Aurelia is an ancient Roman name that's become a surprise hit in the contemporary world. A top favorite on Nameberry, it reentered the US Top 1000 in 2014 after a 70-year absence and continues to climb.

Emerson is a dignified, somewhat serious name associated with transcendental thinker Ralph Waldo Emerson. Much more popular now for girls since Desperate Housewife Teri Hatcher used it for her daughter, it is definitely still a viable boys name.

A lovely (and uncommon) longer form for Nora, one of the most fashionable international nickname names around. Lenora fell off the US charts in the 70s, but just re-entered in 2022 as parents' love for short forms Leni and Nora is growing.

A soft and interesting Hebrew name long popular in France, where it has ranked in the Top 400 since 1986 (as Salomé). Ex-ER star Alex Kingston named her daughter Salome Violetta.

Letitia is a delicate, once prim and proper sounding name whose staid image has been unbuttoned by numerous phonetic spellings. The original, often used in Spanish-speaking families, would still make an attractive, delicate choice. After a solid century on the Top 1000 list, Letitia fell off in the early 1980s and has not yet returned.

A name with old-fashioned charm, akin to Elton, Elwin, and Elwood, Elden is a variation of two Old English names, Eldon or Alden. Meaning "Ella's hill" or "old friend", it combines strength and cosiness, but the connection to the fantasy roleplay game, Elden Ring adds an element of adventure and mystique.

The "Believe It or Not" jokes will get old fast, but this surname feels fun and on-trend for both girls and boys, reminiscent of Riley, Tripp, Bridger, and Oakley.

This rarely used Old Testament name will inevitably set off a connection to thirst. Thirza was historically used as both an independent name and as a nickname for Theresa.

Stately and elegant, but with the familiar sounds of Sophia and Sophie, Sophronia was a familiar choice back in the 19th century but has since fallen into obscurity. Derived from the Greek sophron, it means "sensible, self-restrained".

Wellington is a tony-sounding English surname turned baby name by pregnancy guru Rosie Pope, who calls her son Wells for short. It's also the middle name of one of the Sweet Home sextuplets, Blu Wellington.

An old English redhead name -- one of the few that doesn't begin with the letter r -- with references both to a famous French knight and a magical horse. Civil Rights leader Bayard Rustin is a contemporary bearer of this unusual and evocative name.

Lucina, deriving from Latin lucus "grove" and also associated with lux "light", is an epithet given in Roman mythology to the goddess Juno (and sometimes also Diana) in her role as goddess of childbirth. A stately and unusual route to Lucy, more delicate than Lucinda.

Rather formal word name that has been used occasionally over the years, most notably for the autism activist and animal expert Temple Grandin.

Possibility for fans of science fiction writer Ray.

Annis and Anice are both antique variations of Agnes that have fallen out of use, perhaps because of pronunciation problems (ANN-is, or an-EES?)

Liston is a masculine name of English origin that evolved from a surname meaning 'fortified settlement' or 'boundary stone town.' The name carries a distinguished, somewhat aristocratic quality reminiscent of traditional English surnames adopted as first names. While relatively uncommon as a given name, Liston gained some recognition through association with boxing legend Sonny Liston, the powerful heavyweight champion of the early 1960s. The name combines strength and refinement with its crisp consonants and classic structure. Phonetically similar to more common names like Preston and Weston, Liston nonetheless maintains a distinctive character. It appeals particularly to parents drawn to names with subtle historical connections and traditional masculine sounds without being overly common. Liston's rarity gives it a unique quality while still feeling accessible.

Sylvina is a delicate feminine name with Latin roots, derived from 'silva' meaning 'forest' or 'woodland.' It's an elaboration of the more common Sylvia, with the added suffix creating a more ornate and distinctive quality. This elegant name evokes images of natural beauty and sylvan landscapes. Though relatively uncommon in modern usage, Sylvina carries a timeless, romantic appeal that connects to nature themes. The name reached modest popularity in the late 19th century but has since become quite rare, making it an unusual choice that combines classical roots with an uncommon flair. Sylvina might appeal to parents seeking a feminine name with nature associations and a vintage sensibility.

A grassy place with trees is a nice image to attach to a name.

Avis is a bird name that's been in hibernation for awhile, possibly due to the car rental association, but it could make a return on the wings of Ava. Baldwin brother Daniel chose it for his daughter.