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Rare and Interesting Names

  1. Abner

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "father of light."

    • Description:

      This neglected Biblical name--it was the name of the commander of Saul's army and appears twice in the New Testament--is ready to flee Dogpatch. It was regularly used in the nineteenth century, but was pretty much demolished by the long-running hillbilly comic strip L'il Abner, which began in 1934 and ran through 1977. A more respectable namesake is Abner Doubleday, who has been credited with inventing baseball.
  2. Absalom

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "father of peace"

    • Description:

      Absalom, because of its biblical and literary associations, just might appeal to the daring namegiver.
  3. Asher

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "fortunate, blessed, happy one"

    • Description:

      Asher—an excellent, soft and sensitive Old Testament choice—is a baby boy name on the rise, and is a Nameberry biblical favorite.
  4. Ashton

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "ash trees place"

    • Description:

      The recent ascent of this English surname is due to two things: the megapopular Ash beginning and TV/movie hottie Ashton Kutcher. The name peaked at Number 76 in 2004, a year after Ashton Kutcher's (both Christopher Ashton) hit TV show Punk'd made its debut.
  5. Atticus

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "from Attica"

    • Description:

      Atticus, with its trendy Roman feel combined with the upstanding, noble image of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, is a real winner among boy names. Atticus entered the US Top 1000 in 2004 and is a firm Nameberry favorite.
  6. Blaine

    • Origin:

      Irish and Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "yellow"

    • Description:

      Attractive Scottish and Irish surname name of a seventh-century saint, associated with the illusionist and escape artist David Blaine.
  7. Brady

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "broad meadow or large-chested"

    • Description:

      The Irish name given to Miranda Hobbes's son on the dearly departed Sex and the City is a friendly and energetic choice. You well might want to make your son part of the Brady bunch.
  8. Brayden

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Irish surname Braden

    • Meaning:

      "salmon"

    • Description:

      Brayden is the top spelling of one of the epidemically popular rhyming cousins of Aiden, hitting the Top 100 in 2005.. It has dipped a bit recently, but is still widely used. Other popular spellings include Braden, Braeden, Braydon, Braiden, Braedon and Bradyn. Take your pick.
  9. Brayleigh

    • Description:

      Brayleigh is a modern feminine name that embodies contemporary naming trends combining popular sounds and elements. Created as a variation blending the popular prefix 'Bray-' (as in Brayden) with the trendy suffix '-leigh' (a stylized version of 'lee'), the name represents the creative combination style that gained popularity in the early 2000s. Brayleigh has a melodic quality with its flowing syllables and soft ending sound. The name has particularly gained traction in the United States, appealing to parents seeking something distinctive yet following familiar phonetic patterns. While some might view it as part of the trend toward newly-created names, others appreciate its fresh sound and the personalization it offers. Brayleigh typically evokes images of brightness and modernity.

  10. Calliope

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Meaning:

      "beautiful voice"

    • Description:

      Calliope is the name of the muse of epic poetry -- and also the musical instrument on the merry-go-round. Bold and creative, it debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2016, and entered the Top 500 in 2023. Similar in rhythm and sound to Penelope with usable nicknames Callie, Clio, and Lola, it is no wonder it's on the rise.
  11. Callista

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "most beautiful"

    • Description:

      Calista Flockhart spotlighted this lovely Greek name that has a long future in the English-speaking world. Kallista is another spelling; Calixta and Calixto are related.
  12. Calvin

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "bald, hairless"

    • Description:

      Calvin is a slightly quirky but cozy name that has a fashion edge thanks to Calvin Klein. It has been steadily on the popularity list since records were kept, never lower than Number 250, peaking in the 1920s, the era of the Calvin (originally John Calvin ) Coolidge presidency.
  13. Caspian

    • Origin:

      Place name

    • Meaning:

      "white"

    • Description:

      One of the most romantic of appellations, Caspian is a geographical name referring to the large salty sea between Asia and Europe. It's also the name of the hero of C.S. Lewis's beloved Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian.
  14. Chandler

    • Origin:

      English from French occupational name

    • Meaning:

      "candle maker"

    • Description:

      For a generation, this name will always be linked to 1990s hit TV series Friends. Whether this is a positive or a negative will depend on your fondness for the show, and character Chandler Bing, but this name deserves consideration beyond these connotations: Chandler is a fresh take on the professional surname names.
  15. Cordelia

    • Origin:

      Latin; Celtic

    • Meaning:

      "heart; daughter of the sea"

    • Description:

      Cordelia is exactly the kind of old-fashioned, grown-up name for girls that many parents are seeking for their daughters today. The name of King Lear's one sympathetic daughter, Cordelia has both style and substance along with its Shakespearean pedigree.
  16. Elowyn

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Elowen, Cornish

    • Meaning:

      "elm"

    • Description:

      The -en ending is the authentically female one, but more and more Americans are turning to the y as a feminizing element in the final syllable of this name. Elowyn entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2022, while the Elowen spelling has yet to hit the charts. Whichever spelling you prefer, this is a sweet and whimsical name with a fairy-like aura.
  17. Emerald

    • Origin:

      Gem name; Persian

    • Meaning:

      "green"

    • Description:

      Emerald is the intriguing color and jewel name of the deep green stone treasured as far back as ancient Egypt — it's supposed to open one's heart to wisdom and to love and be good for strengthening relationships — which could make for an interesting, unusual name, particularly with the popularity of so many Em-starting names.
  18. Emery

    • Origin:

      English from German

    • Meaning:

      "industrious"

    • Description:

      The superpopularity of Emily and Emma has recently boosted the unisex Emery, especially since it became a celebrity baby name when it was chosen by Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn.
  19. Emmett

    • Origin:

      English masculine variation of Emma, German

    • Meaning:

      "universal"

    • Description:

      Emmett, honest and sincere, laid-back and creative, is on the rise as a male cognate of the megapopular Emma and Emily, not to mention being a character in the popular Twilight series.
  20. Genesis

    • Origin:

      Word name, Biblical

    • Meaning:

      "the origin and formation of something; The First Book in The Bible"

    • Description:

      With the sounds of Jennifer and Alexis, and the vibes of Eden and Serenity, Genesis is a Biblical inspired choice that has been popular in the US since the 2000’s.
  21. Jethro

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "excellence"

    • Description:

      Jethro, though the biblical father-in-law of Moses, has suffered for a long time from a Beverly Hillbilly image, but some really adventurous parents might consider updating and urbanizing it and transitioning it into the hip o-ending category.
  22. Juniper

    • Origin:

      Latin tree name

    • Meaning:

      "young"

    • Description:

      Juniper is a fresh-feeling nature name -- it's a small evergreen shrub -- with lots of energy. A new favorite of fashionable parents, Juniper joins such other tree and shrub names as Hazel, Acacia, and Willow.
  23. Julene
    • Keturah

      • Origin:

        Hebrew

      • Meaning:

        "incense"

      • Description:

        Keturah, the Old Testament name of Abraham's second wife, is a possibility for anyone seeking a truly unusual and interesting biblical name; certainly a lot more distinctive than that of Abraham's first wife, Sarah.
    • Linus

      • Origin:

        Greek

      • Meaning:

        "flax"

      • Description:

        Can Linus lose its metaphorical security blanket and move from the Peanuts page onto the birth certificate? We think it has enough charm and other positive elements going for it for the answer to be yes.
    • Luna

      • Origin:

        Latin

      • Meaning:

        "moon"

      • Description:

        The name of the Roman goddess of the moon, Luna is derived straight from the Latin word for moon, luna. Luna may be the name most likely to surprise someone from an older generation by its Top 10 status in the US and its widespread international popularity.
    • Meadow

      • Origin:

        Nature name

      • Description:

        Meadow's upward popularity trajectory certainly suggests that the name has transcended its connection to The Sopranos.. In the US, more than 750 baby girls were named Meadow last year, a number we expect to keep rising.
    • Oakley

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "oak wood or clearing"

      • Description:

        Oakley, with its nature name roots and its Annie Oakley charm, is a hot name for both genders but more than twice as popular for girls. This name made it into the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013, one of only four girl names starting with O to rank that high. A decade letter, it's aiming for the Top 100.
    • Odyssia

      • Origin:

        Variation of Odysseus or Odessa

      • Description:

        Whether you take this as a female form of the mythical wanderer's name Odysseus or a spin on the place name Odessa makes a huge difference. But both names have that potential playground problem of the initial Od- syllable, as in odor.
    • Ophelia

      • Origin:

        Greek

      • Meaning:

        "help"

      • Description:

        Floral, elegant, and bold, Ophelia re-entered the US Top 1000 in 2015 after more than 50 years off the charts. It has risen more than 700 spots since then and shows no signs of slowing down. Now in the US Top 300, could Ophelia one day become the next Olivia or Amelia?
    • Paloma

      • Origin:

        Spanish

      • Meaning:

        "dove"

      • Description:

        Paloma is vibrant and ruby-lipped a la jewelry designer Paloma Picasso, but it also suggests peace, as symbolized by the dove. Paloma is a highly recommended striking but soft name, one of the best of the names that mean peace and girls' names starting with P.
    • Parker

      • Origin:

        English occupational name

      • Meaning:

        "park-keeper"

      • Description:

        One of the first generation of surname names, along with Porter and Morgan, Parker's still one of the most appealing and remains firmly in the Top 100 for boys. About three times as many boys as girls get this occupational name. The association with Charlie Parker gives Parker itself a jazzy edge, and it also has a nature-related meaning. Rosie O'Donnell has a son named Parker.
    • Philomena

      • Origin:

        Greek

      • Meaning:

        "lover of strength"

      • Description:

        Philomena is an earthy Greek name now used in various Latin countries. While it has felt simply clunky for many years, it's starting -- along with such sister names as Wilhelmina and Frederica -- to sound so clunky it's cool.
    • Primrose

      • Origin:

        English flower name

      • Meaning:

        "first rose"

      • Description:

        A quaint and quirky flower name, until recently considered a bit too prim for most American classrooms but brought back to life in recent years by the attractive character of Primrose "Prim" Everdeen in the Hunger Games series. In the Top 300 girl names in England and Wales and on Nameberry, Primrose remains rare in the US, but is made more accessible by a raft of sweet nickname options, including Rosie and Posy.
    • Rhett

      • Origin:

        English from Dutch

      • Meaning:

        "advice"

      • Description:

        Rhett has been more tied to Gone with the Wind than even Scarlett, but now we're hearing rumblings of its finding new and independent favor among parents, perhaps emboldened by the growing popularity of Scarlett.
    • Sawyer

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "woodcutter"

      • Description:

        Sawyer is a surname with a more relaxed and friendly feel than many others, and is one of the hottest occupational names right now, with the Nameberry seal of approval. Sawyer is becoming one of the top unisex names. Both Sara Gilbert and Diane Farr used Sawyer for their daughters, while it was given a boost as a boys' name by the character Sawyer on Lost, an alias for the character really named James Ford.
    • Shepherd

      • Origin:

        Occupational name

      • Meaning:

        "sheep hearder"

      • Description:

        Shepherd is an occupational surname with a pleasant pastoral feel. It was chosen for their son by the Jerry Seinfelds, which might inspire others to follow their lead.
    • Shiloh

      • Origin:

        Hebrew

      • Meaning:

        "tranquil"

      • Description:

        Haunting biblical and Civil War place-name; now unisex—especially after the mega-high-profile Brangelina couple picked it for their daughter. It debuted in the Top 1000 for boys in 2015.
    • Sidonie

      • Origin:

        Latin

      • Meaning:

        "from Sidon "

      • Description:

        Sidonie is an appealing and chic French favorite that is starting to attract some American fans as a fresher alternative to Sydney. Also spelled Sidony, Sidonie was the birth name of the French novelist Colette.
    • Silas

      • Origin:

        Aramaic, Latin, Greek

      • Meaning:

        "of the forest; or prayed for"

      • Description:

        Sleek and smart, with a hint of mystique about it, Silas is a recent addition to the US Top 100. Both mythological and Biblical in origin, Silas joins the ranks of Isaiah, Atlas, Elias, and Sebastian: polished and contemporary feeling names with plenty of history.
    • Tarragon

      • Origin:

        Plant name from Greek

      • Meaning:

        "dragon herb"
    • Uriah

      • Origin:

        Hebrew

      • Meaning:

        "God is my light"

      • Description:

        A perfectly respectable Old Testament name ruined forever through its association with the odious Uriah Heep in David Copperfield. Some people also find this name just too close to the word urine. These negative connotations may be wearing off, however. (Perhaps because people don't read as much Dickens as they used to.)
    • Walden

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "valley of the Welsh"

      • Description:

        Walden is a recent entrant to the en-ending boys' names trend, a name that summons up placid images of Thoreau's two-year stay contemplating nature near Walden Pond.
    • Waylon

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "cunning, craft"

      • Description:

        With its rugged, country charm and confident sounds, Waylon is among the wave of Old Western names that parents are choosing.
    • Willow

      • Origin:

        English nature name

      • Meaning:

        "willow tree"

      • Description:

        An ancient tree that figures in literature from Shakespeare to Harry Potter and is believed to possess magical powers, Willow is a lovely name, as graceful as its inspiration.
    • Winona

      • Origin:

        Sioux Indian

      • Meaning:

        "firstborn daughter"

      • Description:

        Rode two rockets to fame, with actress Winona Ryder and singer Wynonna Judd. Winona entered the Top 1000 for the first time since 1957 this past year in 2022, following in the footsteps of trending short form Winnie.
    • Wyatt

      • Origin:

        English surname

      • Meaning:

        "brave in war"

      • Description:

        Wyatt has been hot, which is to say cool, for several years now. With its easy Wyatt Earpish cowboy charm, it's relaxed but still highly respectable.
    • Xavier

      • Origin:

        Basque

      • Meaning:

        "new house"

      • Description:

        Xavier originated is use as a given name after Saint Francis Xavier, cofounder of the Jesuit order, who got his name from the Spanish-Basque village where he was born. His birthplace was Javier, the name of which was derived from the Basque place name Etxeberria, meaning "castle" or "new house."
    • Zander

      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Alexander

      • Meaning:

        "defending men"

      • Description:

        On the rise as an independent name: Zander and Xander are both widely used can increasingly be found as characters in movies and on TV.
    • Zelda

      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Griselda

      • Meaning:

        "gray fighting maid"

      • Description:

        Classified as an early beauty, Zelda has long and often been used as such for characters in books and films. Since 1986, Zelda has been a prime Nintendo name, as in the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
    • Zephyr

      • Origin:

        Greek

      • Meaning:

        "west wind"

      • Description:

        If you're looking for a name that's light and breezy, this could be it. A name from mythology: Zephyrus/Zephyr was the Greek god of the west wind, and with its similarity in sound to the likes of Stefan or Seth, its zippy Z initial and cool Y, it is primed to rise up the US charts.
    • Zipporah

      • Origin:

        Variation of Tziporah, Hebrew

      • Meaning:

        "bird"

      • Description:

        There are many variations of this name, with or without the initial T and the final h, with one p or two. In the Bible she was the wife of Moses.