Exotic & Unique Names

  1. Milan
    • Origin:

      Italian place name or Slavic
    • Meaning:

      "the middle of the plain; gracious, dear; union"
    • Description:

      In many Slavic and other European countries, Milan is purely a boys’ name, but in the US, it's also popular for girls – no doubt inspired by the fashionable Italian city. It entered the Top 1000 for boys in 2013, while for girls it has been in the Top 1000 since 2009. Currently, it is given to three boys for everyone one girl.
  2. Aviana
    • Origin:

      Variation of Avis, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "bird"
    • Description:

      Aviana is a name that's like the megapopular Ava and Ariana, but not quite as popular as either. It entered into the mainstream back in 2010 however, after actress Amy Adams chose it for her daughter, fulfilling her desire to choose a "normal" name after all, even if it didn't seem like that a decade ago.
  3. Kenyon
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "white haired or blond"
    • Description:

      Kenyon is a very engaging British surname name, the middle y giving it a kind of southwestern canyonesque undertone.
  4. Mikaela
    • Origin:

      Swedish and Finnish variation of Michaela, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "who is like God"
    • Description:

      Variation of Michaela often used in Scandinavian countries. Oscar-winning actress Mikey Madison's formal name is Mkaela, spelled this way. Mikaela is a Top 20 name in Puerto Rico.
  5. Khalil
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "friend"
    • Description:

      Spelled in various ways, this name was first brought into the American consciousness by the Lebanese-American poet and artist Kahlil Gibran, author of The Prophet.
  6. Keon
    • Origin:

      Modern invented name; Gaelic, variation of John
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      Keon, a mashup of Kevin and Leon, has been in the Top 900 for a decade and a half, following in the wake of female cousin Kiana. Keon also has roots as a Gaelic variation of John.
  7. Azariah
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "helped by God"
    • Description:

      Though this is a popular name for men in the Bible, today it's used with this spelling for nearly equal numbers of girls and boys. The Azaria variation is much more often given to girls.
  8. Karis
    • Origin:

      English variation of Carys, Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "love"
    • Description:

      This much less popular variation draws more from Karin.
  9. Zarina
    • Origin:

      Persian
    • Meaning:

      "a golden vessel"
    • Description:

      Derived from Persian zarin "golden", Zarina is a strong and sparkling name used in multiple languages, including Kazakh, Urdu and Malay. It was the name of an ancient Scythian queen, and also sounds very close to the Russian tsarina or czarina – the pre-revolutionary term for an empress of Russia.
  10. Darien
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Darian
    • Meaning:

      "rich, kingly"
    • Description:

      The Darien spelling, which relates to the posh Connecticut town, peaked at Number 393 in 1994 but more recently has been just hanging on at the bottom of the Top 1000. Still, a name with an appealing sound and feel that may ascend again.
  11. Kasia
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Katarzyna, Polish, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "pure; cassia, cinnamon"
    • Description:

      An attractive and intriguing choice with an appealing blend of gentle and sharper sounds, Kasia is a diminutive of Katarzyna, the Polish form of Katherine. Ultimately from Greek, it is generally interpreted to mean "pure".
  12. Anaise
    • Origin:

      Variation of Anais
    • Description:

      Anais, the name forever attached to the daring French-born American novelist and diarist Anais Nin, is unusual and French enough without appending an e, though some may think it clarifies pronunciation.
  13. Kori
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Corey, English, African, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "from the hollow; lamb; coral"
    • Description:

      This variation of Corey has a Kardashian-style spelling update -- which might be why it's experiencing a boost in popularity of late. Kori is also a Kikuyu name meaning lamb, one of the many names from that African culture with animal meanings, and a short form of Koral, the Hebrew form of Coral.
  14. Ariyah
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Aria or feminine variation of Aryeh, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "lion"
    • Description:

      Ariyah jumped into the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013, probably because some American parents see it as a creative spelling of the popular Aria or Arya. But it's also an authentic Hebrew name in its own right, a feminine form of the Biblical Aryeh, heard in modern Israel..
  15. Kamden
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Camden
    • Meaning:

      "winding valley"
    • Description:

      Spelling Camden with a K makes it less of a place name—Camden is a downmarket city in New Jersey and an upmarket area of London—and more of a Kardashian-era confection, or maybe konfection. Both Kamden and Camden are in the Top 500 boys’ names.
  16. Desean
    • Description:

      Desean appears to be a modern variant spelling of DeSean or De'Sean, which combines the French prefix 'De' (meaning 'of' or 'from') with 'Sean,' the Irish form of John (meaning 'God is gracious'). This name emerged in popularity in the United States during the late 20th century. The prefix 'De' is common in various naming traditions, including French and Spanish, while the combination with Sean creates a distinctive contemporary name. The name gained some visibility through figures like professional football player DeSean Jackson. While specific data on its earliest usage is limited, Desean has been consistently used since the 1980s and 1990s, with a modest but steady presence in American naming trends.
  17. Alivia
    • Origin:

      Variation of Olivia
    • Description:

      While Alivia may not have achieved the megapopularity of its mother name, it's still a widely used choice. Alivia combines the trendiness of A names with the trendiness of Olivia to create a choice that's slightly off the beaten track -- slightly being the operative word here. Is the distinction the initial A earns you worth a lifetime of explaining, "No, it's Alivia, with an A, not Olivia"? Your call, though ours would be no.
  18. Charity
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "charity"
    • Description:

      Charity is one of the Big Three abstract virtue names, along with Hope and Faith, though far less widely used than the others. But as Faith, Grace and Hope grow more common, some parents are beginning to look at the more unusual three-syllable choices like Verity, Amity, Clarity and Charity, which sound much fresher and also have that pleasingly rhythmic 'y'-ending sound.
  19. Zaylee
    • Origin:

      Modern invented name
    • Description:

      A contemporary spin on Hailey, Bailey, and Kailey, using the stylish letter Z and the double -ee ending, Zaylee ticks the boxes as trendy choice for a modern baby. It joined the US Top 1000 back in 2015 and at least 350 girls received the name in a recent year.
  20. Janelle
    • Origin:

      American, modern elaboration of Jane
    • Description:

      It's far cooler to drop the first syllable and go for Elle.

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