C Baby Names - Rare Unique Vintage

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.

Cormorant is definitely one of the most unusual of the newly fashionable animal names, and one of the rare bird names for boys.

In ancient Rome, Cornelia was considered the paragon of womanly virtue, making it a handsome name with an excellent pedigree. It's rare today, so if you want a name no one else is using, somewhat reminiscent of Amelia and the Shakespearean Cordelia, Cornelia should be on your list. Cornelia's short forms might include Cora, Nelia or Nell--anything but Corny.

This name has not one but two impressive cultural connections: collage artist Joseph Cornell and photographer Cornell Capa--not to mention Cornell University.

A common surname in Scotland, but a starchy first name choice.

From Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore, the story of a boy named Kafka -- crow in Czech.

Lovely entry into the tree name genre, joining Maple, Pine, Oak, and Willow.