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Rare baby names have become outdated and are not in use anymore. On the other hand, it could also mean that these names were so popular that parents chose to ignore them since they were popular in the past. Either way, parents may not have used these monikers for even 50 babies in the past few years. If you wish to choose such a name for your baby, there are many of them in history. These rare baby names in our list below have been taken from different cultures, religions, and languages. They are inspired by regions, religions, books, films, or famous families. As more parents look for unique names to give their children a special identity, rare baby names are becoming more popular. These names stand out for their deep meanings and historical connections, making them even more attractive. Who’s to say? If you give your child a rare name, maybe they will make it famous again.
Rare Baby Names For Boys
1. Abbott
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This neglected name with religious overtones is an attractive naming option. Abbot means ‘father’.
2. Apollo
With the rise of mythological names, Apollo also deserves a second chance. This name means ‘to destroy’.
Trivia3. Aristotle
It’s time for Aristotle to be used beyond the Greek families. Aristotle means ‘superior’.
4. Armani
Since brand names are catching on widely, even the offbeat Armani can be given a second chance. It means ‘freeman’.
5. Arrow
The ‘o’ ending of this word name brings it further into the realm of avant-garde baby names.
6. Atlas
Atlas, the name of a Greek God, is generally avoided because it’s thought to be too powerful for a baby boy. Don’t you think it’s unfair?
7. Auden
This poetic English name, meaning ‘old friend’, is appreciated for its lovely sound.
8. Aurelio
This energetic and exotic Italian name isn’t much heard in the US. But it should be given a chance for its rarefied aura. Aurelio means ‘the golden one’.
9. Baker
This hip occupational name evokes scents stemming from the baking oven.
10. Baxter
Baxter, meaning ‘baker’, would make a lovely and atypical option for someone who wants to pay tribute to their baker’s family.
11. Bentlee
To be honest, the double ee in this name is a peculiar turn off. You can pick the original if you have set your heart on this name. Bentlee means ‘meadow with coarse grass’.
12. Blade
Blade is one of those names that’s extraordinarily macho and unconventional, both at the same time.
13. Bobo
Bobo, the variation of Bob, is better used as a nickname than the first name. It means ‘bright fame’.
14. Bowie
Bowie, meaning ‘blond’, has a western drawl, musical cred, Gaelic, and nonconformist charm.
15. Bram
This novel, one syllable name, is originally a short form of Abraham, and means ‘father of multitudes’.
16. Casimir
Casimir, meaning ‘destroyer of peace’, has faced a tough time assimilating outside Poland boundaries.
17. Caspian
This romantic place name is a perfect bet for cutting edge and bold parents.
18. Cassidy
This Irish name has been lassoed by girls, so if you want an extraordinary name, you can pick it for your girl instead of boy. Cassidy means ‘curly headed’.
19. Cedar
Cedar is one of the latest tree names that is slowly, but steadily beginning to showcase exceptional popularity among parents.
20. Chester
Chester, meaning ‘fortress or walled town’, sounds both cuddly and quirky.
21. Constantine
Constantine is avoided because it’s considered too grand for every day use. It means ‘steadfast’.
22. Cosmo
Cosmo, meaning ‘order and beauty’, would make a cool and creative choice for your baby boy.
23. Dex
Dex, the short form of Dexter, is loaded with sensual appeal and energy. It means ‘right-handed.’
24. Ellington
This musical name brings to mind the elegant Duke – Edward Kennedy Ellington. Ellington means ‘Ellis’s town’.
25. Eustace
Eustace, meaning ‘fruitful and productive’, was popularized by Norway’s St. Eustace.
26. Everest
Everest is one of the few geographical names with a name-like feel.
27. Ferris
Ferris, meaning ‘rock’, was last used 20 years ago. Maybe, it’s time for it to resurrect.
28. Fischer
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If you’ve set your mind on Fisher, then you’ll also like its innovative variant, Fischer. It means ‘fisherman’.
29. Fitzgerald
This moniker, meaning ‘son of Gerald’, will work great in the middle spot.
30. Fraser
The highly eccentric name means ‘strawberry’ and is highly popular in Scotland. So why can’t it be used in the US as well?
31. Fulton
This surname-turned-first name was most used in the last century. It means ‘fields of the village’.
32. Griffith
The lisp-y ending of Griffith makes it sound even more amazing. This Welsh name means ‘strong lord’.
33. Gryffin
Gryffin, a variant of Griffin, is one of the most appealing Celtic baby names.
34. Hannes
If you want a name with an old country image, look no further than Hannes, a variant of Johannes, meaning ‘God is gracious’.
35. Hart
Hart is a short, strong, and straightforward one syllable name meaning ‘stag’.
36. Hawk
With the rise of animal names, Hawk, meaning ‘eagle’ definitely deserves a second chance.
37. Huxley
The ‘x’ in this name makes it considerably cooler. Huxley means ‘inhospitable place’.
38. Inigo
This almost unknown and one of the exotic boy names in the States would make an intriguing choice for your son. It means ‘fiery’.
39. Jansen
If you want to honor an ancestor named John, name your son Jansen, which means ‘Jan’s son’.
40. Janus
The name Janus is perfect for a January baby. It means ‘gateway’.
41. Jedi
We think Jedi is a perfect name if your little one is due during the next “Star Wars” release.
Trivia42. Kensington
Kensington, the name of a posh residence in London, has begun being used as a formal baby boy name, but only by some parents.
43. Kirk
Kirk is a friendly, one syllable name, meaning ‘church’.
44. Laird
This Scottish name, meaning ‘lord of the land’, appealed to Sharon Stone so greatly that she chose it for her son.
45. Larson
Latin name Larson, a variant of Lars, has the charisma of a foreigner. It means ‘crowned with laurels’.
46. Laszlo
Laszlo, meaning ‘glorious ruler’, is a classic Hungarian name with an energetic ‘o’ ending and a stylish ‘z’ in the middle.
47. Leopold
Leopold is a formal, but aristocratic name, meaning ‘brave people’.
48. Lev
This concise, one syllable name, meaning ‘heart’, has the potential of being even more popular than Levi.
49. Maguire
Maguire is a cheerful and lively family name, meaning ‘son of the beige one’.
50. Mercer
Mercer is a sophisticated and cool form of French occupational name Merce, meaning ‘a merchant’.
51. Nile
Since water names are so cool these days, you can go for Nile without giving a second thought. Nile means ‘champion’.
52. Octavius
This Roman moniker, which was once used for the eighth child in a family, is now up for reconsideration. Octavius means ‘eight’.
53. Oden
If you like the Norse mythology name Odin, then you can also choose its variation Oden. It means ‘rage or frenzy’.
54. Orson
Parents seeking for unusual, yet solid name can go for Orson, which means ‘bear cub’.
55. Ozias
If you want a truly exotic name, this Biblical name, meaning ‘salvation’ will fit the bill.
56. Pascal
Pascal, meaning ‘born during Easter’ is perfect for children born during this holiday.
57. Paxon
The dynamic ‘x’ in the middle makes Paxon a solid choice. It means ‘peaceful town’.
58. Penn
This simple and elegant name, meaning ‘enclosure’, is ideal for history buffs and writers.
59. Quest
This word name suggests not just a sense of curiosity, but also purpose.
60. Remi
This jaunty name, meaning ‘oarsman’, would work better as a nickname.
61. Rio
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This short and sweet name, meaning ‘river’, is occasionally used for girls as well.
62. Rockwell
Rockwell, meaning ‘rock spring’, would make an intriguing choice for an artist’s child.
63. Roscoe
Roscoe, meaning ‘deer forest’, deserves a reincarnation, especially by adventurous parents.
64. Rufus
Rufus, meaning ‘redhead’, was very popular with Roman saints and singers and still has all the qualities to make a cool naming option.
65. Rusty
If you want a spin on a traditional name, pick Rusty, a variant of Russell. It means ‘redhead’.
66. Scout
This name with outstanding qualities of Boy Scout would make an interesting choice for your son.
67. Shaw
Shaw, meaning ‘dweller by the wood’, sounds a lot cooler than Shawn to us, more so because of its association with the great playwright, George Bernard Shaw.
68. Shepherd
We love this English occupational name for its pastoral feel.
69. Slater
Slater is a friendly and genial trade name, meaning ‘slate maker’. Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance recently used it for one of their twins.
70. Stellan
The trendy ‘an’ ending of this Scandinavian name makes it a lot more accessible. Stellan means ‘calm’.
71. Teo
Teo is the short and sweet version of the Biblical name Matthew, meaning ‘gift of God’.
72. True
Parents looking for a name exemplifying simpler lifestyle and basic values can go for the name True.
73. Werner
The formal German name, meaning ‘protecting army’ is packed with sheen and sparkle.
74. West
West is the most stylish of all the direction names in our opinion. The western, cowboy feel to it elevates it even further.
75. Willis
This once common surname is almost never used in the recent times. Willis means ‘resolute protection’.
Cute And Beautiful Rare Girl Names
76. Abril
Abril, a Spanish variant of April, hasn’t been used for several decades in the US, which explains its ranking at the bottom of the list.
77. Aislinn
This Old Irish name has several variations and forms, but none could even come close to the original. Aislinn means ‘dream’.
78. Alabama
Alabama, a place name, meaning ‘vegetation gatherers’, hasn’t been used much lately. Perhaps, the time is ripe for a revival.
79. Alianna
The double ‘n’ in this name has done no favor to it. But you can go for its variant, Aliana. This name means ‘my God has answered’.
80. Alissa
Alissa may have faded in popularity, but it still maintains some of its appeal. It means ‘noble’.
81. Angeline
Angeline, meaning ‘angel’, may not be very popular in the US, but it’s well used in France.
82. Arantxa
This Basque name was given to less than 46 girls in 2014, and the figure has only been going down. It means ‘thorn bush’.
83. Aubrianna
This combination of Aubrey and Anna is an elaboration of two perfectly good names.
84. Aubriella
Aubriella, being a combination of Aubrey and Ella, is not used as much as Aubrey and Ella are done individually.
85. Azaria
Azaria is the feminine variant of the Biblical name Azariah occasionally used by American parents. It means ‘helped by God’.
86. Charlize
This feminine variant of Charles, meaning ‘free man’, owes its life to the South African actress, Charlize Therone.
87. Cherish
This English word name is so sweet that people rarely give it a chance. But Charlene Tilton didn’t shy away from using this name for her daughter.
88. Cordelia
This Latin name, belonging to one of the King Lear’s daughters, has both substance and charm. Cordelia means ‘daughter of the sea’.
89. Dixie
This cheery and saucy name, meaning ‘tenth’, owes its tiny bit popularity to Dixie Virginia Carter, the American actress.
90. Ellis
Ellis originated as a surname, but began being used for girls as an alternative to Ella. It’s still rarely used, though.
91. Ellison
Ellison, meaning ‘son of Ellis’, is one of the freshest spin of El starting names.
92. Elora
Elora, a variant of Eliora, meaning ‘the Lord is my light’, is a strong and powerful three syllable name.
93. Esma
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Esma, a short form of Esmeralda, sounds less stuffy than the original. It means ‘emerald’.
94. Fenella
This cute moniker became known outside the Irish community when Sir Walter Scott used it for one of his characters in “Peveril of the Peak”. It means ‘white-shouldered one’.
95. Frankie
This retro name is finding really hard to renew interest in the hearts of parents. It means ‘free man’.
96. Giavanna
Giavanna, the spelling version of Giovanna, failed to make to the SSA list, but we hope that it can at least ride on the original’s popularity. Giavanna means ‘God is gracious’.
97. Hadleigh
Hadleigh, meaning ‘heathery field’, sounds appealing in all its variations, including Hadleah, Hadli, and Hadleah.
98. Harmonee
If you’re into musical names, you can give Harmonee a shot, at least as a nickname.
99. Heather
This floral name was highly popular in the 70s and 80s, but has faded out of favor now.
100. Heavenly
Some of you may consider it cheesy, but Heavenly was actually used as a name by some parents last year.
101. Hephzibah
If you’re a traditionalist at heart and want a fancy name for your daughter, you can go for Hephzibah, which means ‘my delight is in her’.
102. Honey
Honey is one of the best cute girl names and terms of endearment you can use for your girl.
103. Idalia
Idalia is a lovely, vowel loaded variant of Ida, meaning ‘industrious one’.
104. Indigo
Indigo has become rare, for both boys and girls. But nothing can take away its charm. Indigo means ‘Indian dye’.
105. Ingrid
Ingrid Bergman, the luminous actress, lends charisma to this classic Scandinavian name, meaning ‘fair and beautiful’.
106. Ireland
Well, if you belong to Ireland, you might as well give this name another chance.
107. Jazz
Jazz will work both as a short form of Jazlyn or Jasmine or as a standalone name if you’re an extreme music lover.
108. Kaelynn
Kaelynn is a distinct spelling of Kaylin, but runs into the danger of being misspelled. It means ‘laurel or crown’.
109. Katana
Katana is basically an Old Persian male name and a Japanese word, which has shifted to the girl’s territory and is finding hard to make a mark. It means ‘sword’.
110. Kiana
Kiana, a modern invented name, is falling out of favor at a fast rate, despite its association with Americana singer Kiana Brown.
111. Kimora
Kimora Lee Simmons, the Afro-Asian model, and designer, brought this name into the mainstream and for a moment, it was considered a lot more exotic than Kim. It’s rarely heard now, but could make a comeback soon.
112. Kizzy
Kizzy is a variant of the Old Testament name Keziah, meaning ‘cassia tree’. This lovely and rhythmic name indeed deserves emancipation.
113. Lilia
Lilia is one of the most distinctive and unusual variants of English name Lily. It means ‘lily’.
114. Luz
This Spanish name, meaning ‘light’, refers to the Virgin Mary. It’s quite well used amongst the Hispanic communities in America.
115. Madonna
There’s only one or maybe a few more Madonnas in America. Pick this Latin name if you’re a fan of the diva herself. Madonna means ‘my lady’.
116. Mafalda
Despite appearing in “Harry Potter”, Mafalda failed to make a mark in the English-speaking world. It means ‘battle-mighty’.
117. Marguerite
This classic name with Gallic charm is a variant of Margaret and means ‘pearl’.
118. Meilani
Jenni Farley of Jersey Shore used it for her daughter.
119. Messiah
Messiah is an unusual and audacious Aramaic name, meaning ‘savior’.
120. Millicent
Millicent, meaning ‘strong in work’, is a perfect combination of innocent and mild. And it’s worthy of a comeback.
121. Mirabelle
If you want a fresher ‘belle’ name, go for French name Mirabelle, meaning ‘marvelous’.
122. Monet
This Bohemian name, brought to the spotlight via Monet Mazur is a French artist name, meaning ‘solitary’.
123. Moriah
If you want an uncommon alternative to Mariah, you can pick Moriah, a Biblical name meaning ‘the Lord is my teacher’.
124. Moxie
Moxie isn’t usually picked because it’s an English slang word, meaning ‘aggressive energy and know how’.
125. Nala
This African name, featured in “The Lion King”, debuted on the SSA list in 2015, but is still not used much. Nala means ‘beloved’.
126. Neriah
Neriah, meaning ‘light of Jehovah’, is usually given to girls born during Hanukkah.
127. Nevaeh
Nevaeh, the spelling variation of Nevaeh, was created by spelling ‘Heaven’ backward. It started off with a bang, but became unpopular soon after.
128. Nyx
Nyx, the name of the Greek mythology, is now associated more with the makeup brand, than the powerful goddess.
Trivia129. Octavia
Octavia, a name with literary pedigree and rich history, is recommended for classic loving parents. It means ‘eight’.
130. Ophelia
Ophelia, one of the most beautiful names featured by Shakespeare, has been off the list for quite a long time now. The name means ‘help’.
131. Perpetua
Unfortunately, Perpetua isn’t as perpetually used as it was expected to be. Perpetua means ‘perpetual’.
132. Pilar
This classic Spanish name honors Virgin Mary. This name means ‘pillar’.
133. Primrose
It’s really unfortunate that a quaint and beautiful name such as Primrose is found only in British novels. This name means ‘first rose’.
134. Reina
Reina, meaning ‘queen of the apostles’, is one of the appellations of Mother Mary.
135. Rhea
It’s really surprising that a glamorous name such as Rhea is struggling so hard to make a mark. It means ‘a flowing stream’.
136. Sailor
Christie Brinkley turned the tide towards girls when she picked the name Sailor for her daughter.
137. September
It’s high time parents moved away from typical month names such as June and April and opt crisper and cooler names such as September.
138. Stevie
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The unpopularity of Stevie is probably because it’s considered only as a short form of Stephanie and not a standalone name. It means ‘garland or crown’.
139. Story
Can you believe that this was once popular? Well, this name would suit a lot of girls.
140. Sunshine
Sunshine was once a quintessential name of the 70s and its time for it to make a comeback.
141. Tabitha
Tabitha, meaning ‘gazelle’, has a unique, quirky charm, which is hard to ignore.
142. Tate
Tate is an idiosyncratic alternative to the more common name Kate. This Norse name means ‘cheerful’.
143. Tegan
Tegan is a unisex Irish name, but it’s been used more for girls throughout history. This name means ‘fair’.
144. Tinley
The ‘-inley’ rhythm of Tinley is really catchy, and makes it stand out from other aesthetic names that keep coming and going off the charts.
145. Trixie
Trixie is a spunky and sassy diminutive of Beatrix, meaning ‘she who brings happiness’.
146. Tulip
Floral name Tulip finds hard to pull off as a first name, despite being incredibly cute.
147. Veda
This Sanskrit name, with two syllables, has the makings of a perfect name for a baby girl. It means ‘knowledge’.
148. Yareli
Yareli is a variation of Native American name Yara and means ‘water lady’.
149. Zadie
Zadie may sound like a modern name, but it has been around for centuries. It’s a variation of Sadie and means ‘princess’.
150. Zaylee
This modern invented name fell as fast as it rose. But since it’s so attractive, it might make a comeback soon. It means ‘flower’.
Discover More Names
When you have to choose a name for your baby, a few hundreds of names may not be just enough. Keep digging our mine of baby names until you find that one precious gem.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why do some parents choose rare names for their children?
Parents use rare baby names to make their children come across as unique, or the meaning of the name appeals to them.
2. What are some considerations when choosing a rare baby name?
The rare baby name should not make your child look old because some dated names are perceived to belong to a person from an older generation. Ensure the name has not lost popularity because of its association with a piece of negative news or incident.
3. What are some benefits and drawbacks to choosing a rare baby name for your child?
A rare name can make your child stand out; however, such a name can also be boring, which is its major drawback.
4. How can parents ensure that their child’s rare baby name is not mispronounced or misunderstood by others?
Parents can modify the spelling of their baby’s name to ensure that it is easy to write and pronounce.
There are several baby names that you will find online. But if you want a unique name for your little one, this list of rare baby names might just be the one for you. These names are not that commonly used in the current days and might as well become extinct in a while. But they have beautiful and pleasing meanings and history attached to them, making it more necessary to preserve them. So choose a unique name for your little bundle of joy from this list and give them a unique identity.
Infographic: Charming Yet Rare Baby Names That Could Soon Be Extinct
In the infographic that follows, we present a list of unique and delightful names you can choose from to name your adorable baby. Keep the list handy, and you can also share it with other friends and family. Scroll through and pick your favorite! Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Rare baby names are those that haven’t been commonly used for decades.
- Most of these names exude a mystical aura derived from ancient legends and myths.
- While some have roots in classic titles, others represent modern spelling variations.
- When selecting a rare baby name, ensure it is not too challenging to pronounce.
Illustration: Rare Baby Names: 150 Names That Are On Verge of Extinction
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
These rare names are taking the world by storm! Get ready to discover some rare but rising names that are sure to be popular this year. Tune in to find out which names you should watch out for!
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