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Less Popular Baby Names

Piggyperson
By Piggyperson
Updated Thu May 25 2023
If you like modern, yet simple and distinctive names, this is the list for you. This list doesn't include names like Donata, but names like Hannah and Julie. These names are in the 500-1000 popularity category. They aren't extremely common, but still in every school. So if you love the popular names, but don't want one that's everywhere you go, keep scrolling down. To save you time, these names don't have descriptions. Not all names in the 500-1000 popularity category will be in this list, but ones that are classic but not outdated, modern but not unheard of, and ones that are beautiful but not typical. This list includes an equal amount of boys and girls names. I hope this list will help you find the perfect name, or at least give you an idea of what you want.
  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. Avery

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "ruler of the elves"

    • Description:

      Avery is a hugely popular name in the US, especially for girls. But while nearly four times as many girls as boys are named Avery today Avery's popularity is starting to soften for girls while it continues to strengthen for boys.
  3. Romy

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Rosemary, Roma, Romana, Romilly etc.

    • Description:

      Austrian actress Romy Schneider seemed to be the singular bearer of this international nickname name until it found new style currency in the past decade, entering the US Top 1000 for the first time ever in 2024.
  4. Hannah

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "grace"

    • Description:

      Hannah is one of the nation's top biblical girls' names — it surpassed Sarah in 1998, and ranks in the Top 100 along with Elizabeth, Abigail, Chloe, and Naomi. Hannah is a name with many sources of appeal: Old Testament roots, soft and gentle sound, and a homey yet aristocratic image.
  5. Jesse

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God exists"

    • Description:

      King David's father turned 1980s cowboy, Jesse is now down in popularity but still a Biblical classic, ranking in the US Top 1000 for its entire history. The name is associated with a wide variety of bearers, from outlaw Jesse James to Olympic athlete Jesse Owens to activist Jesse Jackson to current actors Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Jesse Eisenberg. The spelling Jesse is more usual as a boys' name while Jessie is more traditional for girls.
  6. Nova

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "new"

    • Description:

      Nova has the feel of both newness, from its meaning, and great energy as an astronomical term for a star that increases suddenly in brightness before fading.
  7. Cooper

    • Origin:

      English occupational name

    • Meaning:

      "barrel maker"

    • Description:

      The genial yet upscale and preppy Cooper was one of the first occupational last names to catch on -- and Cooper remains a pleasing option.
  8. Gus

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Augustus, Angus, Gustave, Augustin, Augusten, Augustine, August

    • Description:

      Gus is a homey grandpa nickname name that can work as a short form for any of the above or stand on its own as a cutting-edge replacement for Max and Jake--though it was off the Top 1000 from 1978 until 2016, when it squeaked in at Number 999.
  9. Rex

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "king"

    • Description:

      Now that many dogs are named Max, it's safe to use this sleek, solid, regal name again for your child. And with the charm of its final x, its regal meaning, and its offbeat simplicity, Rex is definitely one to consider.
  10. Wilbur

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "resolute, brilliant"

    • Description:

      Wilbur is a stylish name in the UK whose merits are just starting to be discovered in the US. Wilbur, the loveable pig who Charlotte of the Web called Some Pig, is an inspirational hero. And Wilbur and Orville Wright were early aviationists.
  11. Drew

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Andrew

    • Meaning:

      "strong and manly"

    • Description:

      Drew, which projects a polished, somewhat intellectual impression, is rapidly becoming the Andrew nickname of choice, replacing the past favorite, Andy. It is fully capable of standing on its own, which it has for many decades, non-stop since 1942.
  12. Nellie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Helen, Ellen, and Eleanor, English, Swedish

    • Meaning:

      "light, shining torch"

    • Description:

      This sweet nickname name has seen a recent revival in the US, breaking the Top 1000 in 2019 for the first time in 40 years. By 2024, it became one of the fastest rising girl names, chasing sister name Eleanor up the charts, spurred on by the rise of other vintage gems like Margot, Millie, Willa, and Lottie.
  13. Kyle

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "narrow spit of land"

    • Description:

      Kyle is still appreciated by thousands of parents each year for its combination of simplicity, strength, and style; it was in the Top 20 for most of the nineties. As a Scottish surname, it dates back to the fifteenth century.
  14. Cody

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "helpful, pillow"

    • Description:

      In the early 1990s, Cody was in the Top 25 most popular boys' names in the USA; but it has been in decline since then. It retains a greater degree of popularity in the UK, however. Cody might be short for Dakota but despite its nickname feeling, it's a name of its own.
  15. Darcy

    • Origin:

      Irish or French

    • Meaning:

      "dark one, or from Arcy, or from the fortress"

    • Description:

      Delicate ballerina name with grace, charm, and heft courtesy of Jane Austen's Mr.
  16. Wallace

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "foreigner, stranger"

    • Description:

      Wallace is so square could almost be ripe for a turnaround, especially with the hipness imparted by the British Claymation series Wallace & Gromit. And Wally makes an adorable Leave it to Beaver retro-style nickname.
  17. Bernard

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "strong, brave as a bear"

    • Description:

      Bernard is obviously a saint's name, but how did it get to the big, benevolent dog? The eleventh century monk, patron saint of mountain climbers, who lived in the Alps, was famed for setting up safe houses for pilgrims on their way to Rome over the treacherous St. Bernard Pass, and the canine breed, also used to rescue people in treacherous conditions, was named for him.
  18. Julie

    • Origin:

      French from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "youthful, sky father"

    • Description:

      Wildly popular in the 1960s and '70s, Julie is no longer anywhere near as stylish as the name's longer forms. Try Juliet, Juliana, or even the more grownup Julia.
  19. Jovie

    • Origin:

      Modern invented

    • Meaning:

      "jovial"

    • Description:

      Jovie has a lively and cheerful sound and makes a fresh twist on old (and new) favorites like Jody, Josie, and Jolie. It could be considered a short form of Jovita, Jovena, and Jovana - all feminine forms of Jove, the Roman king of gods - but it could equally work as a stand alone name.
  20. Dennis

    • Origin:

      French from Greek, vernacular form of Dionysius

    • Meaning:

      "god of Nysa"

    • Description:

      Although it has come to sound Irish, Dennis is one of the most widely-used French names (St. Denis is the patron saint of France) and harks back even further to Dionysius, the Greek god of wine and debauchery. It was introduced to England by the Normans.