Rare, Unique, and Unusual Boy Names

Takeo

Japanese

"strong as bamboo"

Well used in Japan, appreciated for its powerful meaning.

Takumi

Japanese

"artisan; skillful; open ocean"

Taliesin

Welsh

"shining brow"

Poetic and handsome with a hint of mystique and magic around it, this rugged Welsh name may appeal as an alternative to Tristan or Taran. Meaning "shining, radiant brow", the name is associated with…

Tao

Spiritual word name, Chinese

"large wave; the path; harmony of the universe"

Tao is the Chinese word for the underlying harmony of the universe, combining both yin and yang. Extreme kayaker Tao Berman made this one of the spiritual names prime for adoption, and more recently,…

Taurus

Sign of the Zodiac, Latin

"bull"

The Zodiac name hasn't caught on like Leo or Aries, though it did appear in the US Top 1000 for five consecutive years back in the '70s.

Tennessee

Native American, Cherokee, place-name

"bend in the river or meeting place"

When playwright Thomas Lanier Williams adopted the pen name of Tennessee, he created a new possibility among American place-names, although it's admittedly a bit bulky in size. Reese Witherspoon…

Tennyson

English

"son of Dennis"

Few people would have considered the surname of this famous Victorian poet as a first name until Russell Crowe chose it for his son in 2006. But, as a rhythmic three-syllable patronymic, Tennyson has…

Thelonious

Latinized variation of German Tielo or Till

"people"

One of the coolest of names, thanks to legendary jazz pianist Thelonious Sphere Monk, who inherited this Latin-sounding German name from his father. It has been used very sparingly since the 1960's,…

Thurston

Scandinavian

"Thor's stone"

Shades of Thurston Howell, the effete millionaire castaway on Gilligan's Island.

Tigran

Armenian

"sharp, slender"

A cool-soungin ancient Armenian name which has belonged to several historical kings.

Timo

Norwegian, Finnish, German, and Dutch variation of Timothy

"honoring God"

Popular in its own right in Germany and definitely makes a more intriguing and grownup short form of the classic Timothy than Timmy or even Tim.

Topher

Diminutive of Christopher

The new kid on the block in terms of Christopher short forms, it was introduced into the mix by actor Topher Grace, who didn't like Chris.

Toran

Irish

"chief"

Less common spelling variation of the up-and-coming Irish name Torin.

Torres

Tree

Nature name

Tree as a first name may have entered the lexicon via Taylor Swift's (female) publicist Tree Paine, but there's no reason Tree can't work for any gender. It's simple, it's nature-connected, it's…

Tuck

Diminutive of Tucker, English

"fabric pleater"

Sharp and preppy. Parents of young children may recognize it as the name of the turtle from the television show Wonder Pets .

Tulio

Modern version of Roman family name Tullius, meaning unknown

Heard in both Italy and Spain, Tulio could make a more unusual alternative to Julio. Or with the rediscovery of many Roman names, you might want to go to the original Tullius, the middle name of the…

Tycho

Greek, Dutch, Old Norse

"hitting the mark; chance, luck; thunder"

A name with a number of variations including the Danish Tyge, the Swedish Tyko, and the Dutch Tygo, which are popular throughout modern Europe. Tycho was also the name of both a 5th century Greek…

Urban

Latin

"of the city"

Urban was not an uncommon name through the 1930s (rising as high as Number 435), having been attached to several saints and early popes, but it has completely disappeared from the landscape--both…

Urie

Urie is a masculine name with rich multicultural origins. In Hebrew, it derives from 'Uri' meaning 'my light' or 'flame of God,' carrying spiritual significance. Japanese origins suggest meanings…