Rare, Unique, and Unusual Boy Names

Garth

Norse

"groundskeeper, enclosure"

A name that took on a pronounced country twang via Nashville megastar Garth (born Troyal) Brooks.

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…

Ned

English, diminutive of Edward

"wealthy guardian"

Ned is a gently old-fashioned Nancy Drew-Bobbsey Twins-era short form for Edward that sounds cooler than Ed and is enjoying a small style renaissance. Usage of Ned in literature goes back to a Ben…

Pilot

Occupational name

One celebrity baby Pilot put this occupational choice into the pool -- together with the middle name Inspektor, something we wouldn't advise following.

Quince

Latin

"applelike fruit"

The girls have Apple, Plum, Peaches, Cherry, and Berry: here's one variety of fruit suitable for a boy.

Toran

Irish

"chief"

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

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…

Vesper

Latin

"evening star"

While this is usually thought of as a girls' name because of the Bond Girl connection, its sound is masculine and there's no reason it couldn't work for boys.

Zed

Diminutive of Zedekiah

Newer than Zac, cooler than Ed, Ned, or Ted.

Anchor

Word name

"heavy object used to moor a ship; provide with a solid foundation"

Plausible word name, denoting strength and stability, currently given to a small handful of boys in the US each year.

Balthazar

Phoenician

"Baal protects the King"

This evocative name of one of the Three Wise Men of the Orient, also spelled Balthasar, may finally be ready for prime time. Balthazar, Melchior and Caspar were the Magi who brought gifts of gold,…

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…

Beacon

English word name

"signal light"

A word name with an appealing and illuminating meaning.

Benno

German

"bear"

Benno is a cool name in its own right -- there was a tenth century Saint Benno -- though it is also used as a lively nickname for Benjamin. Saint Benno of Meissen is the patron saint of anglers and…

Beowulf

Old English

"bee wolf"

This ancient name is that of the hero of the epic Beowulf , which is thought to be the oldest-ever poem in English lit written in the vernacular. J. R. R. Tolkien used the poem as one of his…

Beto

Short form of any name that ends in -berto

To the Anglo ear, Beto may not make sense as a short form of Gilberto, Roberto, or Alberto. But it is, and the o-ending makes is friendly, sleek, and modern.

Cisco

Diminutive of Spanish Francisco

"Frenchman or free man"

Shortening Francisco somehow makes it sound even cooler. Cisco is also the name of a digital security company.

Curran

Irish surname from O Corrain

"descendant of Curran"

Curran is a common surname in Ireland, but unusual even there as a first. With its savory feel, calling to mind curry and currants, Curran can make for an attractive update on Colin or Connor.

Delfino

Italian

"of Delphi"

Heard more often as a surname in Italy, its meaning has also been linked to the dolphin--which would make a cool nursery motif.

Eames

English

"son of the uncle"

An upscale surname with a nice modern design connection to the creators of the Eames chair and other midcentury furniture classics, Charles and Ray Eames.