Boy Names Lists · Unusual, Rare, and Unique Baby Names
Unique, Rare, and Uncommon Boy Names (with Meanings and Origins)
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Job
Hebrew
"persecuted"
A rare and single syllable Biblical name with a hint of Jude, Jonah, Jacob, and Joseph about it, Job is a weighty choice that may appeal to those who enjoy both heavily Biblical names and short,…
Johnson
English
"son of John"
No competition for Jackson.
Jolyon
Medieval form of Julian
"youthful"
Galsworthy used this for "The Forsyte Saga," but in modern real life Julian would work better.
Josmar
Portuguese, contraction of José + Maria
Used in Brazil, this snappy telescoping honors the names of Jesus's parents.
Joss
Diminutive of Jocelyn or Joseph, German
"member of the Gauts tribe; Jehovah increases"
Succinct and to the point, Joss may appeal to those who enjoy the likes of Jude, Jesse, Jem, and Ozzy. Brought into the spotlight by Joss Whedon , creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer , Angel and…
Jotham
Hebrew
"the Lord is perfect"
Jotham is an Old Testament name that today would certainly be the only one in his class, having something of an urban feel via its similarity to the word 'gotham'. In the Bible one Jotham is the sole…
Journey
Word name
Journey is one of the hot new spiritual names . Although Journey was given in 2015 to over 1100 baby girls and fewer than 100 baby boys, it's more visible on the celebrity baby scene as a boys' name:…
Jowan
Cornish form of John, Hebrew
"God is gracious"
A rare but appealing and accessible member of the John family. It sees steady low-key use in England.
Jove
Mythological name
Another name for Jupiter, king of the Roman gods, this jovial name is eminently ready for modern use. Feminine variations include Jovita and Jovie.
Judd
Medieval short form of Jordan
"flowing down"
Judd is a strong but sensitive short form that can easily stand on its own, the second 'd' giving it a lot more substance, and it would also be a good middle name choice. Two recent actors have given…
Jules
French form of Julius, Latin
"youthful; soft, downy; sky father"
Though Jules hasn't been on the US popularity list in fifty years, it remains a hit in its native France where it's currently in the Top 10 — and has been in the Top 500 nearly every year since the…
Jumis
Latvian deity
God of fertility in Latvian mythology. Jumis is responsible for ensuring a good harvest — he lives in the fields and the last of the crop would be left for him to live in.
Jupiter
Latin
"godfather"
Jupiter's partner Juno has entered the mainstream, so it's possible that her divine mate could follow. But not necessarily for boys — Jupiter is currently mostly female in the US, thanks to its…
Jurian
German
"earth worker"
This medieval German form of George could make an intriguing and unique honor name for an ancestral George.
Justus
Latin
"just"
More unusual than Justin, less word-like than Justice, this New Testament name could make an intriguing choice. After being off the popularity lists from 1904 to 1993, it is now being used in steady…
Kahlo
German
"bald"
A small number of parents are inspired to choose Frida Kahlo's surname for their sons and daughters each year. The Mexican artist had German ancestry from her father's side, and Kahlo is actually…
Kainoa
Hawaiian
"the namesake; sea of freedom"
Intriguing Hawaiian option that combines the sounds two popular boy names—Kai and Noah — but is in a name in its own right, not a newly created compound name — and is pronounced just slightly…
Kaito
Japanese
"sea, ocean + to fly, soar"
A popular Japanese name with an uplifting meaning, Kaito is connected to the air and the sea. Said with three syllables and not the two English speakers may expect, it has been borne by a number of…
Kalei
Hawaiian
"flowers or child"
Either means "the flowers" or "the child" – lei can mean both. Either way, Kalei is a strong and pretty Hawaiian name. Kalei is a unisex name, used steadily though rarely in the US as a whole.
Karam
Arabic
"generosity, nobility"
A virtuous name derived from the same root ( karuma ) as Karim and Akram. Notably borne by Greco-Roman wrestler Karam Gaber and break dancer Kid Karam, the name is also used as a surname.