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.

70,646 names — click any name for full meaning, origin, and analysis

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#1001

Raina

joy, song

Slavic
#1002

Aubrie

elf ruler, ruler of supernatural beings

American
#1003

Kyomi

clear and beautiful

Japanese
#1004

Eleni

torch, bright one

Greek
#1005

Savanna

flat tropical grassland

American
#1006

Melani

dark, black

American
#1007

Aminah

honest, safe

Arab
#1008

Belle

beautiful

French
#1009

Betty

God is my oath

American
#1010

Romi

exalted, my height

Hebrew
#1011

Sariah

God is princess, noble ruler

American
#1012

Bria

noble, high

Irish
#1013

Carla

free man, free woman

Italian
#1014

Nori

seaweed (edible)

Japanese
#1015

Kenia

animal horns

Spanish
#1016

Brylee

noble, high meadow

American
#1017

Esperanza

hope

Spanish
#1018

Baylee

bailiff, law enforcer

American
#1019

Kinslee

from the king's estate

American
#1020

Aubriella

noble elf ruler

American
#1021

Maylee

beautiful, pretty

American
#1022

Tara

rocky hill, hill of kings

Irish
#1023

Vida

life

Spanish
#1024

Artemis

safe, unharmed

Greek
#1025

Ashlynn

ash tree meadow

American
#1026

Layan

graceful, supple

Arab
#1027

Winifred

white, blessed + peace

Welsh
#1028

Guadalupe

river of the wolf (Arabic origin)

Mexican
#1029

Dara

pearl of wisdom

Irish
#1030

Darla

little dear

American
#1031

Kairi

sea, ocean

Japanese
#1032

Ellen

sunlight, moon (alternate etymology)

English
#1033

Evelina

life, living

English
#1034

Roselyn

rose + gentle (folk etymology)

American
#1035

Julissa

youthful (from Julia)

Latin American
#1036

Cadence

rhythm, musical flow, beat

American
#1037

Sapphire

precious blue gemstone

English
#1038

Saoirse

independence

Irish
#1039

Maizie

child of light

English
#1040

Simone

God has heard

French
#1041

Mariel

beloved, wished-for child

Dutch
#1042

Joyce

joyful

English
#1043

Sandra

defender of men

English
#1044

Kiyomi

pure, clean beauty

Japanese
#1045

Maite

love

Basque
#1046

Adara

fire

Hebrew
#1047

Eliyanah

God is my joy

Hebrew
#1048

Renee

reborn, born again

French
#1049

Beverly

from Beverley (Yorkshire place name)

English
#1050

Whitney

white settlement

English
#1051

Dalilah

one who weakens or brings low

Hebrew
#1052

Arden

high

English
#1053

Antonia

priceless, inestimable

Latin
#1054

Marcella

hammer

Italian
#1055

Casey

descendant of Cathasach

Irish
#1056

Kimora

gifted, beautifully unique

American
#1057

Mattie

gift of God

English
#1058

Montana

mountainous, of the mountains

American
#1059

Laylah

nocturnal, daughter of the night

Arabic
#1060

Bennett

blessed

English
#1061

Mavie

my life (ma vie)

French
#1062

Jovi

jovial, cheerful, good-humored

American
#1063

Alara

water fairy, beautiful water spirit

Turkish
#1064

Agnes

sacred, inviolate

English
#1065

Cordelia

jewel of the sea

English
#1066

Mireya

wished-for child, sea of bitterness

Spanish
#1067

Anayah

care, protection

American
#1068

Raquel

gentle, innocent, nurturing

Spanish
#1069

Ellison

my God is the Lord (via Hebrew Elijah)

American
#1070

Sunday

day of rest and worship

American
#1071

Hayley

from the hay field

English
#1072

Kyleigh

narrow strait or channel

American
#1073

Malayah

modern invented name blending Aaliyah and Malay...

American
#1074

Khadija

trustworthy, dignified

Arabic
#1075

Yuna

sea hibiscus tree

Japanese
#1076

Dana

wise, knowledgeable

English
#1077

Tatiana

of the Tatiani family, Roman clan

Russian
#1078

Kamari

moon

African
#1079

Araya

throne, exemplar

Thai
#1080

Braelyn

modern American creation

American
#1081

Paola

little one

Italian
#1082

Miah

mine, of the Lord

American
#1083

Isis

goddess of magic and nature

Egyptian
#1084

Kya

diamond in the sky, place of rest

African-American
#1085

Leena

short form of Helena or Magdalena

Arabic
#1086

Essence

quintessence, the truest form of something

African-American
#1087

Aubrielle

noble, bright power

American
#1088

Ivana

gift of God

Czech
#1089

Laramie

place of the La Ramee family

American
#1090

Angelique

angelic, messenger of God

French
#1091

Claudia

lame, the lame one

Italian
#1092

Corinne

maiden, young girl

French
#1093

Ingrid

Ing's beauty, beloved of the god Ing

Swedish
#1094

Kacey

alert, observant

American
#1095

Kamora

moon, moonlike

American
#1096

Adela

nobility, aristocracy

Spanish
#1097

Wendy

friend, friendly

English
#1098

Rubi

blood red, vibrant red

Spanish
#1099

Sally

princess, noble lady

English
#1100

Dania

feminine form of Daniel

Spanish
#1101

Meera

saintly woman

Indian
#1102

Lesly

garden of holly

American
#1103

Zola

earth, soil

Zulu
#1104

Juana

God is gracious

Spanish
#1105

Jubilee

joyful celebration, special anniversary

English
#1106

Sunnie

bright, cheerful, sunny

American
#1107

Xochitl

flower

Mexican
#1108

Leylani

child of heaven

Hawaiian
#1109

Colbie

dark settlement, coal village

American
#1110

Kathleen

pure, virginal

Irish
#1111

Lauryn

from the city of Laurentum

American
#1112

Ayana

beautiful flower, eternal blossom

Ethiopian
#1113

Blessing

God's gift of grace

Nigerian
#1114

Chiara

famous, illustrious

Italian
#1115

Giavanna

God is gracious

Italian
#1116

Lailah

night, dark beauty

Arabic
#1117

Sterling

of genuine quality, excellent

English
#1118

Lizbeth

God is abundance

Spanish-speaking
#1119

Micaela

who is like God? (none compares)

Italian
#1120

Spencer

steward, dispenser of provisions

English
#1121

Dalary

modern coined name, meaning unclear

Latino/Hispanic
#1122

Libby

pledged to God, God is my oath

English
#1123

Emmalyn

entirely beautiful

American
#1124

Taliyah

blooming, flourishing

Hebrew
#1125

Avayah

God is my father

American
#1126

Bexley

woodland clearing

American
#1127

Imogen

maiden, girl

British
#1128

Jayda

stone of the side

American
#1129

Scarlette

dyer of red cloth

American
#1130

Hadleigh

heather clearing

American
#1131

Lexie

helper, protector

American
#1132

Desiree

the desired one

French
#1133

Jillian

youthful

English
#1134

Kai

earth

Hawaiian
#1135

Dariana

possessor of goodness

American
#1136

Rylan

rye field

American
#1137

Susan

lily

English
#1138

Safa

clarity of mind and spirit

Arabic
#1139

Brenda

prince or chieftain's daughter

English
#1140

Alisha

noble, of noble kind

English
#1141

Ariela

sacred hearth of God

Hebrew
#1142

Nathaly

birthday, born on Christmas

French
#1143

Ida

work, labor

German
#1144

Ann

grace, favor

English
#1145

Princess

royal daughter, daughter of a king

English
#1146

Erika

eternal ruler, ever mighty

Scandinavian
#1147

Gaia

earth, land

Greek
#1148

Devyn

little deer, from the deep

Irish
#1149

Jazlynn

jazz music combined with lake or pool

American
#1150

Marian

grace, favor

English
#1151

Farrah

joy, happiness, delight

Arab
#1152

Alitzel

rainbow lady (related to Ix Chel)

Mexican
#1153

Xolani

be peaceful, forgive

South African
#1154

Harriet

home ruler, estate ruler

English
#1155

Angeline

angel, messenger (of God)

French
#1156

Shay

hawk-like (possible alternative)

Irish
#1157

Averi

ruler of the elves

American
#1158

Elara

mortal princess loved by Zeus (mythological)

American
#1159

Carmela

God's vineyard

Italian
#1160

Clarissa

illustrious, brilliant

English
#1161

Grecia

referring to Greece (ancient civilization)

Mexican
#1162

Martina

of Mars, warlike

Spanish
#1163

Abril

April, spring month

Spanish
#1164

Justice

fair, righteous

English
#1165

Aarya

one of noble character

Indian
#1166

Carolyn

song of joy

English
#1167

Silvia

forest, woodland

Italian
#1168

True

real, authentic, not false

American
#1169

Wrenly

from the wren meadow

American
#1170

Carsyn

son of Carr, from the marsh

American
#1171

Renley

invented, sound-based name

American
#1172

Madalynn

woman from Magdala, tower

American
#1173

Alba

white, bright, dawn

Spanish
#1174

Crystal

sparkling, bright as crystal

American
#1175

Ayanna

beautiful flower

Native American
#1176

Avalynn

bird lake, graceful waterfall

American
#1177

Madisson

son of Maud

American
#1178

Zhuri

beautiful, good

African
#1179

Braylee

broad clearing meadow

American
#1180

Vivianna

full of life, vibrant

Italian
#1181

Ashly

dweller near the ash trees

American
#1182

Aiyana

forever blooming

Native American
#1183

Kaisley

ruler's meadow

American
#1184

Aniya

mercy, divine favor

African American
#1185

Maelyn

pearl of the water

American
#1186

Korra

spring goddess (Persephone's maiden name)

American
#1187

Landry

ruler of the land

French
#1188

Shea

admirable, hawk-like

Irish
#1189

Viola

violet flower

Italian
#1190

Maple

maple tree

English
#1191

Ryann

descendant of Rian

Irish
#1192

Avah

life

American
#1193

Kodi

helpful one

American
#1194

Maylin

beautiful jade, delicate

Chinese
#1195

Wyatt

brave, hardy

English
#1196

Zia

light, radiance, splendor

Arabic
#1197

Christine

follower of Christ

English
#1198

Emmaline

all-encompassing, entire

English
#1199

Asha

life, alive

Indian
#1200

Raylynn

graceful ray of light

American

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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