Unusual Male Names From My Genealogy L-P

Ancient saint's name used for cowardly cartoon lion.

When Matthew McConaughey and wife Camila Alves chose the old English surname and place name Livingston for their third child, they elevated it from half of a Stanley & Livingston joke to a modern possibility. Kind of. The only other well-known bearer of the name in the contemporary world is singer Livingston Taylor, brother of James, who is called Liv. Given that little Livingston McConaughey's older brother is named Levi, that uplifting nickname may be too close, though his parents apparently like its sound. An original choice.

Llewellyn/Llywelyn is a common patriotic first name in Wales, with its distinctive Welsh double LL's; in the U.S. Llewellyn would make a daring choice, though with the chance that some might find the ellen sound slightly feminine.

Lothar is cloddish, till you add a dashing io to the end...

The name of a fifth century Breton saint, Mael is a popular boys' name in contemporary France, though it is usually spelled with a diaeresis or umlaut - Maël. Mael is the Breton spelling, and the pronunciation is almost like the English word mile, with two distinctive syllables.

Odo is an ancient Germanic masculine name with rich historical connections. Most famously associated with Odo of Bayeux, the medieval bishop who commissioned the famous Bayeux Tapestry, and Saint Odo of Cluny, a significant 10th-century monastic reformer. The name likely derives from Germanic roots meaning 'wealth' or 'fortune.' Odo has maintained a presence throughout European history but remains uncommon in modern usage, giving it a distinctive quality. In contemporary culture, the name gained some recognition through the character Odo in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Its brevity and strong 'O' sounds (pronounced OH-doh) give it a bold, memorable quality while its historical depth adds gravitas, appealing to parents seeking a rare name with substantial heritage.

Owain is much more unusual than its brother name Owen, and feels a little more rugged, a little more adventurous and ancient.

Most famous as the name of King Pepin the Short, this choice might feel somewhat belittling. The even-shorter form is Pippin, a name adopted for musical theater, and the Dutch form Pepijn is in that country's Top 100.