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The Best Rare Names of WWII - Boys

  1. Barclay

    • Origin:

      English and Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "where birches grow"

    • Description:

      Americans may not realize Barclay is the phonetic spelling of the British Berkeley -- though both sound like old-fashioned butler names.
  2. Eaton

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "riverside"

    • Description:

      Eaton's similarity to Eton gives it an upscale Old School feel, though in the U.S. a name that sound like eatin' could have teasin' potential. Eaton could also sound like the much-more-familiar Ethan with a tough-guy accent.
  3. Constant

    • Origin:

      French from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "steadfast"

    • Description:

      A traditional French male name that could, with American pronunciation, become an admirable word name.
  4. Berwyn

    • Description:

      Berwyn is a masculine name of Welsh origin meaning 'fair' or 'blessed hill.' This distinctive name combines 'ber' (meaning hill or mound) with 'gwyn' (meaning white, fair, or blessed). Berwyn has strong connections to Welsh geography, as the Berwyn Range is a significant mountain range in northeastern Wales. The name carries a dignified, somewhat scholarly tone and evokes imagery of natural landscapes. Though uncommon outside Wales, Berwyn has maintained consistent, if limited, usage throughout the English-speaking world. The name's Celtic roots give it an appealingly distinctive quality while still being relatively straightforward to pronounce and spell for English speakers.

  5. Juneau

    • Origin:

      Place-name

    • Description:

      Juneau could go either way as a name. The newfound fame of the movie heroine Juno knocks this unrelated though identical-sounding Alaskan name out of consideration for boys, for the moment. Though (male) writer Junot Diaz may put the sound-alike name back in the running for boys.
  6. Sverre

    • Origin:

      Dutch, Norwegian

    • Meaning:

      "wild"

    • Description:

      An intriguingly wild alternative to Sven.
  7. Benigno

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "kind, wellborn"

    • Description:

      From the root that gives us "benign," Benigno is not as accessible in English-speaking cultures as such names as Bruno and Benicio. Filipino Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., went by his nickname Ninoy.
  8. Fleming

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "man from Flanders"

    • Description:

      If it's not too phlegmatic for you, this surname and name of a Scottish clan could honor a number of people, especially Alexander Fleming, the father of antibiotics, and Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond.
  9. Conley

    • Origin:

      Anglicization of Conleth, Irish

    • Meaning:

      "chaste fire"

    • Description:

      Conley has a contemporary surname feel but is actually vintage in its usage. It was used as a masculine given name through the 1940s and peaked in 1905 at Number 709. Ready for revival? Definitely.
  10. Alban

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "white, or, man from Alba"

    • Description:

      An ancient and highly unusual name; St. Alban -- sometimes also called Albinus or Aubin -- was an early martyr in Roman Britain. Using an alternate spelling, Alben Barkley was the 35th U.S. Vice-President, serving under Harry Truman. And Albin is popular in modern Sweden. But only the form Alban has the alternate meaning "from Alba".
  11. Arlan

    • Description:

      Arlan is a masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive from the Germanic elements 'arn' (eagle) and 'land,' suggesting 'eagle land.' Alternatively, it could be a variation of Harlan, meaning 'rocky land' or 'from the hare's land.' In some contexts, it represents an Anglicized form of the Irish name Ó hArrachtáin. Arlan gained modest popularity in America during the mid-20th century but remained relatively uncommon. The name experienced a small resurgence in recent years as parents seek vintage names with strong sounds. Arlan combines a traditional feel with uncommon status, appealing to those wanting distinctive yet accessible names. Its short, strong phonetics and natural imagery associations give it a rugged yet refined character.
  12. Caetano

    • Origin:

      Portuguese

    • Meaning:

      "from Gaeta"

    • Description:

      The attractive Portuguese form of Gaëtan/Gaetano, meaning "from Gaeta" (a town in ancient Italy).
  13. Jabez

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "borne in pain"

    • Description:

      Jabez has a rare combo of three appealing elements: a Biblical heritage, a captivating Southern accent, and a jazzy feel. It was popular with the Pilgrims and on into the nineteenth century (there have been four U.S. Congressmen named Jabez), but it hasn't been in the Top 1000 since 1880.
  14. Levy

    • Description:

      Levy is a masculine name with rich multicultural origins. In Hebrew, it derives from the tribe of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, signifying "joined" or "attached." The name carries religious significance as the Levites were dedicated to religious service in ancient Jewish tradition. As a surname-turned-first-name, Levy has gained modest popularity in recent decades. It's also found as a Finnish name, pronounced "LEH-vi," with different origins. The name has a contemporary feel with historical depth, appealing to parents seeking a name with cultural significance and a modern sound. Levy balances uniqueness with recognizability, offering a short, distinctive option that's relatively easy to spell and pronounce.

  15. Freeman

    • Origin:

      Word name or surname name, English

    • Meaning:

      "free man"

    • Description:

      Another meaningful word name that actually dates back to pre-Emancipation days.
  16. Zuma

    • Origin:

      American place-name and Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "peace"

    • Description:

      Zuma was entered in the American name lexicon when musicians Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale chose it for their son. Californians will recognize Zuma as the name of a beautiful beach in Malibu, and it's also the surname of a South African president. With the lovely meaning of peace and its place-name associations, Zuma is one of those American names that literally sprang from the earth.
  17. Ammon

    • Origin:

      Variation of Amman, German occupational name, Greek, Ancient Egyptian

    • Meaning:

      "administrator; the hidden one"

    • Description:

      Ammon is connected to two religions in the US and is used exclusively between the two of them. Prior to the 1960s, Ammon was considered a solely Amish name. In the Amish community, Ammon is bestowed in honor of Jacob Amman, whom the Amish sect is named after.
  18. Donato

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "given by God"

    • Description:

      Widely used in Italy, Spain, and Portugal, has an air of generosity and could easily be adopted here.
  19. Hyman

    • Origin:

      Anglicized variation of Chaim

    • Meaning:

      "life"

    • Description:

      Hyman was commonly used by first-generation Jewish immigrants to Anglicize Chaim, but similarities to terms like heinie and hymen have taken it out of the realm of modern possibility. The original Chaim would be preferable to Hyman.
  20. Bertrand

    • Origin:

      French from German

    • Meaning:

      "magnificent crow"

    • Description:

      This name of famed philosopher, mathematician and Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell becomes slightly more plausible with the French pronunciation, bare-TRAHN. Another noted bearer is French director and screenwriter Bertrand Tavernier.