Exotic & Unique Names

A sweet, uplifting and still fairly uncommon modern virtue name. Its single syllable makes it especially good as a middle name, but it would also make a big impact in the first spot.

Parents of female Emersyns will say this Emerson variation's Y makes it more feminine -- and to some extent, it does. This, combined with the trendy Y, have flagged this name as on-the-rise. "Em" names have been hot for girls in recent years, from the classic Emma, Emily, and Emilia to the modern Emery and Ember — and both Emerson and Emersyn are no exception. Emersyn entered the charts in 2019 and has been rising since, all the way up to the Top 200.

Associated with poetry, pop music, and the Greek lyre, Lyric has a light and zippy sound to it and joins the likes of Melody, Harmony, Cadence, and Aria as musical names that have become baby names. A unisex name, it is currently three times more popular for girls in the US where it sits in the Top 600. It has declined in use since its 2014 peak, but was still given to around 560 girls in a recent year.

This name's similarity to Kalani and pretty Hawaiian origin helped catapult it into the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013.

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.

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.

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.

Monae is a feminine name with French influences, possibly derived from the French word 'moine' meaning 'monk.' It gained modest recognition in the United States in the late 20th century but became more noticeable following the success of musician Janelle Monáe in the early 2000s. The name has a sleek, modern sound with an artistic flair. While never among the most popular names, Monae appeals to parents seeking something distinctive yet melodic and easy to pronounce. It carries connotations of creativity, uniqueness, and sophistication. The name's rhythm, with emphasis on the second syllable, gives it a musical quality that enhances its appeal.

Nyah is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins, giving it rich multicultural significance. In Arabic, it's related to 'Nia' meaning 'purpose' or 'intention.' In Swahili traditions, it connects to similar meanings of 'purpose' or 'resolve.' Some associate it with Hebrew origins meaning 'beauty' or consider it a variation of the name 'Nya.' The name gained visibility in Western countries in the early 2000s, partly due to increased interest in distinctive multicultural names with concise, flowing sounds. Nyah features prominently in contemporary naming trends that favor short, vowel-rich names ending in 'ah.' Its international roots and melodic quality make it appealing to parents seeking a name that's both accessible and distinctive.

Blending the sounds of Bryce, Brian, Riley and Kylie, Brylee is a modern invention that ranked in the US Top 1000 from 2005 to 2022. It peaked back in 2012 when it was given to around 770 babies, but has since been in decline. Given to around 230 girls in a recent year, Brynlee and Oakley are now preferred.

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.

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

Kassia is the k-styled spelling variation of rising star name Cassia, an obscure but attractive botanical choice drawn from the cassia tree, which produces a cinnamon-like spice. The biblical Keziah is related.

Any of the Y forms, which also include Yasmeen, Yasmin, and Yasmina, make this name more unusual and distinctive.

This name's trendy trademarks - the "K" start and the "-yah" suffix - explain how it made its way up the Top 1000. Just beware the similarities between this name and creamy liqueur "Kahlua".

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.

This name is a combination of the traditional Grace and the popular suffix -lyn. Gracelyn could work as an alternative to the popular Brooklyn while also sharing the modern feel of Emberlynn and Oaklyn.

Sunshine was seen as a quintessential hippie name of the 70s, reaching as high as Number 536 in 1975. Now such names are making a bit of a retro comeback, seen, for example, as a character on Glee.

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.

Adds a soupcon of French flair to some old classics with the currently trendy ae ending.