Rare Baby Names

Names outside the top 1,000. These are genuinely rare — not invented or misspelled, just given to very few babies each year. Each has a real etymology. Sorted by popularity so you can find names with some history behind them.

43,904 names — click any name for full meaning, origin, and analysis

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#1001

Aden

little fire

Irish
#1002

Stefan

crown, wreath

German
#1003

Bastian

venerable, revered

German
#1004

Marcello

little warrior, young Mars

Italian
#1005

Beck

brook, running water

English
#1006

Atharv

knower of the Atharvaveda

Indian
#1007

Turner

tournament fighter

American
#1008

Aizen

love and goodness

Japanese
#1009

Beaux

fine, elegant

American
#1010

Jaxx

God has been gracious

American
#1011

Mike

God-like

American
#1012

Korbin

crow, raven

American
#1013

Brendan

brave, bold

Irish
#1014

Joan

God is gracious

Catalan
#1015

Harlem

place by the forest

American
#1016

Barron

young warrior, free man

English
#1017

Boaz

in him there is strength

Hebrew
#1018

Titan

primordial deity, elder god

American
#1019

Randy

shield wolf, protector

American
#1020

Harley

long meadow, rocky meadow

American
#1021

Lyle

from the isle

Scottish
#1022

Eider

from the Eider river

Basque
#1023

Mekhi

who is like God

African-American
#1024

Eliezer

my God is help

Jewish
#1025

Kartier

cart maker, transporter

African-American
#1026

Jabari

brave, valiant, fearless

African-American
#1027

Wren

king of birds (folkloric)

English
#1028

Avraham

father of a multitude

Jewish
#1029

Isa

savior (indirect meaning)

Muslim
#1030

Cashton

bold and modern (cultural meaning)

American
#1031

Kellen

slender and fair

Irish
#1032

Axl

father of peace

American
#1033

Osman

founder, builder (cultural meaning)

Turkish
#1034

Ahmir

ruler, leader

African-American
#1035

Carl

free man

English
#1036

Denzel

high stronghold, fort on the headland

African-American
#1037

Nael

achiever, one who succeeds

Arabic
#1038

Bronson

son of the brown-haired one

English
#1039

Thatcher

roof maker

English
#1040

Leighton

leek farm village

English
#1041

Demetrius

earth-lover

Greek
#1042

Lev

lion

Hebrew
#1043

Josias

the Lord supports

Hebrew
#1044

Ollie

elf warrior

English
#1045

Kacey

brave in battle, vigilant

Irish
#1046

Talon

heel, sharp point

English
#1047

Dominik

of the Lord's day (Sunday)

Polish
#1048

Stone

strength, permanence

English
#1049

Aslan

lion, brave one

Turkish
#1050

Sunny

bright, full of sunshine

English
#1051

Billy

will helmet, strong protector

English
#1052

Kilian

strife

Irish
#1053

Yadiel

God knows

Hebrew
#1054

Slade

valley, dell

English
#1055

Hollis

dweller by the holly

English
#1056

Howard

heart brave

English
#1057

Deandre

strong and courageous

African-American
#1058

Brennan

little raven

Irish
#1059

Syncere

without wax, pure

African-American
#1060

Mael

leader, lord

Breton
#1061

Brett

a Breton, person from Brittany

English
#1062

Agastya

born of a pot, pot-born sage

Indian
#1063

Caius

earthly, of the earth

Roman
#1064

Menachem

one who brings relief from sorrow

Jewish
#1065

Ivaan

Yahweh is merciful

Russian
#1066

Oziel

God is my strength

Jewish
#1067

Semaj

God is gracious (via James/Jacob etymology)

American
#1068

Jadiel

beloved of God

Jewish
#1069

Isai

gift, offering (via Jesse/Isai)

Latino
#1070

Larry

crowned with laurels, victorious

American
#1071

Aariv

evening, twilight, the pleasant time of day

Jewish
#1072

Gadiel

God is my troop, God is my strength

Jewish
#1073

Zeus

sky father, divine sky

Greek
#1074

Kreed

conviction, guiding principle

American
#1075

Ever

always, at all times

English
#1076

Veer

brother

Indian
#1077

Foster

one who cares for others

English
#1078

Arham

divine mercy

Arabic
#1079

Palmer

pilgrim, palm branch bearer

English
#1080

Koah

divine might

Hebrew
#1081

Justice

just, righteous, equitable

English
#1082

Jethro

his excellence, his preeminence

Hebrew
#1083

Kooper

barrel maker, cask craftsman

English
#1084

Kelvin

narrow water

Scottish
#1085

Ernest

serious, determined, vigorous

English
#1086

Rodney

from the Rodney estate

English
#1087

Shai

gift, present

Israeli
#1088

Marlon

of Mars, warlike

American
#1089

Montgomery

man of power on the hill

English
#1090

Gordon

from the marshy plain

Scottish
#1091

Canaan

lowlands

American
#1092

Dhruv

constant, faithful

Indian
#1093

Avyan

perfect, unblemished

Indian
#1094

Lyam

helmet of will, guardian

Irish
#1095

Jream

dream, aspiration, vision

American
#1096

Danilo

divine justice

Italian
#1097

Cory

maiden, heart

American
#1098

Zakari

God has remembered, remembered by God

American
#1099

Carmine

crimson, deep red

Italian
#1100

Kody

descendant of Otto

American
#1101

Andreas

warrior

Greek
#1102

Tylan

modern blend of Tyler and Dylan

American
#1103

Kaleo

the sound

Hawaiian
#1104

Duncan

dark warrior

Scottish
#1105

Branson

son of Brand, son of the sword

American
#1106

Toby

goodness of Yahweh

English
#1107

Yasir

prosperous, wealthy

Arabic
#1108

Rishi

one who has achieved enlightenment

Indian
#1109

Blaise

stammering, lisping

French
#1110

Brewer

craftsman of fermented beverages

American
#1111

Alaric

ruler of all, universal ruler

Germanic
#1112

Jovanni

Yahweh has shown favor

Italian
#1113

Fox

the fox, cunning animal

English
#1114

Frankie

free one

English
#1115

Denim

of Nîmes, sturdy woven cloth

American
#1116

Neythan

he gave, gift

American
#1117

Blaine

yellow, golden

Scottish
#1118

Makoa

the koa (warrior tree)

Hawaiian
#1119

Dion

divine, godly

Greek
#1120

Aurelius

golden, gilded, of gold

Roman/Latin
#1121

Draven

of the raven, raven-like

American
#1122

Eitan

permanent, steadfast

Israeli
#1123

Jakob

may God protect

German
#1124

Coen

bold counsel, brave advisor

Dutch
#1125

Kristian

anointed one

Scandinavian
#1126

Bobby

bright fame

English
#1127

Zayan

adornment, embellishment

Arabic
#1128

Kalel

voice of God

American
#1129

Cristiano

anointed one

Italian
#1130

Brecken

spotted one

American
#1131

Cullen

at the holly trees

Irish
#1132

Mikael

who is like God?

Scandinavian
#1133

Gary

spear warrior

American
#1134

Kenan

possession, acquisition

Hebrew
#1135

Zephyr

gentle breeze

American
#1136

Yaseen

O human (traditional interpretation)

Arabic
#1137

Kaius

rejoice, be glad

Latin
#1138

Sol

sun

Spanish
#1139

Knowledge

awareness, understanding, learning

English
#1140

Kanan

land of purple, merchant

Indian
#1141

Jean

God is gracious

French
#1142

Simeon

one who hears, God has heard

Hebrew
#1143

Coast

rib, side

English
#1144

Emrys

immortal, not mortal

Welsh
#1145

Mattias

gift of God, gift of Yahweh

Swedish
#1146

Viraj

cosmic creative principle

Indian
#1147

Ren

lotus, water lily

Japanese
#1148

Jahziel

God sees, God allocates

Hebrew
#1149

Genesis

birth, creation

American
#1150

Mariano

related to Mary, beloved

Italian
#1151

Eleazar

God has helped

Jewish
#1152

Ash

short form of Asher (happy, blessed)

English
#1153

Ralph

wise as a wolf

English
#1154

Kit

pure (short for Catherine)

English
#1155

Rogelio

famous spear

Spanish
#1156

Tiago

may God protect (folk etymology from Santiago)

Portuguese
#1157

Aven

strength, vigor

American
#1158

Keon

ancient, enduring

Irish
#1159

Yohan

God is gracious

French
#1160

Macklin

son of the prince/lord

Irish
#1161

Ramiro

famous advisor

Spanish
#1162

Wiley

resolute, crafty

English
#1163

Gio

God is gracious

Italian
#1164

Torin

chief, lord

Irish
#1165

Kasey

brave in battle

Irish
#1166

Jordy

of the Jordan River

English
#1167

Umar

flourishing, thriving, long-lived

Muslim
#1168

Gerald

powerful spearman

English
#1169

Elmer

of noble renown

American
#1170

Tzvi

deer, gazelle

Jewish
#1171

Elvis

all wise (from Norse Alviss)

American
#1172

Psalm

sacred song, hymn

American
#1173

Jovani

God is gracious

Italian-American
#1174

Kristopher

bearer of Christ

American
#1175

Jair

God enlightens

Hebrew
#1176

Bryant

strong, virtuous, honorable

American
#1177

Haziel

God is my vision

Hebrew
#1178

Tymir

strong, upright

African American
#1179

Archibald

truly brave

Scottish
#1180

Nova

stellar explosion, burst of light

American
#1181

Reginald

powerful ruler

English
#1182

Bilal

moistening, life-giving water

Arabic
#1183

Jamal

beauty, handsomeness

Arabic
#1184

Edmund

prosperity protector

English
#1185

Ayman

blessed, fortunate

Arabic
#1186

Yazan

resolute, strong-willed

Arabic
#1187

Terry

from the Roman family Terentius

English
#1188

Vaughn

the younger one

Welsh
#1189

Decker

roofer, one who covers

German
#1190

Dayton

from Dayton

English
#1191

Scottie

from Scotland, a Scotsman

Scottish
#1192

Kamryn

bent river or stream

Scottish
#1193

Marc

warrior, defender

French
#1194

Bishop

overseer, superintendent

English
#1195

Adrien

man from Hadria

French
#1196

Azlan

lion

Turkish
#1197

Kye

sea

Scottish
#1198

Shia

Yahweh saves

Hebrew
#1199

Jahseh

divine protection

Rastafarian
#1200

Benito

speaking good things

Italian

More name lists

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between rare and unique baby names?

We draw the line at rank 1,000. Unique names (500-1,000) are uncommon but still given to hundreds of babies per year. Rare names (1,000+) are given to fewer than a hundred or so annually. Both are real names with documented origins.

Are rare baby names safe choices?

Depends on what you mean. Rare names won't clash in the classroom. The tradeoff is that teachers, doctors, and automated systems may not recognize them — worth factoring in if your surname is also unusual.

Where do rare baby names come from?

Many are older names that were common in the 1800s and early 1900s and haven't returned yet — names like Roscoe, Eulalia, or Cressida. Others are cultural names from less-represented traditions that are starting to gain traction.

Looking for something more specific?

Browse by origin, meaning, syllables, or letter. Or run a tournament and let head-to-head matchups pick your favorite.

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