Renee5322's list "Down the Rabbit Hole Names" of 20 great name ideas: Cobalt - Donnacha!

Down the Rabbit Hole Names

All the names mentioned from the "Down the Rabbit Hole" thread of bad baby names (in the Baby Name Games section of the forum). Some of these names aren't actually bad at all. Others are some of the most unique names on the site. And some just have terrible spellings. (UNABLE TO ADD: Ecru)

Even among the range of blue names on the current baby naming palette -- Blue itself, Azure, Cerulean, Teal, Aqua, Cyan, Indigo -- Cobalt remains the most unusual, not to mention the most masculine.

Cobalt

Ichabod, an eccentric Old Testament name, is forever tied to the character of Ichabod Crane -- and worse, the teasing possibilities of "icky bod."  Even its original meaning is a negative.  Skip Ichabod, as if you were ever tempted.

Ichabod

In Shakespeare's The Tempest, Caliban is the name of the deformed son of a witch: not the greatest literary reference for a child. But Caliban does have an appealing international-yet-accessible feel and a rhythmic sound. As long as nobody knows its origin, it might make a great name for a boy or even a girl.

Caliban

Adolf may have been a Swedish royal name but the terrible dictatorship of Adolf Hitler has ruled out this name Adolf for any sensible parent. In the US last year, there were more than 100 boys' given the Spanish variation Adolfo and a handful given the old school Adolphus, but none named Adolf or Adolph....thank goodness.

Adolf

A little heavy on the fiber content; we prefer Bram. But Bran is also the Celtic god of the underworld, whose symbol is the raven. It's probably not a coincidence that George R.R. Martin chose this name for the Stark heir who assumes the mystical title of "Three-Eyed Raven" in his A Song Of Ice And Fire books and HBO's Game of Thrones. The character's full name is Brandon.

Bran

Derived from the name Caradog, the handsome ancient Celtic name was worn by one of the Knights of the Round Table, as well as a semi-legendary Welsh King. Possibly a cognate of Cedric and Carys, Caradoc is ultimately derived from the Brythonic name Caratācos meaning "loved", itself originating from the Celtic karu.
 
Familiar in various forms in the Middle Ages, Caradoc is rarely used today.

Caradoc

Just is a masculine name with Latin roots, derived from the word "justus" meaning "fair" or "righteous." As a given name, it carries strong connotations of morality, integrity, and fairness. Popular primarily in Dutch-speaking regions and parts of continental Europe, Just maintains a simple, strong quality with its single syllable and clear meaning. Though uncommon in English-speaking countries, where it might be confused with the adverb "just," the name has maintained steady usage in the Netherlands and surrounding areas. The name's brevity gives it a direct, unpretentious quality, while its meaning provides a powerful aspirational quality for its bearer.

Just

Rarely heard in the US, Aneurin is best remembered in the UK as the Welsh politician, Aneurin "Nye" Bevan, who was instrumental in setting up the National Health Service when he was Minister for Health.
 
Aneurin is a Welsh name, possibly derived from the Latin Honorius. While the Aneurin spelling might cause some confusion outside the UK, the more traditional alternative, Aneirin, might help just a little. There's also the possibility of jaunty nickname Nye, that fits right in with the likes of Kai, Rye, and Sky.
 
Poetic and meaningful, Aneurin is a bold choice, but one that people might actually have heard. It has appeared sporadically in the England and Wales Top 1000, most recently in 2022, likely thanks to the actor Aneurin Barnard, who starred in the hit show Peaky Blinders. A more recent year saw it fall just outside the Top 1000 when it was given to 27 boys. 
 
Finally, a bit of trivia to end on: To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NHS in 2023, a train was named after Aneurin Bevan by the Great Western Railway. In a ceremony hosted in Wales, the train was unveiled by none other than the first baby born under the NHS - Aneira Thomas - who was indeed, also named after Bevan!

Aneurin

The epithet of the legendary king's father Uther in Arthurian legend, later also applied to King Arthur himself. It literally means "head dragon" or "dragon's head", but the name appears in medieval Welsh mythology with the figurative meaning of "chief warrior". A truly daring name for a boy, in every sense!

Pendragon

The title of a Shakespeare play based on legends featuring the early Celtic King Cunobelinus, whose name derives from the Gaulish sun god Belenus.

Cymbeline

This name of an early Greek Christian philosopher comes with a wizened, ancient air about it. Still, perhaps the nickname Ari might help it work for a baby to grow into. 

Aristedes

The name of a mythically handsome youth – loved by Selene, the moon, who bore him fifty daughters. If you're looking for a mythological name for your son, this might make an excellent choice both rare and appealing.

Endymion

When Australian actress Rachel Griffiths chose this highly unusual name for her son, many assumed it was a bizarre invention, but noted Australian poet and writer of Waltzing Matilda, Banjo Patterson, is known by this name. Sprightly and musical, it could blend in with Bruno, Benjamin and Joey.
 
Borne by a character in the hit cartoon show Bluey, Banjo entered the US stats for the first time in 2024 when it was given to eight boys.

Banjo

This Irish name of a saint from the Isle of Aran also appears in myth and fantasy fiction, giving it an intriguing, mystical air. 
 Some modern parents are attempting to update the spelling, as in the actor Breckin (middle name Erin) Meyer or the most popular form of the name, Brecken.

Breccan

This particular spelling of Talmadge is strongly linked to James E. Talmage, an English chemist and early leader of the LDS Church. The majority of babies named Talmage are born in Utah.

Talmage

Orev

This name, more recognized as a short form of Sebastian, is perfectly usable a cool full name, and, in fact, ranks on the UK popularity list. Seb is getting lot of attention as the nickname name of the Ryan Gosling character in the hit film La La Land.

Years ago we might have said that this name was unthinkable, but with clunky, old-fashioned names being so popular right now — consider Augustus, Stanley, Wilfred, etc — what's to stop Cuthbert from becoming more wearable? Bertie is a cute (and very fashionable) nickname option for this grand old name, though Curt and Kit might work too. 
 
Meaning "famous, brilliant" or "familiar, bright", Cuthbert is an Old English name, notably borne by a 6th century saint who lived as a hermit on an English island and was able to perform miracles.
 
The name notably appears as the surname of Anne Shirley's guardians, Marilla and Matthew, in L.M Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, while in The Adventures of Tintin comics, there's a Professor Cuthbert Calculus. It's also used in the long-running British comic, The Beano, in which Cuthbert Cringeworthy is the "teacher's pet" of The Bash Street Kids.
 
Cuthbert last appeared in the US stats back in the 1950s, however, in England and Wales, the name has been given to 17 boys since 2020 and in the most recent data, it ranked alongside Crewe, Corby, and Crispin.

Cuthbert

There once was a moralizing fabulist who tried to make it as a baby name...and failed. 

Aesop

Virtually unknown in this country, Donnacha is currently in the Top 100 in Ireland.  According to legend, Donnacha was a High King of Ireland until his death in 1064. The English version Donaga (done-a) might be preferable here.