Boy Names Lists · Unusual, Rare, and Unique Baby Names
Unique, Rare, and Uncommon Boy Names (with Meanings and Origins)
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Arbor
Latin
"tree"
Arbor is a quirky nature name with holiday vibes.
Araz
Kurdish
"river and mountain name"
A sharp and interesting Kurdish name derived from the name of a river and mountain in the region.
Aldridge
English surname and place name
"alder farmstead"
A preppy-yet-rugged choice that proves there are plenty of last names as first names that are rare and distinctive, but not wacky or made up.
Aras
Lithuanian, Turkish, Persian
"eagle; equal, balanced"
A sweet, simple name with roots in several cultures. In Lithuanian, Aras is a poetic bird name, while in Persian, Turkish, and Kurdish it is both a word meaning "equal", and the name of a river that…
Baxter
English occupational name
"baker"
An x makes any name cooler, so that Baxter has a bit more pizzazz than the original Baker. Baxter had some currency as a first name a century ago--it was on the popularity lists sporadically from…
Aram
Hebrew, Kurdish, Armenian, Thai
"high elevated, fortress; calm; child of the sun; glittering, temple"
Aram is a popular Armenian name with a pleasing sound that became known in this country through the works of William Saroyan, namely the 1940 book of short stories, My Name in Aram , centering on…
Adri
Diminutive of Adrian or Hindi
"stone, mountain"
While Adri is an Indian male name, it is more often heard throughout Europe as a diminutive of Adrian in its many forms. Pronunciation might be ay-dree or ah-dree, depending on the pronunciation of…
Abrams
English surname
"Abram's son"
The surname of filmmaker J.J. Abrams, used as a first name. It first appeared on the US charts in 2020. The M1 Abrams is a model of army tank.
Aberdeen
Scottish place-name
Amiable, undiscovered geographic option.
Aragon
Spanish place name
Equally strong, dramatic and romantic, this name of an old kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula and a modern Spanish community as well, would give a boy an instant pedigree.
Basil
Greek
"royal"
Although Greek in origin--in the fourth century, a bishop by that name established the principles of the Greek Orthodox Church--Basil for years took on the aura of aquiline-nosed upper-class…
Basie
Scottish surname, meaning unknown
Basie is a fabulous jazz name to honor the Count, whose birth name was William, the influential pianist, organist, bandleader and composer who led his band for almost fifty years. There are lots of…
Ara
Armenian
"king"
Ara is a unique boys' name that one of the most melodious in the Armenian name pool, familiarized by Notre Dame football coach Ara Parseghian. In Armenian mythology, Ara was a king so handsome that a…
Alder
English tree name or surname
"old"
The surname-style Alden has been on the rise in the US in recent years, while tree-inspired Rowan is a top choice. Combine this with the popularity of names ending in -er such as Carter and Parker…
Basel
Swiss place name
"king"
The Swiss city of Basel was first Basilia, thought to have been dubbed in honor of the Roman castle of the same name. The castle's name would have derived from Basilius, a Roman personal name from…
Bascom
Surname name
One of these forgotten Victorian surname names, like Spurgeon and Elwood, that almost feels so far out it could come back in. The key word there being "almost."
Bastian
Diminutive or variant of Sebastian, Latin, Greek
"man of Sebastia"
A name that sounds both arty and rough-and-tumble, Bastian can be used as either a short form or a stand-alone variant of elegant Sebastian. Also spelled as Bastien, Bastiaan, and Bastían, it notably…
Bates
English diminutive of Bartholomew
Bates is a fresh version of Bartholomew, and feels more wearable than Bart. Bates could be considered a patriotic choice for American parents - Katharine Lee Bates was an author and professor best…
Apollon
Greek
"strength or father light"
Greek and French form of Apollo, son of Zeus and Leto and the twin of Artemis in Greek mythology. He was the god of prophecy, medicine, music, art, law, beauty, and wisdom, also associated with the…
Barthelemy
French form of Bartholomew
While Barthelemy does not garner much attention these days, it has a storied history in French-speaking countries. Notable bearers include geologist and explorer Barthélemy Faujas de Saint-Fond,…