Boy Names Lists · Unusual, Rare, and Unique Baby Names
Unique, Rare, and Uncommon Boy Names (with Meanings and Origins)
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Nichols
English surname
"son of Nichol"
Nichol, a Medieval English form of Nicholas, has been pretty much lost to history but survives today in the surname form of Nichols.
Nickleby
English
"Nicholas's village"
Charming Dickensian route to Nick.
Nile
River name, color name, or variation of Niall, Irish
"champion"
Water names are a cool category these days, and this one of the famous Egyptian river is no exception. It streamlines the fussier Niles and also may be thought of as a color name, meaning dark blue…
Niles
Scandinavian
"son of Neil"
Perfect name for TV Frasier's effete brother. In the 2020 film Palm Springs , Andy Samberg plays a character with the updated spelling Nyles.
Noab
Ethiopian, Amharic
"pleasant"
More distinctive than Noah or Jacob, but equally as approachable, Noab has potential as a fresh crossover into English-speaking world. An Amharic name meaning "pleasant", Noab can also mean…
Noadiah
Hebrew
"meeting with the Lord"
Noadiah has biblical namesakes both male and female. The male Noadiah is mentioned in the Book of Ezra, and the female Noadiah is a prophetess in the Book of Nehemiah. Noadiah combines popular Noah…
Noam
Hebrew
"pleasantness, charm, tenderness"
Noam is an underused modern Hebrew name with any number of attractive attributes attached to its meaning; it doesn't have the biblical weight of Noah, but could make a more distinctive alternative to…
Noble
Latin
"aristocratic"
With parents beginning to show an interest in virtue names for boys, this Puritan favorite just might be revived, for what could be more admirable than nobility in terms of having strength of…
Novel
English from Latin
"new"
A literary twist on rising star Nova, derived from the same Latin word.
Oaken
English
"of oak"
The name of the larger-than-life shopkeeper in Frozen makes a very on-trend nature-inspired baby name.
Oakes
English
"near the oaks"
One part nature name, one part surname name. Oakes gives you the best of both worlds.
Obadiah
Hebrew
"servant of God"
For the seriously audacious biblical baby namer who wants to move beyond Elijah and Josiah, this name has considerable old-fangled charm. Obadiah, who gave his name to one of the shortest books in…
Oberon
Variation of Auberon
"elf king; noble bear"
The Shakespearean character Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream is King of the Fairies, but the name, with its bold 'O' beginning has plenty of strength alongside its magical qualities. Oberon was…
Oceanus
Mythological name
"ocean"
Oceanus was the Titan in ancient Greek mythology who rules what they thought was the body of water that surrounded the Earth. Oceanus was, appropriately enough, the name of the baby born on the…
Octavius
Latin
"eighth"
Octavius, which was at one time used for the eighth child in a family, has the worn leather patina of all the ancient Roman names now up for reconsideration. As a Roman family name, it derives from…
Ogden
English
"from the oak valley"
Rarely used surname, associated with humorous poet Ogden Nash.
Olin
Swedish, Norwegian, English
"ancestor, to inherit, legacy; from the low-lying land"
Distinctive yet familiar, Olin is both a Scandinavian name and an English surname. Currently a rare choice, yet reminiscent of popular options, like Oliver, Orion, and Colin. Following its…
Olivian
Romanian variation of Oliver
As both Oliver and Olivia grow in popularity throughout the English-speaking world, parents may seek variations that are the same-but-different and Olivian is one such choice. Attractive and easy to…
Oren
Hebrew
"laurel or pine tree"
Soft and sensitive name often heard in Israel.
Orev
Hebrew
"raven"
Idiosyncratic Hebrew choice.