Unusual, Rare, and Unique Baby Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 25 pages
of 25
French and Spanish, diminutive of Sebastien
"person from ancient city of Sebastia"
In this form, or as Sebastian or as Bas, Bastien is a fashionable Euro name with a possible future in America. There is a one-act comic opera by Mozart titled Bastien and Bastienne . An alternate…
Spelling variation of Haidee and Haydée, Literature
"modest, reverent"
A literary creation, first appearing in Byron's poem Don Juan (as Haidee or Haidée) and then in The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas (as Haydée).
Word name
With West one of the hottest names for boys, and North the name of a high-profile celebrity baby, can East be far behind? While Easton seems to be the version of choice for this directional name --…
Scottish variation of James
"supplanter"
Just as Seamus/Seumus is Irish for James, Hamish is the Scottish form — one that's not often used here, but still redolent of Olde Scotland. If you're ready to go further than Duncan and Malcolm, out…
English
English place name derived from the Anglo-Norman personal name Hasten or Haesta, made famous by the battle of 1066.
Latin clan name
"timekeeper"
The ancient name Horace sounds fustily fuddy-duddy, and yet, with the resurrection of Homer, and the new interest in old Roman names...who knows. Its early popularity--it was in the Top 100 at the…
Diminutive of Mary or Margaret, Hebrew, Egyptian, Greek
"drop of the sea or bitter or pearl"
Mamie is back. Having finally shorn her Mamie Eisenhower bangs, this insouciant and adorable nickname name is perfect if you want a zestier way to honor a beloved aunt Mary. Meryl Streep's actress…
English word name
"month name"
Most things Jul-related – from the month of July to popular modern names Julia and Julian – originate with Roman emperor Julius Caesar, and the month name July is no exception. Fifteen girls and…
Welsh
"noisy one"
"Help Me, Rhonda. sang the Beach Boys -- help me convince my parents not to give me this sixties name.
Igbo
"glorify God"
A common unisex name in Nigeria. Kerry Washington used it as the middle name for her son Caleb.
Sanskrit
"wide"
Arabic
"shield; protector"
A smooth and soulful Arabic name that travels well between languages and cultures. Lindsay Lohan chose a variation for her son Luai, born in 2023.
Old English
"God's friend"
Ancient name, near obsolete now, but could make a good alternative to Owen for the adventurous baby namer. Doctor Who fans will recognize this as part of his companion's name, Clara Oswin Oswald.
Irish
"floodtide, abundance, prosperity"
Jaunty and dapper, Rafferty is one of the most engaging of the Irish surnames, used by Jude Law and Sadie Frost for their son in 1996. Derived from the Irish, O'Raighbheartaigh, it means "(spring)…
African, Igbo
"good God"
Beautiful West African name that could appeal across cultures.
"illustrious and mighty"
This distinguished surname belonged to one of Ireland's great princely families. Its many variations include Rourke (as in actor Mickey), and O'Rourke. The family surname is thought to be one of the…
Greek
"shining, bright"
This spelling of Electra makes this vibrant name less electric and more kinetic.
Scottish
"from the town of St. Clair"
Could be a novel way for a boy's name to honor an ancestral Claire.
Italian
"joy"
Prettier than Joy and just beginning to be used here.
English word name; Japanese
Taiga has two origins. As a word name derived from Turkic languages via Russian, it refers to the snow forest of the Arctic regions, making it an evocative nature name. It is also a unisex Japanese…
