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Uncommon names from a picky person

tshell514
By tshell514
Updated Thu May 25 2023
I like names that are unique and uncommon, but not unheard of. I also would not name my child after someone in the family. I view it as a way to bring in a new name into a family and the baby is a clean slate, so I want my child to be able to really be their own person. I also would use the more common names on this list as middle names (most likely) or some sort of combination. For girls, I love feminine names because mine is unisex and i've always disliked that about it. I love names that have some sort of association with water. I also like looking at greek, french, italian names.
  1. Henry

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "estate ruler"

    • Description:

      Henry is well and truly back in style. The classic returned to the Top 10 in the US in 2021 for the first time in over a century, and as of 2024, sits at Number 6. Like James and Theodore, Henry is a strong, traditional name that also manages to feel stylish and gentle.
  2. Elodie

    • Origin:

      French, variation of Alodia, German

    • Meaning:

      "foreign riches"

    • Description:

      The lyrical and melodious Elodie, a Nameberry favorite, is starting to rise through the US popularity charts for the first time since the 1880s. This once uncommon member of the El- family is a Top 100 name in the UK, Canada, and New Zealand, while in the US, it was one of the fasted rising names of 2024 and now sits in the Top 400.
  3. Logan

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "small hollow"

    • Description:

      According to exclusive Nameberry data, Logan is officially the Number 1 gender-neutral name in the US, but that statistic is somewhat misleading given that nearly 90 percent of the baby Logans born in 2024 were boys.
  4. Rhys

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "ardor"

    • Description:

      Rugged but gentle, Rhys is the traditional Welsh spelling of this name, which can also be anglicized as Reese or Reece. Up until 2010, Reese was the preferred spelling in the US, perhaps because parents were concerned about mispronunciation. However, Rhys has since taken over for boys and is now used twice as often as Reese.
  5. Aurora

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "dawn"

    • Description:

      The goddess name Aurora has consistently been on the US popularity list since the nineteenth century, but has really taken off in the past 30 years. Aurora also enjoys remarkable international popularity, ranking in the Top 100 throughout the English-speaking world as well as in Italy, Spain, Norway, Switzerland, and several other European and Latin American countries.
  6. Kaia

    • Origin:

      Latin, Scandinavian, or Hawaiian

    • Meaning:

      "to rejoice or sea"

    • Description:

      The new Maia, the next Kayla, Kaia has been on the charts since the year 2000. You might see it as a female form of the also-rising Kai, which means sea in Hawaiian and is sometimes used for girls as well, or as a Kardashianization of the ancient goddess name Caia.
  7. Patrick

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "noble, patrician"

    • Description:

      Patrick, long tied to a hyper-Irish image, is enjoying something of a renaissance as a stylish classic, as it has long been considered in England. Along with such choices as Charles and George, Patrick has escaped overuse in recent decades.
  8. Saoirse

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "liberty"

    • Description:

      Before the young Irish actress Saoirse Ronan made her mark in the films Ladybird and The Lovely Bones, few of us had heard this name, let alone known how to pronounce it. But now it is slowly way edging its way into the mainstream, particularly, of course, with parents who have Irish roots. It made its first appearance in the US Top 1000 in 2016, when it was the third-fastest-rising girls' name.
  9. Roy

    • Origin:

      French or Celtic

    • Meaning:

      "king or red-haired"

    • Description:

      We've seen Ray regain his cool, but could this country/cowboy name epitomized by Roy Rogers (born Leonard Slye), Acuff, and Clark, do the same?
  10. Maia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "mother"

    • Description:

      Maia was derived from the Greek word maia, meaning "mother." In Greek legend, she was the fair-haired daughter of Atlas who mothered Zeus's favorite illegitimate son, Hermes. To the Romans, Maia was the incarnation of the earth mother and goddess of spring, after whom they named the month of May. Maya is the more common spelling.
  11. Ariadne

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "most holy"

    • Description:

      This name of the Cretan goddess of fertility is most popular now as the more melodic Ariana, but Ariadne has possibilities of its own. It first entered the US Top 1000 in 2014. The renewed interest in the name falls in line with the revival of other mythological names like Apollo and Athena. The trendy nickname Ari doesn't hurt either.
  12. Thalia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "to flourish"

    • Description:

      Thalia was one of the Three Graces in Greek mythology, and also the Muse of comedy and pastoral poetry, making this a Hellenic choice worthy of consideration.
  13. Aura

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "soft breeze"

    • Description:

      Aura is a New Age-y word turned name turned contemporary slang for being cool, confident, and suave. Also associated with ancient mythology, the spiritual "essence" surrounding someone, with the atmosphere, light, or vibe something gives off, and with an oncoming migraine, Aura has a lot going for it — and against it too.
  14. Enya

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "fire"

    • Description:

      This phonetic Anglicization of the Irish name Eithne was made familiar by the single-named Irish singer and composer. St. Eithne was the daughter of a king and an early Irish convert to Christianity.
  15. Theia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "goddess, godly"

    • Description:

      Theia is the Titan of sight and the shining light of the clear blue sky. She is the consort of Hyperion, and mother of Helios, Selene, and Eos. The name is more familiar in its Anglicized version, Thea.
  16. Aviva

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "springlike, fresh, dewy"

    • Description:

      Aviva is vivacious and memorable, a fresh spin on the Vivian and Vivienne names that have been getting more popular since Angelina and Brad chose one for their twin daughter. Another A-beginning palindrome name: Aziza.
  17. Siena

    • Origin:

      Italian place-name

    • Description:

      Siena is a soft and delicate Tuscan town name given a big fashion boost by lovely young actress/gossip column staple Sienna Miller. A real up-and-comer.
  18. North

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "cardinal direction of north"

    • Description:

      A lot of attention was drawn to this name when Kim Kardashian and Kanye West announced it as the name of their baby daughter, making it instantly unisex.
  19. Anja

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian; Finnish; Slovene; Croatian; Serbian, from Russian

    • Meaning:

      "grace"

    • Description:

      Anja is one of the most international of several versions of Ann/Anna now being imported, also including Anya and Annika.
  20. Meri

    • Origin:

      Finnish; Maori

    • Meaning:

      "sea; Mary"

    • Description:

      Upbeat name that cheers you as soon as you hear it. One famous bearer is Maori feminist Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia.