main Popular Names page.

Here is a selection of our favorite rare and unique names for boys, from Ozias to Ozni to Parable, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.

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  1. Royal

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "royal"

    • Description:

      Even less subtle than Duke or Earl, this name shot up the popularity charts in 2013, the same year young Prince George was born and the craze for all things royal (and Royal) began. Today, it's a leading boys' name on Nameberry's own popularity charts.
  2. Elio

    • Origin:

      Italian, Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "sun"

    • Description:

      Elio is a sunny and spirited Italian and Spanish name that makes a great crossover prospect, which could catch on as Enzo has. Elio is also currently popular in France, ranking in the Top 250.
  3. Kit

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Christopher

    • Meaning:

      "bearer of Christ"

    • Description:

      Actor Kit Harington, aka the dreamy Jon Snow on Game of Thrones, has given this nickname-name new style and appeal for boys. Actress Jodie Foster used it for her son back in the 2000s, while actor Kit Connor of Heartstopper fame may have introduced it to a wider audience.
  4. Zephyr

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "west wind"

    • Description:

      If you're looking for a name that's light and breezy, this could be it. A name from mythology: Zephyrus/Zephyr was the Greek god of the west wind, and with its similarity in sound to the likes of Stefan or Seth, its zippy Z initial and cool Y, it is primed to rise up the US charts.
  5. Ozias

    • Origin:

      Greek, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "my strength is God"

    • Description:

      A cool Biblical option that currently sits just outside the US Top 1000, Ozias gets extra points for its user-friendly nicknames Oz and Ozzie. Given to around 200 boys in 2023, it has quadrupled in use since 2013.

      Deriving from the Hebrew Uzziah, Ozias is the name of several minor figures in the Greek and Latin Bible, most notably the king of the ancient Kingdom of Judah. It also has a literary connection in the form of the wonderfully named Ozias Midwinter from Wilkie Collins' 19th century sensationalist novel Armadale. Several characters in the novel describe the name as "horrible", claiming that "no sane human being would assume such a name as Ozias", but we — and a growing number of parents —would disagree.
  6. Aurelius

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "the golden one"

    • Description:

      Since Aurelius was given the supermodel seal of approval by Elle Macpherson, it has joined Augustus as an ancient Roman name that feels usable today. Slightly mystical and magical, Aurelius is grounded by its similarity to rising stars Aurora, Aurelia, and Atticus, and its golden aura is certainly appealing.
  7. Lysander

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "liberator"

    • Description:

      Lysander is a distinctive Greek name that could be thought of as a more creative cousin of Alexander. In ancient history, Lysander was the name of an esteemed Spartan naval commander and his literary cred comes from one of the two star-struck young men in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, as well as one of the twin sons (the other being Lorcan) of Luna Lovegood, whom we learn about in the Harry Potter epilogue.
  8. Casper

    • Origin:

      Dutch form of Jasper, Persian

    • Meaning:

      "bringer of treasure"

    • Description:

      This ancient name, also spelled Caspar, is finally shedding its ghostly image and moving into the 21st century. Popular in the Netherlands and Scandinavia, where it's sometimes shortened to Cas, Casper could ride the style coattails of cousin Jasper.
  9. Caius

    • Origin:

      Variation of Gaius, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "rejoice"

    • Description:

      Caius is classical and serious but also has a simple, joyful quality. There was a third century pope named Caius, as well as an early Christian writer, several Shakespearean characters, and a Twilight vampire. We would pronounce the name to rhyme with eye-us though at Cambridge University in England, where it's the name of a college, it's pronounced keys.
  10. Emrys

    • Origin:

      Welsh, variation of Ambrose

    • Meaning:

      "immortal"

    • Description:

      If you're looking for a Welsh name less common than Dylan, Griffin, Evan, or Morgan, you might want to consider this offbeat epithet of the wise wizard Merlin. It's currently in the Welsh top 100 and in the England and Wales top 1000 over all and has been rising in recent years.

      Root name Ambrose is an ancient saints' name derived from the Greek ambrosia, the food and drink of the gods that conferred immortality, giving it a magical feel. Parents today may also associate it with the BBC show Merlin which notably used the name as an alternative name for the warlock.
  11. Florian

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "flowering"

    • Description:

      If Flora and Florence have returned full force, Florian, with its trendy Latinate ending, could also have a chance. Popular in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and France, St Florian was the venerated patron saint of those in danger from water and the patron saint of firefighters.
  12. Wren

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "small bird"

    • Description:

      Wren may not be as time-honored a bird name choice as Robin or even Lark, but it's more fashionable and fresh, with a gentle and earthy vibe.
  13. Rhodes

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "where roses grow"

    • Description:

      This is a name we've seen the potential of for some time now — A Greek island and a prestigious scholarship make for a preppy first name with the uber-stylish S ending. Needless to say we were not surprised that Rhodes cracked the Top 1000 in 2022, and we expect it to keep rising. Rhodes was recently chosen by actress Emma Roberts for her son, born in 2020.
  14. Percy

    • Origin:

      French surname from place name Perci-en-Auge

    • Description:

      Percy is an adorable old name that is finally shedding its pampered Little Lord Fauntleroy image in this new era of boys with soft yet traditionally male names like Jasper and Elijah. Originating as an aristocratic Norman name, Percy became fairly widespread in England--and to some extent in the US--as an offshoot of the fame of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.
  15. Rafferty

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "floodtide, abundance, prosperity"

    • Description:

      Jaunty and raffish, Rafferty is one of the most engaging of the Irish surnames, used by Jude Law and Sadie Frost for their son. Fortunately, it doesn't still go by its original form: O'Raighbheartaigh.
  16. Shepherd

    • Origin:

      Occupational name

    • Meaning:

      "sheep hearder"

    • Description:

      Shepherd is an occupational surname with a pleasant pastoral feel. It was chosen for their son by the Jerry Seinfelds, which might inspire others to follow their lead.
  17. Altair

    • Origin:

      Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "falcon"

    • Description:

      The eleventh brightest star in the sky has a celestial feel, but also could be the name of a commercial airline.
  18. Ansel

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "with divine protection"

    • Description:

      Ansel, primarily associated with the great western photographer Ansel Adams, famed for his magnificent photographs of the Yosemite Valley, could make a creative artist-hero choice. For Adams it was a family name – he was named after his uncle, Ansel Easton. And, in turn, Adams was the namesake of young heartthrob Ansel Elgort, son of a photographer.
  19. Lucius

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "light"

    • Description:

      Lucius is an old Roman clan name that has lots of religious and literary resonance, yet is still vital today. It was the name of three popes, appears in several Shakespeare plays, and, like all the names beginning with 'luc' relates to the Latin word for light.It was one of a limited number of forenames used in ancient Rome, and because of its meaning was often given to boys born at dawn.
  20. Stellan

    • Origin:

      Swedish, meaning unknown, possibly "calm"

    • Meaning:

      "calm"

    • Description:

      Stellan is a strong, attractive, Scandinavian possible up-and-comer, known through actor Stellan Skarsgard, and his namesake, the son of Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany. Its trendy 'an' ending and the similarity in sound to the popular Kellen/Kellan make it all the more accessible.