Unusual, Rare, and Unique Baby Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 25 pages
of 25
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.
Norse, Icelandic
"goddess Freya, lady + priestess"
Also spelled as Freydís, this Norse and Icelandic name appears in Norse mythology, borne by Viking warrior and half-sister of Lief Erikson, Freydís Eiríksdóttir. While Freda and Freya are far more…
English
"wolf power"
Most famous as one of the many middle names of Professor Dumbledore from Harry Potter , Wulfric is an earlier form of the medieval English name Ulric. It has also belonged to an 11th- century Earl of…
Tigrinya, Eritrea
"gift of God"
Derived from the Tigrinya elements hiyab , meaning "gift," and el , "God."
Norwegian variation of Iðunn, Old Norse
"ever young, love again"
A Scandinavian up-and-comer taken directly from Norse mythology. Iðunn was the goddess of apples, fertility, and youth. Idun is another common spelling.
French variation of Isabel
"pledged to God"
With Isabel getting so popular, parents are searching for new varieties of the name, and Isabeau is one that makes a lovely French twist. Isabeau of Bavaria was the wife of King Charles VI of…
Hungarian
"sultan"
Though a common name in Hungary, with the spelling Zoltán, the relatively rare Z sound is striking to English speakers. Penn Gillette used the Zolten spelling for his son; it was also the name of…
Diminutive of Elizabeth, Hebrew
The ultra-rare name Libba is an offshoot of Elizabeth that has been used sparingly over the ages. It feels like a more substantial form of Libby, although Libby itself is much more common. You may be…
Flower name from Latin
"pertaining to the wolf"
Lupine (spelled Lupin outside of North America) is a flower related to sweetpeas. It was given its wolfish meaning because the plant was said to deplete the soil. Comedian Jenny Slate used it as a…
Merris is a feminine name with Celtic and Welsh origins, though it occasionally appears as a surname or masculine name as well. It likely derives from the Welsh name Meredith, meaning 'great lord' or…
Italian, variation of Latin Octavia
"eight"
Softer and more romantic than Octavia, this is a name once used when it wasn't uncommon for families to have eight children. A possible substitute for the epidemically popular Olivia.
Finnish
"wind"
A sweet and intuitive Finnish word name. The double U's up the quirkiness, for English speakers at least. Also used in Estonia, notable bearers include actress Tuuli Narkle, cartoonist Tuuli Hypén,…
Zo is a minimalist yet impactful feminine name of various origins. As a standalone name, it can be seen as a shortened form of names like Zoe, which derives from the Greek word meaning 'life.' In…
English diminutive of Elizabeth, Hebrew
Although she declared her independence as far back as the reign of Elizabeth I — Good Queen Bess, Bess now sounds less passé than Beth or Betsy.
Spelling variation of Bryony, Greek
"to sprout, to swell"
Briony may be the variation and Bryony the original, but many parents will see this as the more authentic-feeling version of this attractive botanical name. Melodic and bright, it was once a Top 400…
Flower name, from French
"lion's tooth"
The bright yellow weed lends itself to a creative baby name, although we don't recommend the nickname Dandy.
Welsh
"snowdrop"
This ethereal Welsh word name has a sound as pretty and delicate as its floral namesake. Pronounced with a bright IRE sound like in Iris or an AYR sound like in air, depending on region, Eirlys…
Variation of Ephrath, Hebrew
"fruitful place"
Derived from the Biblical place name and given name, Ephrath, Ephrata may feel more accessible and name-y in the US. Also written as Efrata and Ephratah, it appears in the names of towns in…
Italian
"little fiery one"
Fiammetta, from the Italian word for flame, has both femininity and fire. Fiammetta could make a good alternative to more conventional Italian girls' names like Giovanna. Fiammetta has some romantic,…
Italian variation of Florentia and Florence, Latin
"flourishing, prospering"
Bold and elegant, Fiorenza is an Italian form of Florence, which was used as the name of the Tuscan city in the Middle Ages. Appearing in the title of a 1907 play but Thomas Mann, it has been notably…
