540+ Rare Boy Names & Unique Monikers (Classic To Modern)

 

Overview

Lots of rare boy names are standalone monikers that have their own meanings, yet others are variants of the most popular names in other languages. Some parents also create unique versions by changing letters in the name they like to create different spellings.

For example, the biblical boy name “Elijah” ranks fourth among the most popular baby names (for boys) based on data from the SSA (Social Security Administration). You can use it as a unique baby boy name with the spellings or variants “Ilyas” (Arabic boy name), “Ilinka” (Macedonian), or “Élie” (French name). (1)

It’s easy to transform “Jacob” into a unique name by changing a letter (c to k) to create “Jakob.” 

Another option is to take the phonetic spelling of a name, such as changing “William” to “Wilyam” or “Andrew” to “Andru.”

Below are 540+ rare but cool baby boy names, ranging from classic to modern names, with their corresponding popularity ranks from SSA data. (1)

We’ve also listed rare baby girl names in a separate article.

 

The Best Rare Boy Names By Category

What Are The Rarest Male Names?

Bayard

 

• Origin: French boy name

• Meaning: “Auburn-haired” or “red-brown hair”

• Pronunciation: “bay-ard”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American screenwriter, film director, and producer Bayard Veiller and film director Bayard Johnson

• Variants: Baiyard, Bayyard, Baeyard, and Baird

 

Hammett

 

• Origin: German boy name
• Meaning: “Home” or “village”
• Pronunciation: “hah-met”
• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: US Army soldier and Medal of Honor recipient Hammett L. Bowen, Jr.
• Also a place name after the community of Hammett in Georgia, United States
• Variants: Hamnet and Hammet

 

Macarius

 

• Origin: Greek boy name

• Meaning: Old man name that means “fortunate,” “happy,” or “blessed”

• Pronunciation: “mah-kar-yoos”

• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Spiritual name used by several Roman Catholic popes, including Pope Macarius I of Alexandria (he ruled from 933 to 953) and Pope Macarius II of Alexandria (he ruled from 1102 to 1128

• Variants: Macario, Makarios, and Makarevich (Russian boy name)

 

Monty 

 

• Origin: French boy name

• Meaning: Nature name that means “mountain” or “the mountain belonging to the ruler”

• Pronunciation: “mon-tee”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American country music songwriter Monty Powell and Welsh-born American artist Monty Lewis

• Variants: Monti, Montee, Monte, and Montie

 

Rufus 

 

• Origin: Latin boy name

• Meaning: Red-haired; also a name that means “red”

• Pronunciation: “roo-fuhs”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright and American Cajun fiddler Rufus Thibodeaux 

• Variants: Ruffus

 

Salām

 

• Origin: Hebrew and Arabic boy name

• Meaning: Unique middle name that means “peace,” “salute,” “safety,” or “security”

• Pronunciation: “sah-lam”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Jordanian-Palestinian politician Salam Fayyad

• Variants: Sallam

 

Popular & Memorable But Unique Baby Names For Boys

Cash

 

• Origin: Latin and Old English boy name

• Meaning: 1 syllable boy name that means “hollow,” “money,” or “case”

• Pronunciation: “kash”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable 

• Popularity/Rank: #263

• Namesakes/Description: ​​Used as a last name after legendary American country singer-songwriter Johnny Cash and a first name after musical artist Cash Colligan

• Variants: Kash

 

Knight

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Soldier,” “noble,” or “ rank of honor granted by a British king or queen”

• Pronunciation: “nite”

• Length: 6 letters, 1 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Used as a last name (e.g., American cartoonist and musician Keith Knight and Canadian actor Matthew Knight)

• Variants: Knightley and Knightly

 

Roald

 

• Origin: Norse and Norwegian name for boys

• Meaning: “Famous ruler”

• Pronunciation: “row-ald”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: After British bestselling children’s author and poet Roald Dahl and Norwegian Olympic speed skater and bicycle racer Roald Aas

• Variants: Roalld

 

Sherlock

 

• Origin: English boy name
• Meaning: Classic boy name meaning “bright hair” or “someone with fair hair”
• Pronunciation: “sher-laak”
• Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: After the fictional detective character Sherlock Holmes
• Also a last name (e.g., American baseball player and coach Glenn Sherlock and English architect Cornelius Sherlock)
• Variants: Sherluck, Sherloc, Sherloque, and Sherloq

 

Unique & Unusual Boy Names With Beautiful Meanings

Edmar

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Wealthy sea”

• Pronunciation: “ed-mar”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Brazilian-Ukrainian footballer Edmar Halovskyi de Lacerda and Latvian-American chess player Edmar Mednis

• Variants: Edmarr, Eadmar, Eadmarr, Eddmar, and Eddmarr

 

Florian

 

• Origin: Latin and Roman boy name

• Meaning: 3 syllable boy name that means “flowering,” “flourishing,” or “blossoming” (also a flower name for boys)

• Pronunciation: “flor-eeh-yan”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: French rugby union footballer Florian Fritz and American football player Florian Kempf

• Variants: Florrian, Floriano, Florianus, Florijan, and Florjan (Slovene)

 

Future

 

• Origin: English nonbinary name

• Meaning: “Time that is yet to come” or “that is to be”

• Pronunciation: “fyoo-chr”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American rapper and singer Future (real name Nayvadius DeMun Cash)

• Variants: None

 

Hollis

 

• Origin: British nonbinary name

• Meaning: Nature name that means “holly tree” or “dweller at the holly trees”

• Pronunciation: “hohl-ees”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American neuroscientist Hollis Cline and professional basketball player Hollis Thompson (full name Keith Hollis Thompson II)

• Variants: Holleigh, Holley, Holli, Hollie, and Hollee

 

Rainn

 

• Origin: American gender-neutral name

• Meaning: “Shower of blessings from above” or “rain (weather phenomenon)”

• Pronunciation: “rayn”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American actor Rainn Wilson

• Variants: Rain, Rann, and Raine

 

Rare Religious & Biblical Names For Little Boys

Bartholomew

 

• Origin: Hebrew and Aramaic boy name

• Meaning: “Furrowed” or “son of Talmai (a farmer)”

• Pronunciation: “baar-thaa-luh-myoo”

• Length: 11 letters, 4 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Biblical name after one of Jesus’ 12 apostles

• Also after English sailor and explorer Bartholomew Gilbert and American entertainer and video producer Bartholomew “Bart” Baker

• Variants: Bartolomeu and Bartolomeo

 

Jonas

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name 

• Meaning: “Dove”

• Pronunciation: “joh-nuhs”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #558

• Namesakes/Description: After the prophet swallowed by a whale and ‘delivered’ to Nineveh, where he was supposed to preach to save the people (but he tried to run away from God by riding a boat going the opposite direction)

• Also after Icelandic poet, author, and naturalist Jónas Hallgrímsson and American football player Jonas Griffith 

• Variants: Another form of “Jonah”

 

Reuben

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name
• Meaning: “Behold, a son,” “to see,” or “to understand”
• Pronunciation: “roo-bn”
• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: #858
• Namesakes/Description: After the firstborn son of Jacob with his first wife, Leah
• Also after American pioneer bridge builder Reuben Partridge (from the 1800s) and English football player Reuben Hazell
• Variants: Ruben

 

Rare Boy Names From Mythology

Abraxas

 

• Origin: Ancient Greek name for boys

• Meaning: “Supreme deity” or “ great archon (chief magistrate) of the heavens”

• Pronunciation: “uh-brak-suhs”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Mythical name after the supreme god Abraxas recognized in some ancient cultures

• Variants: Abraxxas

 

Achelous

 

• Origin: Greek name for boys

• Meaning: “Shape-shifting river god”

• Pronunciation: “ah-kee-loos”

• Length: 8 etters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: After the Greek god and personification of the Achelous River (Greece’s largest river)

• Variants: Acheloos and Acheloios

 

Atlas

 

• Origin: Ancient Greek name

• Meaning: “To carry” or “enduring”

• Pronunciation: “at-luhs”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #129

• Namesakes/Description: After the mythical Titan (pre-Olympian god*) and the strongest Greek god who had to carry the world on his shoulders in Greek mythology 

• Variants: Atlass

 

*Note: The Olympian gods were the Greek gods that ruled over Greece from Mount Olympus. They’re the third generation of gods in Greek mythology.

 

Halcyon

 

• Origin: Greek boy name

• Meaning: “Bird who calmed the seas,” “calm,” or a nature name that means “kingfisher bird”

• Pronunciation: “hal-see-uhn”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Mystical name after a powerful bird in Greek mythology

• Variants: Hallcyon

 

Heracles

 

• Origin: Greek boy name
• Meaning: “Glory of Hera (queen of the Greek Olympian gods)”
• Pronunciation: “hee-uh-kleez”
• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: After the Greek god of strength and heroes known for his incredible strength and as the divine protector of mankind
• Also the name of Dutch professional football club Heracles Almelo
• Variants: Hercules (Roman counterpart)

 

Mars

 

• Origin: Latin boy name
• Meaning: Powerful boy name that means “god of war,” “wreck,” “ruin,” or “destroyer”
• Pronunciation: “mars”
• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: After the Roman god of war
• Also after Filipino cartoonist and graphic novelist Mars Ravelo (the Philippines’ version of American comic book icon Stan Lee)
• Variants: Also a short form of names like “Marcello” and “Marcelino”

 

Zephyr

 

• Origin: Greek boy name
• Meaning: “West wind”
• Pronunciation: “zeh-fir”
• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: After the Greek god of the west wind
• Also after African American civil rights activist Zephyr Wright and New York-based graffiti artist Zephyr (real name Andrew Witten)
• Variants: Zephir, Zepphyr, Zayfir, and Zephyrus (Latin boy name)

 

Other Legendary & Fantasy Boy Names

Astor

 

• Origin: Scandinavian and German name for boys
• Meaning: Aesthetic boy name that means “thunder god” or “hawk”
• Pronunciation: “ahs-tor”
• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla
• Also a last name (e.g., American businessman and philanthropist Vincent Astor and British Conservative Party politician Michael Astor
• Variants: Astorr and Aztor

 

Bertrand

 

• Origin: Ancient German boy name

• Meaning: “Wise,” “bright,” “glorious raven,” “intelligent,” or “magnificent crow”

• Pronunciation: “bur-truhnd”

• Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American football player Bertrand Berry and French songwriter-singer and musician Bertrand Cantat

• Variants: Berttrand and Berrtrand

 

Thurston

 

• Origin: Norse and Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Thor’s stone”

• Pronunciation: “thur-stuhn”

• Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American musician Thurston Moore and English footballer Thurston Rostron

• Variants: Thorstein, Thurstan, Torstein, Torsten, and Thorsten

 

Rare Yet Strong & Powerful Boy Names

Brandt

 

• Origin: Germanic and Old Norse boy name

• Meaning: Warrior name that means “fiery torch” or “sword”

• Pronunciation: “brant”

• Length: 6 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American golfers Brandt Jobe and Brandt Snedeker

• Variants: Brand, Brant, Brandts, Brandes, and Bronde

 

Kimball

 

• Origin: Welsh boy name
• Meaning: “Warrior chief,” “the leader of warriors,” or “beautiful field”
• Pronunciation: “kim-buhl”
• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: Fictional name after Kimball Kinnison, the hero of “Galactic Patrol” (the first novel in the “Lensman” series by E. E. Smith)
• Also a last name (e.g., American punk drummer Jim Kimball and racecar driver Charlie Kimball)
• Variants: Kembel, Kimbel, Kimble, and Kimbolde

 

Rogue

 

• Origin: English androgynous name

• Meaning: “Unpredictable,” “rascal,” or “mischievous”

• Pronunciation: “rowg”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None for boys

• Variants: Rebel (similar meaning)

 

Slate

 

• Origin: American boy name

• Meaning: Earthy name that means “gray-green rock”

• Pronunciation: “slayt”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Celebrity kid Slate Bartell Donovan (American professional soccer player Landon Donovan’s son)

• Also a last name (e.g., American actor Jeremy Slate and football player Cody Slate)

• Variants: None

 

Viggo

 

• Origin: Old Norse boy name

• Meaning: Badass boy name that means “war” or “battle”

• Pronunciation: “vee-gow”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Danish-American actor Viggo Mortensen (portrayed King Aragorn in the fantasy “The Lord of the Rings” movies) and Danish painter Viggo Johansen

• Variants: Wiggo and Vöggur (Icelandic boy name)

 

Rare Royal & Prince Names

Amiri

 

• Origin: Hebrew, Maori, and Arabic unisex name

• Meaning: “Treetop,” “princely” (as a variant of the Arabic boy name “Amir”), or “east wind”

• Pronunciation: “uh-mee-ree”

• Length: 5 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #521 (boy name)

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Amirr and Amhi

 

Baron

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “Noble landowner,” “noble title,” or “son of strength”

• Pronunciation: “bah-rohn”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: English artist, writer, and historian Baron Barrymore Halpenny and American football player Baron Browning

• Variants: Barron

 

Basil

 

• Origin: Arabic, Greek, and English gender-neutral name
• Meaning: “Brave and fearless,” “intrepid,” “royal,” “valiant,” “chivalrous,” or “kingly”
• Also a spice name
• Pronunciation: “bay-seel”
• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: American illustrator Basil Gogos and Indian actor and director Basil Joseph
• Variants: Bassil, Bassel, and Basyl

 

Caspian

 

• Origin: Latin boy name
• Meaning: “White”
• Pronunciation: “kas-pee-uhn”
• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: #723
• Namesakes/Description: Prince name after Prince Caspian, the protagonist of “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”
• Also after American screenwriter Caspian Tredwell-Owen and celebrity kid Caspian Feild (the son of Canadian actress Neve Campbell and British-American film actor JJ Field)
• Variants: Kaspian, Casspian, Kasspian, and Caspy

 

Duke 

 

• Origin: Old English and Old French boy name

• Meaning: “The leader”

• Pronunciation: “dook”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: #679

• Namesakes/Description: Hawaiian professional swimmer Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku and British former professional boxer Duke McKenzie MBE

• Variants: Dueke, Duque, and Dux (Latin)

 

Errol

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Nobleman” or “warrior”

• Pronunciation: “eh-rohl”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American professional boxer and world champion Errol Spence Jr. and Jamaican-born artist and writer Errol Lloyd

• Variants: Earl, Erol, Erroll, and Eroll

 

Esteban

 

• Origin: Spanish boy name

• Meaning: Hispanic boy name that means “garland,” “crown,” or “crowned in victory”

• Pronunciation: “est-eh-ban”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #431

• Namesakes/Description: Mexican retired baseball player Esteban Loaiza and racing driver Esteban Gutiérrez 

• Variants: Also the Mexican form of the Greek classic boy name “Stephen”

 

Khai

 

• Origin: Arabic and Hawaiian unisex name

• Meaning: “Royalty” and “crowned”

• Pronunciation: “kai”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: #865

• Namesakes/Description: None for boys

• Variants: Kai

 

Reggie

 

• Origin: Latin and German boy name

• Meaning: “King”

• Pronunciation: “reh-jee”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American comedian and musician Reggie Watts and Canadian retired hockey player Reggie Leach

• Variants: Also a short form of “Reginald” and similar names

 

Rex

 

• Origin: Latin boy name

• Meaning: “King”

• Pronunciation: “reks”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: #698

• Namesakes/Description: American author, software engineer, and entrepreneur Rex Black and country music singer Rex Elvie Allen Jr.

• Also a common nickname, such as for English actor Sir Reginald Carey “Rex” Harrison

• Variants: Rexxy, Rexi, and Reyes (Spanish boy name)

 

Taj

 

• Origin: Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, and Hindi boy name 

• Meaning: Short boy name that means “crown”

• Pronunciation: “taj”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American journalist and author Taj Matthews and Australian guitar prodigy Taj Farrant

• Variants: Tahj

 

Cool & Modern Rare Boy Names

Unique Boy Names From Video Games

Cyrax

 

• Origin: Arabic and English boy name

• Meaning: “God” or “unstoppable”

• Pronunciation: “sai-raaks”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Badass boy name after the assassin Cyrax in the “Mortal Kombat”

• Variants: Sometimes considered a variation of the Persian boy name “Cyrus” (a name that means “sun”)

 

Ezio

 

• Origin: Italian boy name
• Meaning: “Eagle”
• Pronunciation: “eh-zee-ow”
• Length: 4 letters, 3 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: Master assassin and protagonist Ezio in “Assassin’s Creed”
• Also after Italian journalist Ezio Mauro and Brazilian footballer Ézio Leal Moraes Filho
• Variants: Ezzio

 

Riku

 

• Origin: Finnish and Japanese unisex name
• Meaning: “Land” or “continent”
• Pronunciation: “ree-koo”
• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: After the protagonist Riku in the “Kingdom Hearts” game
• Also after Finnish journalist and presenter Riku Rantala and Japanese manga artist Riku Sanjo
• Variants: Rikku

 

Rare Anime Boy Names

Benjiro

 

• Origin: Japanese boy name

• Meaning: “Peaceful”

• Pronunciation: “ben-jee-roh”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: After Benjiro Junsui, a character in “Naruto”

• Variants: Benjeero

 

Daiki

 

• Origin: Japanese boy name
• Meaning: “Shining,” “child who shines brightly,” “big brightness,” “great brightness,” or “great value”
• Pronunciation: “dai-kee”
• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: After Daiki Aomine, one of the main characters in “Kuroko no Basuke”
• Also after Japanese video game composer Daiki Kasho and voice actor Daiki Yamashita
• Variants: Daikki

 

Denki

 

• Origin: Japanese boy name

• Meaning: Anime name that means “electricity” or “charge bolt”

• Pronunciation: “deng-kee”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: After Denki Kaminari, one of the main characters who has electrokinesis as a quirk (power) in “My Hero Academia”

• Variants: Denkki

 

Haruto

 

• Origin: Japanese boy name
• Meaning: Name that means “sun” (sunlight ) or “soar and fly”
• Pronunciation: “hah-roo-toh”
• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: After Haruto Amō, the main hero in “Shichisei no Subaru”
• Also after Japanese baseball player Haruto Takahashi and manga artist Haruto Umezawa
• Variants: Harruto and Harutto

 

Jiraiya

 

• Origin: Japanese boy name

• Meaning: “Young thunder” or “magical character”

• Pronunciation: “jee-rah-yah”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: After one of the three powerful ninjas in the anime “Naruto: Shippuden”

• Variants: Jiraya and Jirraya

 

Other Modern & Invented Boy Names

Anchor

 

• Origin: English androgynous name

• Meaning: “Strength and stability” or “device that secures something (such as boats and ships) to a fixed place”

• Pronunciation: “ang-kr

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Angkor

 

Cypher

 

• Origin: English unisex name

• Meaning: “Code” or “secret writing”

• Pronunciation: “sai-fr”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: After the main character Cypher Raige in the science fiction movie “After Earth”

• Variants: Seiffer, Seifer, and Sipher

 

Dashiell

 

• Origin: Scottish and French boy name

• Meaning: “Young boy,” “sky,” “heavenly,” or “from heaven”

• Pronunciation: “dah-sheel”

• Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American author Dashiell Hammett and actor Dashiell Mihok

• Variants: Dashiel, Dashielle, and Dashiele

 

Deonte

 

• Origin: Latin and American boy name

• Meaning: “Steadfast and enduring” or “follower of Dionysus (the Greek god of fertility and festivities)”

• Pronunciation: “dee-own-teh”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American football player Deonte Thompson and basketball player Deonte Burton

• Variants: Dante and Deon

 

Helix

 

• Origin: Greek and English unisex name

• Meaning: “From the hare’s meadow,” “curve in three-dimensional space,” or “spiral form”

• Linked to the DNA, and can be the perfect name for a science genius

• Pronunciation: “hee-liks”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a game name after “Helix Jump”

• Variants: None

 

Kulture

 

• Origin: American unisex name

• Meaning: “Manifestation of art, norms, practices, and customs in human societies”

• Pronunciation: “kool-tyur”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American vlogger Kulture Jones

• Variants: A modern form of “Culture”

 

Tad

 

• Origin: American boy name

• Meaning: “Praise” or “gift of God”

• Pronunciation: “tad”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American soul blues singer Tad Robinson and Canadian Football League player Tad Crawford

• Variants: Also a short form of “Taddeus” and similar names

 

Taft

 

• Origin: Old French boy name

• Meaning: “Homestead” or “building site”

• Pronunciation: “taft”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples can include English footballer George Taft and American rock musician Bill Taft)

• Variants: Tafta, Taff, and Toffel

 

Tedmond

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Protector of the land”

• Pronunciation: “ted-mohnd”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: US-based researcher Tedmond “Ted” Schwaba

• Variants: Tedmund

 

Zevon

 

• Origin: Latin and American boy name

• Meaning: “Alive” and “vigorous”

• Pronunciation: “zee-vohn”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include American rock singer, songwriter, and musician Warren William Zevon)

• Variants: Zevvon

 

Retro & Classic Boy Names That Are Rare

Amadeus

 

• Origin: Greek boy name 

• Meaning: “Loved by God”

• Pronunciation: “ah-mah-dee-uhs”

• Length: 7 letters, 4 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Italian television and radio presenter Amadeus (real name Amedeo Umberto Rita Sebastiani)

• Also a middle name for boys after Austrian-German musical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• Variants: Amadeo, Amadeu, and Amédée (French)

 

Ashford 

 

• Origin: British and Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Ford by the ashes” or “ford by the ash trees”

• Pronunciation: “ash-frd”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American musical duo Ashford & Simpson (husband-and-wife recording, songwriting, and production duo comprised of Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson)

• Variants: Ashfford and Ashforrd

 

Ferdinand

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: “Daring,” “brave,” “journey,” “adventurer,” or “bold voyager” 

• Pronunciation: “fur-duh-nand”

• Length: 9 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: German basketball player Ferdinand Zylka and automotive engineer and Porsche founder Ferdinand Porsche

• Variants: Fernão (Portuguese), Fernand, and Fernando 

 

Judd

 

• Origin: English and Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “Praised” or “flowing down”

• Pronunciation: “juhd”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American actor, screenwriter, and producer Judd Nelson and actor Judd Seymore Hirsch

• Variants: Jud, Jordan, and Jude

 

Langdon

 

• Origin: British

• Meaning: Earthy name that means “long hill slope” or simply “long hill”

• Pronunciation: “lang-dn”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American academic and philosopher of technology Langdon Winner and Broadway playwright Langdon Elwyn Mitchell 

• Variants: Langddon, Landon, and Landyn

 

Salinger

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Man of peace”

• Pronunciation: “sah-luhn-jr”

• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include American arranger-orchestrator and composer Conrad Salinger and Austrian curler Stefan Salinger)

• Variants: Sallinger

 

Adorable & Cute Rare Boy Names

Arrow

 

• Origin: English androgynous name

• Meaning: “Projectile filed from a bow”

• Pronunciation: “ah-row”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Celebrity kids Arrow Eve Reynolds (the daughter of singer American singers and songwriters Aja Volkman and Dan Reynolds)

• Variants: None

 

Azure

 

• Origin: French and Roman unisex name

• Meaning: “Sky blue” (a color name)

• Pronunciation: “ah-zhr”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None for boys

• Variants: Azzure

 

Dino

 

• Origin: Italian boy name

• Meaning: “Little sword” or a cute boy name that means “brave bear”

• Pronunciation: “dee-noh”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Scottish musician and songwriter Dino Bardot and former American college basketball coach Dino Gaudio

• Variants: Dinno and Dinoh

 

Kai 

 

• Origin: Scandinavian and Welsh gender-neutral name

• Meaning: “Keeper of the keys and earth”

• Pronunciation: “kai”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American soccer player Kai Greene and English rugby union footballer Kai Horstmann

• Variants: Kaii, Kaih, and Cai

 

Sylvan

 

• Origin: Latin boy name

• Meaning: “Of the forest”

• Pronunciation: “seel-van”

• Length: 6 letters,2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: English rugby union player Sylvan Edwards and American comic strip editor Sylvan Byck 

• Variants: Silvan and Sillvan; also a form of “Silvanus,” the Roman god of the forest

 

Tak

 

• Origin: Dutch unisex name

• Meaning: “Tree branch”

• Pronunciation: “tak”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Japanese rock guitarist Tak Matsumoto and American cinematographer Tak Fujimoto

• Variants: Takk

 

Handsome & Rare Boy Names

Akshara

 

• Origin: Sanskrit unisex name

• Meaning: “Imperishable,” “sound,” or “strong”

• Pronunciation: “ahk-shaa-rah”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also considered as one of the names of the Lord Vishnu (of the main Hindu gods)

• Variants: Aksharaa 

 

Ambrose

 

• Origin: Greek and Latin boy name

• Meaning: Mythical name that means “food and drink of the gods” or “immortal” 

• Pronunciation: “am-brohz”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #720

• Namesakes/Description: Nigerian-American jazz trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and American author Ambrose Bierce 

• Variants: Ambrosio, Ambrosia, Ambrosios, and Ambrogia

 

Arden

 

• Origin: English unisex name 

• Meaning: “Valley of the eagle,” “high valley,” “great forest,” or “eagle valley”

• Pronunciation: “ahr-den”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian baseball player, team owner, and manager Arden Eddie and American football player Arden Key

• Variants: Arrden and Ardden

 

Fitzgerald

 

• Origin: Irish boy name
• Meaning: Classic boy name that means “son of the spear ruler” or “son of Gerald”
• Pronunciation: “fits-jer-uhld”
• Length: 10 letters, 3 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: American NFL football player Fitzgerald Toussaint
• Also a middle name for boys (e.g., American actor Alton Fitzgerald White and former US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy)
• Variants: Fitzzgerald and Fitz Gerald

 

Creative & Artsy Rare Boy Names

Haskel

 

• Origin: Hebrew and Yiddish boy name

• Meaning: “Wisdom” or “intellect”

• Pronunciation: “hahs-kel”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Haskell, Hasskel, Haskkel, and Hasskell

 

Lang

 

• Origin: German, Hungarian, and Chinese boy name

• Meaning: “Tall”; also a name that means “fire” (flame)

• Pronunciation: “lang”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Chinese pianist Lang Lang and Australian iron ore magnate Lang Hancock

• Variants: Láng (with an accent)

 

Teo

 

• Origin: Spanish and Greek boy name

• Meaning: “Divine gift”

• Pronunciation: “tay-oh”

• Length: 3 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #945

• Namesakes/Description: American jazz musician, composer, and record producer Teo Macero (real name Attilio Joseph Macero) and Spanish post-minimalist painter Teo González

• Variants: Also a short form of “Theodore”

 

Historic & Rare Old Man Names

Algernon

 

• Origin: Old English and Old French boy name

• Meaning: “Wearing a mustache” or “mustached man”

• Pronunciation: “al-juhr-nun”

• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Poetic name after English poet Algernon Charles Swinburne and novelist Algernon Henry Blackwood 

• Variants: Alggernon

 

Curtis

 

• Origin: American, English, and French boy name

• Meaning: “Courteous” or “polite” 

• Pronunciation: “kur-tees”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #825

• Namesakes/Description: American film director and screenwriter Curtis Lee Hanson and actor and singer Curtis Armstrong 

• Variants: Cortes, Cortis, and Curtyss

 

Justus

 

• Origin: Latin boy name

• Meaning: “Just” or “upright”

• Pronunciation: “just-uhs”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American basketball player Justus Thigpen and Kenyan middle distance runner Justus Soget

• Variants: Justin, Justice, and Justis

 

Kent

 

• Origin: Old English and ancient Celtic boy name

• Meaning: “Bright white,” “border,” “coast,” “bordering of a circle,” or “edge”

• Pronunciation: “kent”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American novelist Kent Haruf and actor, painter, playwright, and screenwriter Kent Broadhurst 

• Variants: Kenny and Ken

 

Wiley

 

• Origin: Scottish boy name

• Meaning: “Resolute protection,” “crafty,” or “willow woods”

• Pronunciation: “wai-lee”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American game designer and actor Wiley Wiggins and American newspaper cartoonist Wiley Miller (the pen name of David Wiley Miller)

• Variants: Wylye

 

Musical Boy Names For Your Little One

Allegro

 

• Origin: Italian boy name

• Meaning: Musical name that means “quick, lively, and cheerful beat”

• Pronunciation: “ah-leg-row”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include Italian musician Antonio Allegro and American producer Luigi Allegro)

• Variants: Allegro; also a masculine form of Allegra

 

Anthem

 

• Origin: Old English and Greek nonbinary name

• Meaning: “Uplifting song,” “full of rhythm,” or “song or hymn of praise or gladness”

• Pronunciation: “ahn-thm”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: None

 

Coda

 

• Origin: Italian unisex name

• Meaning: “Concluding section of music,” “queue,” or “tail”

• Pronunciation: “kow-duh”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include American singer, songwriter, and rock and roll guitarist Cub Koda and Italian Renaissance painter Benedetto Coda)

• Variants: Koda

 

Tempo

 

• Origin: Italian unisex name
• Meaning: “Time,” “timing,” or “pace”
• Pronunciation: “tem-pow”
• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: Puerto Rican rapper and songwriter Tempo (real name David Sánchez Badillo)
• Also a last name (e.g., American musician and singer Nino Tempo)
• Variants: None

 

Sophisticated & Elegant Boy Names

Ellington

 

• Origin: British boy name

• Meaning: “From Ellis’ town” or “one who belongs to Ella’s town”

• Pronunciation: “eh-ling-tuhn”

• Length: 9 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American drummer and actor Ellington Ratliff and the fictional character Ellington Feint in Lemony Snicket’s “All the Wrong Questions”

• Variants: Elington

 

Tiernan

 

• Origin: Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Lord” or “little lord”

• Pronunciation: “teer-nan”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Irish rugby player Tiernan O’Halloran and Irish-Australian LGBT rights campaigner Tiernan Brady

• Variants: Tierrnan, Tiernee, Tiarney, Tierney, and Tierny

 

What Are Edgy & Badass Boy Names?

Anish

 

• Origin: Sanskrit boy name

• Meaning: “Supreme,” “paramount,” “smart one,” or “companion”

• Pronunciation: “ah-neesh”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Indian actor and director Anish Tejeshwar and Dutch chess player Anish Giri

• Variants: Annish and Aneesh

 

Arnold

 

• Origin: German and Old English boy name

• Meaning: Powerful name that means “strong ruler” or “eagle power” 

• Pronunciation: “aar-nuhld”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American folk artist Arnold Kramer and Austrian-born American bodybuilder and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger

• Variants: Arnoud, Arnaud, and Arnault

 

Bram

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “Father of multitudes”

• Pronunciation: “bram”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American musician, songwriter, and producer Bram Inscore and Dutch retired footballer Bram De Ly

• Variants: Also a short form of the biblical name “Abraham”

 

Ever

 

• Origin: American unisex name

• Meaning: “Always”

• Pronunciation: “eh-ver”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Mexican former footballer Éver Arsenio Guzmán Zavala and Paraguayan association football manager Ever Almeida

• Variants: None

 

Falcon

 

• Origin: English gender-neutral name name

• Meaning: “Bird of prey”

• Pronunciation: “fahl-kn”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: British music producer and photographer Falcon Stuart

• Also a tough boy name after the Falcon (a superhero and alter ego of Sam Wilson) in the “Avengers” series and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”

• Variants: Falkon

 

Ranger

 

• Origin: French unisex name

• Meaning: “Forest protector” or “forest guardian” 

• Pronunciation: “rayn-jr”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Celebrity kid Ranger Joseph Buckley (son of Canadian actor AJ Buckley)

• Also a western boy name after TV and movie character The Lone Ranger who stars in the show about a former Texas Ranger that became a masked hero who fought outlaws in the American Wild West

• Variants: Rainjer, Rainger, Rainier, and Reinger

 

Rare & Short Boy Names

What Are Rare 4-Letter Boy Names?

Baer

 

• Origin: Middle High German boy name

• Meaning: “Bear”

• Pronunciation: “bay-er”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (for example, American actor and director Max Baer Jr. and British art dealer Jack Baer)

• Variants: Bear

 

Bard

 

• Origin: Irish name for boys

• Meaning: “Singer-poet” or “minstrel”

• Pronunciation: “baard”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Norwegian industrial designer and entrepreneur Bård Eker and comedian Bård Tufte Johansen

• Variants: Bård (with an accent)

 

Beto

 

• Origin: Spanish boy name

• Meaning: “Blessed”

• Pronunciation: “beh-tow”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Mexican singer and musician Beto Quintanilla and Chilean singer and artist Beto Cuevas

• Variants: Betto

 

Byrd

 

• Origin: British and Old English unisex name

• Meaning: “Bird-like”

• Pronunciation: “burd”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a place name after Mount Byrd in Antarctica and the unincorporated community of Byrd in Alabama, USA

• Variants: Bird

 

Dirk

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: “Gifted ruler” or “the people’s ruler”

• Pronunciation: “durk”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: German race car driver Dirk Müller and American football coach Dirk Koetter

• Variants: Dirck and Dirks

 

Huck

 

• Origin: American, German, and English boy name

• Meaning: Hippie boy name that means “sweet berry” or “someone sweet”

• Pronunciation: “huhk”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American composer Huck Hodge and Canadian ice hockey player Huck Woodman (real name Allan Charles Woodman)

• Variants: Also a short variation of “Huckleberry” or similar names

 

Kirk

 

• Origin: Old Norse and German boy name

• Meaning: Aesthetic boy name that means “church” or “someone who lives near a church”

• Pronunciation: “kurk”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American musician and Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and Canadian ice hockey player Kirk Maltby

• Variants: Kyrk, Kirke, and Kerk

 

Rava

 

• Origin: Esperanto (an artificial international auxiliary language) and Italian boy name

• Meaning: “Father” or “ravishing”

• Pronunciation: “rah-vah”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a place name after the island of Rava in the Adriatic Sea or some villages in Romania and Estonia

• Variants: Ravva and Ravah

 

Ravi

 

• Origin: Sanskrit unisex name

• Meaning: Name that means “sun”

• Pronunciation: “rah-vee”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Indian basketball player Ravi Bharadwaj and Trinidadian-American immigration activist Ravi Ragbir

• Variants: Ravvi

 

Rare One-Syllable Boy Names

Ash

 

• Origin: Hebrew gender-neutral name
• Meaning: “Happy”
• Pronunciation: “ash”
• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: American indie musician Ash Bowie and English actor Ash Palmisciano
• Also a mystical name after the protagonist Ash in the fantasy novel “Ash: A Secret History” or an anime boy name after Ash Ketchum (a protagonist in “Pokémon the Series”)
• Variants: Also a short form of “Asher” or similar names

 

Che

 

• Origin: Spanish boy name

• Meaning: “God will increase” 

• Pronunciation: “che”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Argentine Marxist revolutionary, author, guerrilla leader, and physician Che Guevara (real name Ernesto Guevara) and English singer and songwriter Che Chesterman

• Variants: Chie and Chay

 

Glenn

 

• Origin: Irish and Scottish boy name

• Meaning: Earthy name that means “narrow valley” or “glen”

• Pronunciation: “glen”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American singer and songwriter Glenn Medeiros and actor, producer, and screenwriter Glenn Howerton

• Variants: Glen and Glinn

 

Lad

 

• Origin: British and Indian – Hindi boy name

• Meaning: “Young man”

• Pronunciation: “lad”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include Indian politician Santosh S. Lad and physician Vasant Lad

• Variants: Ladd

 

Oz

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name
• Meaning: “Courage,” “strength,” or “powerful”
• Pronunciation: “oz”
• Length: 2 letters, 1 syllable
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: Israeli basketball player Oz Blayzer and Israeli-Austrian artist Oz Almog
• Also a magical name after the main character Oz in the fantasy and adventure film “Oz the Great and Powerful”
• Variants: Ozzy and Ozzie

 

Rare Two-Syllable Boy Names

Alfie

 

• Origin: Old English unisex name

• Meaning: Elf boy name that means “wise elf,” “wise counsel,” or “wise counselor”

• Pronunciation: “ael-fee”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: English actor Alfie Allen and American musician, singer-songwriter, and mathematician Alfie Agnew 

• Variants: Alffie

 

Escher

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: “Person from Esche (community in Germany)”

• Pronunciation: “eh-shr”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Dutch graphic artist Maurits Cornelis Escher

• Variants: Eskher

 

Ole

 

• Origin: Old Norse, Danish, and Norwegian boy name

• Meaning: “Ancestor’s descendant” or “rich and powerful heritage”

• Pronunciation: “oh-leh”

• Length: 3 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Norwegian hedge fund manager Ole Andreas Halvorsen and Danish film director Ole Bornedal

• Variants: Olle, Ola, Oluf, Olof, and Olav

 

Rumi

 

• Origin: Japanese unisex name

• Meaning: “Flow” or “beauty”

• Pronunciation: “roo-mee”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None for boys

• Variants: Rummi

 

Taran 

 

• Origin: Gaelic gender-neutral name

• Meaning: “Thunder”

• Pronunciation: “tah-ran”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American sport shooter and world champion Taran Butler and Canadian professional ice hockey player Taran Kozun

• Variants: Tarran

 

Unique & Long Boy Names

Augustine

 

• Origin: Latin unisex name

• Meaning: “To increase,” “magnificent,” or “great”

• Pronunciation: “aah-guh-steen”

• Length: 9 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #623

• Namesakes/Description: Nigerian footballer Augustine Jibrin and American poet Augustine Joseph Hickey Duganne

• Variants: Augustin and Agustino (Hispanic name)

 

Casimir

 

• Origin: Slavic and Polish boy name

• Meaning: “Bringer of peace”

• Some versions also put the meaning as “destroyer of peace”

• Pronunciation: “kah-see-mir”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Belgian jazz musician Casimir Liberski and American portrait painter Casimir Stapko

• Variants: Kazimierz (Polish name), Kazimir, and Casimiro

 

Denarius

 

• Origin: Latin and Roman boy name

• Meaning: “Silver coin used in ancient Rome”

• Pronunciation: “dee-neh-ree-uhs”

• Length: 8 letters, 4 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American football wide receiver Denarius Moore

• Variants: Denarri and Denarii

 

Lysander

 

• Origin: Greek boy name

• Meaning: “Liberator”

• Pronunciation: “lee-san-dr”

• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American political activist and legal theorist Lysander Spooner (from the 1800s) and inventor Lysander Button

• Variants: Lyssander and Lysandder

 

Morrison

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: Also a black boy name that means “dark-skinned” or “a Moor”

• Pronunciation: “morr-ee-suhn”

• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian merchant and politician Morrison Mann MacBride and former U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Morrison Waite

• Variants: Morisson, Morisone, Morrieson, Moorison, Morisoun, Moresoun, Morriceson, and Murrison

 

Nature-Inspired Rare & Unique Boy Names

Space Boy Names

Apollo

 

• Origin: Greek boy name
• Meaning: Warrior name that means “destroyer” or “manly beauty”
• Pronunciation: “uh-pol-oh”
• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: #388
• Namesakes/Description: Polish writer Apollo Korzeniowski and American pro video gamer Apollo Price 
• Also after the NASA (US National Aeronautics and Space Administration) missions to the moon (named after the Greek god of the sun and music)
• Variants: Apollonios, Apollinaris, and Apollonius

 

Ariel

 

• Origin: Hebrew unisex name
• Meaning: “Lion of God”
• Pronunciation: “ay-ree-yel”
• Length: 5 letters, 3 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: #571
• Namesakes/Description: After a major moon of Uranus
• Also after American actor, film director, and producer Ariel Schulman and Canadian journalist Ariel Helwani
• Variants: Arriel and Arihel

 

Comet

 

• Origin: Greek and English nonbinary name

• Meaning: “Cosmic snowballs made of rock, dust, and frozen gasses”

• Pronunciation: “kaa-muht”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: None

 

Cosmo

 

• Origin: Greek boy name

• Meaning: “Order,” “beauty,” or “universe”

• Pronunciation: “koz-moh”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American football player Cosmo Iacavazzi and Scottish portrait painter Cosmo Alexander

• Variants: Kosmo, Cosimo (Italian boy name), Cosmin (Romanian), and Cosme (Portuguese)

 

Jupiter

 

• Origin: Latin boy name 
• Meaning: “Jove (after the Roman the supreme god),” “sky,” “heaven,” or “god of the sky”
• Pronunciation: “joo-pee-tr”
• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: Largest planet in the solar system named after the Roman god
• Also after Bangladeshi cricketer Jupiter Ghosh and Cameroonian former footballer Jupiter Yves Ngangue
• Variants: Juppiter

 

Orion

 

• Origin: Greek boy name
• Meaning: “Great hunter,” “dawning,” or “rising in the sky”
• Pronunciation: “oh-rai-ohn”
• Length: 5 letters, 3 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: #331
• Namesakes/Description: Constellation named after the giant huntsman that Zeus placed among the stars in Greek mythology
• Also after American software entrepreneur and billionaire Orion Hindawi and Israeli discus thrower Orion Gallin
• Variants: Orrion, Orian, and Oryan

 

Rocket

 

• Origin: English androgynous name

• Meaning: “Jet-propelled vehicle used for space missions”

• Pronunciation: “raa-kuht”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a badass name after the fictional character Rocket Raccoon in Marvel Comics (a raccoon mercenary and hero in the “Avengers” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” series)

• Variants: Rocky, Roket, Rokki, and Rock

 

Unique Boy Names That Mean “Fire”

Adar

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name 

• Meaning: “Eclipsed,” “cloak,” “majestic,” “darkened,” or a name that means “fire”

• Pronunciation: “uh-daar”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Indian businessman and vaccine tycoon Adar Poonawalla

• Variants: Addar and Adarr

 

Adish

 

• Origin: Persian boy name

• Meaning: “Fire,” supreme lord,” “intelligent,” or “full of wisdom”

• Pronunciation: “ah-deesh”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Hindi – Indian Bollywood actor Adish Vaidya

• Variants: None

 

Edan

 

• Origin: Hebrew and Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Little fire,” “paradise,” or “place of pleasure”

• Pronunciation: “eeh-dahn”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American art dealer and art collector Edan Milton Hughes and Israeli singer-songwriter and musician Idan Raichel

• Variants: Idan, Eddan, and Eedan

 

Hurik

 

• Origin: Armenian boy name

• Meaning: “Small fire”

• Pronunciation: “hoo-reek”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a mystical boy name after the fictional character Hurik, a Gormiti (the warriors of Gorm Island) in “The Heralds Of Gorm” TV show

• Variants: Hurrik

 

Keahi

 

• Origin: Hawaiian gender-neutral name

• Meaning: “Flames”

• Pronunciation: “kay-ah-hee”

• Length: 5 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a nature name after the Keahi flowering plant found in Hawai’i

• Variants: Keahhi

 

Pyro

 

• Origin: Greek boy name
• Meaning: “Fire”
• Pronunciation: “pai-row”
• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: Mystical name after two characters in Marvel Comics who can manipulate fire
• Also a last name (e.g., American bass player and musician Howie Pyro)
• Variants: Pyrro

 

Rare Names That Mean “Moon”

Alqamar

 

• Origin: Arabic boy name

• Meaning: “Moon,” “moonlight,” or “moonshine”

• Pronunciation: “ahl-kah-mar”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Al Qamar

 

Ehann

 

• Origin: Arabic boy name

• Meaning: “Full, bright moon”

• Pronunciation: “eeh-han”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Ehan

 

Mayar

 

• Origin: Turkish and Arabic boy name

• Meaning: “Moon glow”

• Pronunciation: “mah-yarr”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Egyptian tennis player Mayar Sherif and squash player Mayar Hany

• Variants: Mayyar and Mayarr

 

Rare Plant Names For Boys

Aloe

 

• Origin: Italian and English unisex name

• Meaning: Nature name that means “aloe plant” or “precious”

• Pronunciation: “ah-low”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American singer-songwriter and rapper Aloe Blacc (real name Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III)

• Variants: None

 

Branch

 

• Origin: Latin and English boy name

• Meaning: “Paw,” “extension,” or “a part of a tree”

• Pronunciation: “branch”

• Length: 6 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Magical name after the fictional character Branch, one of the protagonists in the “Trolls” movie series

• Variants: Branche

 

Cedar

 

• Origin: Latin and English gender-neutral name

• Meaning: Plant name that means “cedar tree”

• Pronunciation: “see-dr”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000

• Namesakes/Description: Also a biblical name after the trees used for building temples and chests

• Variants: None

 

Indigo

 

• Origin: English and Greek unisex name

• Meaning: “Indian dye” or “a deep blue dye”

• Pronunciation: “in-dee-gow”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian professional “New York Yankees” baseball pitcher Indigo Diaz

• Variants: None

 

Lotus

 

• Origin: Greek unisex name

• Meaning: Flower name for boys that means “lotus flower” or “water lily”

• Pronunciation: “low-tuhs”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None for boys

• Variants: None

 

Rare Boy Names That Mean “Light”

Anwar

 

• Origin: Arabic boy name

• Meaning: “Brighter,” “clearer,” “luminous,” “shafts of light,” or a name that means “light”

• Pronunciation: “ahn-warr”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Dutch-Moroccan footballer Anwar El Ghazi and Egyptian actor and director Anwar Wagdi

• Variants: Annwar and Anwarr

 

Elon

 

• Origin: Greek and Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “Shining light” or “oak tree”

• Pronunciation: “eeh-lohn”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian-American-South African business magnate Elon Musk and American computer scientist Elon Gasper

• Variants: Ellon and Eilon

 

Lucius

 

• Origin: Latin boy name

• Meaning: Masculine name that means “light”

• Pronunciation: “loo-see-uhs”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American basketball player Lucius Davis and Australian musician Lucius Borich

• Also a witchy name after Lucius Malfoy, a wizard in “Harry Potter”

• Variants: Lucio, Luzzo, Lucchi, Lucci, and Luci

 

Neriah

 

• Origin: Hebrew unisex name

• Meaning: “Light of God”

• Pronunciation: “neh-ree-uh”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Biblical name after a man identified as “father of Baruch and Seraiah ben Neriah” and “the son of Mahseiah” in the Book of Jeremiah

• Variants: Nerriah and Neria

 

Other Rare Boy Names From The Natural World

Beck

 

• Origin: Old Norse boy name

• Meaning: “Brook” (a name that means “water”)

• Pronunciation: “bek”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American musician, singer, record producer, and songwriter Beck David Hansen (real name Bek David Campbell) and actor and comedian Beck Bennett

• Variants: Bek and Bekk

 

Birch

 

• Origin: Old English unisex name
• Meaning: “Birch tree,” “bright,” or “shining”
• Pronunciation: “burch”
• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: American political activist and newspaper editor L. Birch Wilson Jr.
• Also a last name (e.g., Australian TV producer and event director Ric Birch and English sculptor Charles Bell Birch)
• Variants: Birche

 

Bronco

 

• Origin: Spanish boy name

• Meaning: Southern boy name that means “wild horse” or “rough, unbroken horse”

• Pronunciation: “braang-kow”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American former professional boxer Bronco Banyon McKart and BYU (Brigham Young University) football coach Bronco Mendenhall

• Variants: Bronko

 

Cliff

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: Country boy name that means “cliff-side slope” or “ford by a cliff”

• Pronunciation: “klif”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American character actor Cliff De Young and track and field athlete Cliff Wiley

• Variants: Kliff, Cliffe, Clyff, and Klyff

 

Conan

 

• Origin: Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Wolf” or “hound”

• Pronunciation: “kow-nuhn”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Australian actor, writer, former professional wrestler, and stuntman Conan Stevens and American talk show host Conan O’Brien

• Variants: Connan, Conán (with an accent), and Konan

 

Crane

 

• Origin: English unisex name

• Meaning: “Long-necked bird with thin legs”

• Pronunciation: “krayn”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable 

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American writer, actor, and director Crane Wilbur and Major League Baseball executive Crane Kenney

• Variants: Krane and Crayn

 

Finch

 

• Origin: English unisex name

• Meaning: “Songbird,” “cheerful person,” or an occupational name that means “one who catches and sells finches”

• Pronunciation: “finch”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include English-Australian actor Peter Finch and American football player Sharif Finch)

• Variants: None

 

Loch

 

• Origin: Scottish and Gaelic unisex name

• Meaning: “Lake” (a name that means “water”)

• Pronunciation: “laak”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include German luger and Olympic champion Felix Loch and Scottish pianist Ethan Loch)

• Variants: None

 

Lowell

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: Cute boy name that means “young wolf”

• Pronunciation: “low-uhl”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian soccer player Lowell Wright and former NASCAR Cup Series driver Lowell Cowell

• Variants: Lowel, Lowle, and Lowwel

 

Timber

 

• Origin: American unisex name
• Meaning: “Wood” or “strong”
• Pronunciation: “tim-br”
• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: American actor Roger J. Timber
• Also a boy dog name after British “Harry Potter” film actor Tom Felton’s dog
• Variants: None

 

Rare Travel-Inspired Place Names For Boys

Cyprus

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Fair” or “fairness”

• Pronunciation: “sai-pruhs”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a place name after a country in the Middle East

• Variants: None

 

Indiana

 

• Origin: American unisex name

• Meaning: “Land of the Indians (Native Americans),” “from India (the Asian country),” or “from Indiana (the state)”

• Pronunciation: “in-dee-uh-nah”

• Length: 7 letters, 4 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Badass boy name after the fictional character and adventurer Indiana Jones who starred in several eponymous (the same name) movies

• Also a place name after the state of Indiana in the US

• Variants: None

 

Jersey

 

• Origin: English unisex name

• Meaning: “Grassy island” or “Geirr’s island”

• Pronunciation: “jur-zee”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a place name after New Jersey, a US state also known as the “garden state”

• Variants: Geirrsey, Jerrsey, and Jerzey

 

Louden

 

• Origin: Scottish unisex name

• Meaning: “From Loudoun, Scotland” or “low beacon or flame”

• Pronunciation: “lau-dn”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Loudden

 

Montana

 

• Origin: Latin and Spanish unisex name

• Meaning: Hispanic name that means “mountain” or “mountainous country”

• Pronunciation: “maan-tah-nuh”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American actor Montana Jordan and American boogie-woogie and blues pianist Montana Taylor (real name Arthur Taylor)

• Also an anime boy name after the fictional main character in “Montana Jones” (an Italian-Japanese anime series)

• Variants: Monteene and Montanna 

 

Non-English Versions Of Traditional & Popular Boy Names

Aleksey

 

• Origin: Ancient Greek name for boys

• Meaning: “Defender of man” or “warrior”

• Pronunciation: “ah-lek-see”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Russian volleyball player Aleksey Kuleshov and actor Aleksei Kravchenko

• Variants: Aleksei, Alexey, Alexei, Aleksie, and Alexi; also a form of “Alexander”

 

Andreas

 

• Origin: Greek boy name

• Meaning: “Man,” “manly,” “brave,” or “strong and manly”

• Pronunciation: “an-dree-uhs”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Austrian track and field sprinter Andreas Berger and Swedish ice hockey winger Andreas Johnsson

• Variants: Andrea and Andrews; also a form of “Andrew”

 

Davit

 

• Origin: Armenian and Georgian boy name

• Meaning: Pet name for boys that means “beloved”

• Pronunciation: “day-vuht”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Also a form of “David”

 

Evron

 

• Origin: Hebrew and Yiddish boy name

• Meaning: “Productive,” “servile (showing an excessive willingness to please or serve others),” or “fruitful”

• Pronunciation: “ehv-rohn”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Fictional name after the Emperor Evron of the Planet Evron in the “Paperinik New Adventures” comics by Disney

• Variants: Evrron and Evvron

 

Mattias

 

• Origin: Swedish and Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “Gift from God” or “gift of Yahweh (God)”

• Pronunciation: “mah-tee-uhs”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Norwegian ice hockey defenceman Mattias Nørstebø and Swedish middle distance runner Mattias Claesson

• Variants: Also a form of “Matthew”

 

Moishe

 

• Origin: Yiddish boy name

• Meaning: “Delivered from the water”

• Pronunciation: “moy-shee”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Yiddish poet and theater director Moishe Broderzon and Canadian historian Moishe Postone

• Variants: Also a form of “Moses”

 

Nikko

 

• Origin: Finnish and Greek boy name

• Meaning: “Victory of the people”

• Pronunciation: “nee-koh”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American TV personality, record producer, and singer Nikko London and New Zealander-Samoan footballer Nikko Boxall

• Variants: Nico and Niko; also a form of “Nike” or “Nicky”

 

Rare Names From Around The World

Rare Arabic Boy Names

Kamal

 

• Origin: Arabic boy name

• Meaning: “Perfection,” “distinction,” “completion,” “conclusion,” “accomplishment,” or “superiority”

• Pronunciation: “kah-mahl”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Iraqi poet and journalist Kamal al-Hadithi and Egyptian artist Kamal Amin

• Variants: Kammal

 

Ramy

 

• Origin: Arabic boy name

• Meaning: “Loving,” “father of nations,” or “pleasing”

• Pronunciation: “rah-mee”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Egyptian retired squash player Ramy Ashour and Lebanese basketball player Ramy Akiki

• Variants: Rahmi, Raami, and Ramey

 

Saed

 

• Origin: Arabic boy name

• Meaning: “Blessed,” “happy,” or “lucky”

• Pronunciation: “sah-eed”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Canada-based data scientist and author Dr. Saed Sayad 

• Variants: Saeed, Saed, Saied, Sayeed, Sayid, Saʽeid, Said, and Saïd (with accent)

 

Rare Greek Boy Names

Agamemnon

 

• Origin: Greek boy name

• Meaning: “To endure,” “unbowed,” “resolute,” or “very steadfast”

• Pronunciation: “ah-gah-mem-non”

• Length: 9 letters, 4 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Powerful name after King Agamemnon, the leader of the Greeks during the Trojan War

• Variants: None

 

Cadmus

 

• Origin: Greek boy name
• Meaning: “He who excels” or “from the east”
• Pronunciation: “kad-muhs”
• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: After the hero Cadmus in Greek mythology and the legendary Phoenician hero who introduced the Phoenician alphabet to the Greeks
• Also a magical name after the fictional character Cadmus Peverell in the “Harry Potter” series
• Variants: Kadmus

 

Ilya

 

• Origin: Greek and Russian name for boys

• Meaning: Spiritual name that means “the Lord is my God”

• Pronunciation: “eel-yah”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Russian-American trumpeter and singer Ilya Serov and Persian-Swedish music producer Ilya Salmanzadeh

• Variants: Also an ancient Greek variant of “Elijah”

 

Theseus

 

• Origin: Greek boy name
• Meaning: “To place”
• Pronunciation: “thee-see-uhs”
• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: After the legendary Greek hero Theseus, who defeated many monsters and villains, including the fearsome Minotaur (half-man, half-bull)
• Also a magical name after the fictional character Theseus Scamander (Newt Scamander’s older brother) in J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” spin-off book and movie “Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald”
• Variants: Thesseus

 

Rare African Boy Names

Kamau

 

• Origin: Kenyan – African boy name

• Meaning: “Quiet warrior”

• Pronunciation: “kaa-mah-uw”

• Length: 5 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a middle name for boys (American stand-up comic and television host Walter Kamau Bell and Caribbean scholar and poet Edward Kamau Brathwaite)

• Variants: Kammau

 

Kehinde

 

• Origin: Yoruba – African boy name
• Meaning: Twin boy name meaning “second-born of twins”
• Also means “kind day”
• Pronunciation: “keh-heen-deh”
• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: Nigerian-Romanian footballer Kehinde Fatai and American portrait artist Kehinde Wiley
• Variants: None

 

Rare German Boy Names

Alwyn

 

• Origin: Old English and German boy name

• Meaning: “Wise friend,” “friend to all,” “elf friend,” “friend of the elves,” or “noble friend”

• Pronunciation: “awl-win”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Australian triple jumper Alwyn Jones and American business journalist and editor Alwyn Scott 

• Variants: Alwin, Alwwyn, and Alwynn

 

Amo

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: “Power of an eagle” or “majestic and powerful like an eagle”

• Pronunciation: “ay-moh”

• Length: 3 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name such as Nzema (ancient civilization in present-day Ghana) philosopher Anton Wilhelm Amo, from the 1700s

• Variants: Ammo

 

Berengar

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: “Bear spear”

• Pronunciation: “beh-reng-gar”

• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: French bishop Berenger Fredoli and the name of several ancient kings, including King Berengar I of Italy

• Variants: Berenggar

 

Egon

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: “Strong with a sword” or “sword’s edge”

• Pronunciation: “eeh-gon”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Austrian alpine skier Egon Zimmermann and German footballer and coach Egon Coordes

• Variants: Egino

 

Erwin

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: “Respected friend” or “friend of the army”

• Pronunciation: “er-ween”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Austrian-born American sculptor Erwin Hauer and American legal scholar Erwin Chemerinsky

• Variants: Irwin, Ervīns (Latvian), and Ervin (Hungarian)

 

Rare Hebrew Names For Boys

Boaz

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name
• Meaning: “Swiftness”
• Pronunciation: “bow-az”
• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: Israeli basketball player Boaz Janay and Hawaiian civil leader Boaz Mahune
• Also a biblical name after the rich Israeli man who married the widow Ruth (they’re considered as Jesus’ ancestors)
• Variants: Boazz

 

Myer

 

• Origin: Hebrew unisex name

• Meaning: “Bringer of light”

• Pronunciation: “mai-uhr”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American Olympic champion Myer Prinstein (for long jump and triple jump) and British-Australian conductor Myer Fredman

• Variants: Myier and Mahyar

 

Yael

 

• Origin: Hebrew unisex name

• Meaning: “To ascend,” “ibex,” “mountain goat,” or a spiritual name that means “God’s strength”

• Pronunciation: “yah-ehl”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #993

• Namesakes/Description: Filipino musician Yael Yuzon (real name Ysmael Yrastorza Yuzon)

• Variants: Jael and Yaël (with an accent)

 

Rare Italian Boy Names

Aderamo

 

• Origin: Italian, Nigerian, and German boy name

• Meaning: “Wealth and fortune,” “crown of joy,” or “fame”

• Also considered a black name for boys

• Pronunciation: “ah-deh-rah-moh”

• Length: 7 letters, 4 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Aderramo

 

Giotto

 

• Origin: Italian boy name

• Meaning: Mystical name that means “immortal” or “God’s peace”

• Pronunciation: “jee-uh-tow”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Italian painter and architect Giotto di Bondone

• Variants: Giatto

 

Salvatore

 

• Origin: Italian and Latin boy name

• Meaning: “Savior”

• Pronunciation: “sahl-vah-toh-reh”

• Length: 9 letters, 4 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #880

• Namesakes/Description: Italian violin virtuoso and conductor Salvatore Accardo and fashion designer Salvatore Ferragamo (founder of the Ferragamo luxury brand)

• Variants: Salvador (Hispanic name), Salvatori, Salvator, Salvadori, and Salvadore

 

Rare Indian (Hindu) Boy Names

Agnivo

 

• Origin: Indian – Hindi boy name

• Meaning: “Blaze of fire” or “flame of the fire” (a name that means “fire”)

• Pronunciation: “ahg-nee-voh”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Indian author Agnivo Banerjee and entertainment writer Agnivo Niyogi

• Variants: None

 

Dhaval

 

• Origin: Indian boy name

• Meaning: “Pure” and “white”

• Pronunciation: “dah-vahl”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: US-based celebrity dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali

• Variants: Daval

 

Rajesh

 

• Origin: Indian and Sanskrit boy name

• Meaning: “Lord of kings” or “the ruler of kings”

• Pronunciation: “rah-jeesh”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Indian voice artist Rajesh Vedprakash and Nepali actor Rajesh Hamal

• Variants: Rajeesh and Rajendra

 

Valin

 

• Origin: Indian boy name

• Meaning: Mystical name that means “monkey king”

• Pronunciation: “vah-leen”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Bahamian footballer Valin Lamar Danez Bodie and the fictional character Valin Ness (a top general in the Imperial Army) in “Star Wars”

• Variants: Vallin

 

Rare Scottish & Irish Boy Names

Carey

 

• Origin: Irish and Celtic boy name

• Meaning: “Dark” or “black” (also a black name for babies)

• Pronunciation: “kayr-eeh”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American screenwriter and producer Carey W. Hayes (also a twin boy name with Chad Hayes) and Canadian professional hockey player Carey Price

• Variants: Karey, Carrie, Carrey, and Carri

 

Dacey

 

• Origin: Irish unisex name

• Meaning: “From the south” (can be considered a southern boy name) or “of the nobility”

• Pronunciation: “day-see”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include American philosopher Austin Dacey and Canadian curler Mark Dacey)

• Variants: Déiseach (Gaelic)

 

Ferris

 

• Origin: Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Strong man,” “ironworker,” or “of iron”

• Pronunciation: “feh-rees”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American Major League Baseball first baseman Ferris Fain and Australian rugby league footballer Ferris Ashton

• Variants: Ferriz

 

Kelly

 

• Origin: Irish unisex name

• Meaning: “War,” “bright-headed,” or “lively”

• Pronunciation: “keh-lee”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian ice hockey player and broadcaster Kelly Hrudey and American musician and songwriter Kelly Joe Phelps

• Variants: Kelli

 

Kenyon

 

• Origin: Irish and English boy name

• Meaning: “Blond” or “white haired”

• Pronunciation: “ken-yon”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Scottish Episcopal priest and politician Kenyon Edward Wright and American professional basketball player Kenyon Lee Martin

• Variants: Kennyon

 

Niall

 

• Origin: Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Champion”

• Pronunciation: “nee-ahl”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Irish Gaelic footballer Niall O’Donnell and Canadian actor Niall Matter

• Variants: Nial, Neil, Njål (Norwegian name), and Njáll (Icelandic)

 

Rare British Boy Names

Booker

 

• Origin: British boy name

• Meaning: “Binder,” “scribe,” or “someone concerned with books”

• Pronunciation: “boo-kr”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, arranger, and record producer Booker T. Jones and semi-retired professional wrestler Booker T (real name Booker T. Huffman Jr)

• Variants: Booker and Bookyr

 

Covington

 

• Origin: British boy name

• Meaning: “Settlement near the cave” or “settle down”

• Pronunciation: “koh-ving-tohn”

• Length: 9 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include former American football player Tony Covington and English cricketer Fred Covington)

• Variants: None

 

Erving

 

• Origin: British boy name
• Meaning: “Beautiful” or “sea friend”
• Pronunciation: “ehr-ving”
• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: Canadian-American sociologist and social psychologist Erving Goffman
• Also a last name (e.g., American former basketball small forward Julius Erving)
• Variants: Also a form of “Irving”

 

Rhodes

 

• Origin: British and Old English boy name 

• Meaning: Boy name that means “rose,” “where roses grow,” or “clearing in the woods”

• Pronunciation: “rowdz”

• Length: 6 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: #922

• Namesakes/Description: English educator, Conservative Party politician, and author Sir Rhodes Boyson and Australian geologist Rhodes Whitmore Fairbridge

• Variants: Rhoades and Rhoads

 

Rare Japanese Boy Names

Asuma

 

• Origin: Japanese boy name

• Meaning: “Tomorrow truth,” “clear,” “obvious,” or “bright”

• Pronunciation: “ah-soo-mah”

• Length: 5 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Anime boy name after the fictional character and “Team 10” leader Asuma Sarutobi in the Japanese manga “Naruto”

• Variants: Azuma

 

Kazumi

 

• Origin: Japanese unisex name

• Meaning: “Beautiful place”

• Pronunciation: “kah-zoo-mee”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Japanese guitarist Kazumi Watanabe and former professional baseball starting pitcher Kazumi Saito

• Variants: Kasumi

 

Kenji

 

• Origin: Japanese boy name

• Meaning: Name that means “strong” or “intelligent second son”

• Pronunciation: “kehn-jee”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #755

• Namesakes/Description: Japanese poet and children’s literature author Kenji Miyazawa and American soccer defender Kenji Treschuk

• Variants: Kenjee

 

Kitai

 

• Origin: Japanese boy name

• Meaning: “Anticipation,” “expectation,” or “hope” 

• Pronunciation: “kee-tah-eeh”

• Length: 5 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: None

 

Niobe

 

• Origin: Japanese unisex name

• Meaning: “Fern”

• Pronunciation: “nai-ow-bee”

• Length: 5 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None for boys

• Variants: None

 

Rare Roman & Latin Names for Boys

Cerulean

 

• Origin: Latin unisex name

• Meaning: “Dark blue”

• Pronunciation: “sr-ooh-lee-uhn”

• Length: 8 letters, 4 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Fictional character Cerulean (the supplicant or person who prays to God) for Earth Blue in the fantasy series “Echoes from the Edge” by Bryan Davis

• Variants: None

 

Horatius

 

• Origin: Old English and Latin boy name

• Meaning: “Time keeper” or “season”

• Pronunciation: “huh-ray-shee-uhs”

• Length: 8 letters, 4 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Scottish churchman and poet Horatius Bonar (from the 1800s) and Dutch painter Horatius Paulijn

• Variants: Horatio

 

Nero

 

• Origin: Latin boy name

• Meaning: “Stern,” “black,” or “vigorous”

• Pronunciation: “nee-row”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: 

• also a powerful name after the Roman emperor Nero (full name Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus)

• Variants: Nerro

 

Rare Spanish & Hispanic Boy Names

Fermin

 

• Origin: Spanish boy name

• Meaning: “Strong”

• Pronunciation: “fur-meen”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Spanish motorcycle racer Fermín Aldeguer and Spanish-Argentine painter Fermín Arango

• Variants: Fermín (with an accent)

 

Hernan

 

• Origin: Spanish boy name

• Meaning: Hispanic name that means “gentle traveler” and “brave journey”

• Pronunciation: “her-nahn”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Colombian road racing cyclist Hernán Darío Muñoz and Mexican racewalker Hernán Andrade 

• Variants: Also another form of the Gothic name “Fardnanth”

 

Margarito

 

• Origin: Spanish and Greek boy name

• Meaning: Hispanic boy name that means “a man with pearls” or a nature name that means “pearl” 

• Pronunciation: “mar-gah-ree-toh”

• Length: 5 letters, 4 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include Mexican-American former professional boxer Antonio Margarito)

• Variants: Masculine form of “Margarita”

 

Próspero

 

• Origin: Spanish, Italian, Latin, and Portuguese boy name

• Meaning: Hispanic boy name that means “prosperous” or “fortunate” 

• Pronunciation: “pros-peh-roh”

• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Prince name after Prince Prospero in “Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Alan Poe

• Also a mystical name after the main character Prospero, a sorcerer in Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”

• Variants: Also the Mexican form of “Prosperus” (Latin)

 

Other Exotic Boy Names

Arturek

 

• Origin: Old Norse and Polish name for boys

• Meaning: “Courageous,” “noble,” “bear man,” or “a follower of Thor”

• Pronunciation: “ahr-toor-ehk”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Also a form of “Arthur”

 

Carel

 

• Origin: Polish and Old German name for boys

• Meaning: “Free man” or “strong”

• Pronunciation: “kahr-ehl”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Dutch actor Carel Struycken and race car driver Carel Godin de Beaufort

• Variants: Karel; also a form of “Carl”

 

Chi

 

• Origin: Chinese and Vietnamese unisex name

• Meaning: “Younger energy,” “twig,” or “branch”

• Pronunciation: “ky”‘

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American musician Chi Cheng (full name Chi Ling Dai Cheng)

• Variants: Shi

 

Ender

 

• Origin: Turkish boy name

• Meaning: “Extremely rare”

• Pronunciation: “ehn-der”‘

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: French-Turkish footballer Ender Günlü and Venezuelan baseball coach Ender Chávez

• Variants: Ennder and Endder

 

Filip

 

• Origin: Slavic, Scandinavian, Greek, and Norwegian name for boys

• Meaning: “Friend of horses”

• Pronunciation: “fee-lip”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Slovak tennis player Filip Polášek and Serbian tennis player Filip Krajinović

• Variants: Also a form of the prince name “Philip” or “Phillip”

 

Niran

 

• Origin: Thai name for boys

• Meaning: “Eternal” or “the one who’s everlasting and never ending”

• Pronunciation: “nee-rahn”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Thai social media personality Niran

• Variants: Nirran

 

Salomon

 

• Origin: Norwegian, Hebrew, Finnish, Danish, and French boy name

• Meaning: “Peace”

• Pronunciation: “sah-low-mohn”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also an Australian shoe brand

• Variants: Also a form of “Solomon”

 

Tao

 

• Origin: Chinese boy name

• Meaning: “Long life,” “way,” or “large waves”

• Pronunciation: “taw”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American novelist and poet Tao Lin

• Variants: None

 

Xihuitl

 

• Origin: Aztec name for boys

• Meaning: “Comet” or “shooting star”

• Pronunciation: Pronounced as “schee-weet”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Royal name after King Xihuitl Temoc, the last tlatoani (king) of the Tenochtitlan before the Aztec Empire formation

• Variants: None

 

Yakov

 

• Origin: Russian boy name

• Meaning: “Supplanter”

• Pronunciation: “yah-kov”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American mathematician Yakov Eliashberg and Ukrainian chess master Yakov Vilner

• Variants: Also a version of “Jacob”

 

Sweet & Poetic Rare Boy Names

Adi

 

• Origin: Hebrew unisex name 

• Meaning: Cute boy name that means “jewel” or “first”

• Pronunciation: “ah-dee”

• Length: 3 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: New Zealander singer-songwriter and producer Adi Dick and American journalist Adi Ignatius

• Variants: Can also be spelled as “Ady” or “Addy”

 

Kipling

 

• Origin: British boy name

• Meaning: Occupational name that means “curer of salmon or herring”

• Pronunciation: “kee-pluhng”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include English novelist, short-story writer, journalist, and poet Joseph Rudyard Kipling)

• Variants: None

 

Pascal

 

• Origin: French, Latin, and Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “Relating to Easter,” “Easter child,” or “of the Passover (a Jewish holiday)”

• Pronunciation: “pah-skal”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: French singer-songwriter Pascal Obispo and Romanian Jewish-American publisher and book editor Pascal Covici

• Variants: Paskal, Paschal, Pascual, and Pasqual

 

Rare Country & Southern Boy Names

Crawford

 

• Origin: Old English and British boy name

• Meaning: “Ford of the crows”

• Pronunciation: “kraw-furd”

• Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American actor Crawford Wilson and musician Crawford Young 

• Variants: Crawfford, Crawfurd, Crayford, and Krawford

 

Corbett

 

• Origin: French and English boy name

• Meaning: “Raven”

• Pronunciation: “kawr-bet”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian ice hockey player Corbett Denneny and American comedian Corbett Monica

• Variants: Corbet and Korbett

 

Irving

 

• Origin: Scottish and Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Sea friend” or “green river” (a name that means “water”)

• Pronunciation: “eer-ving”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Russian-born American songwriter Irving Berlin and American matte painter and screenwriter Irving Block

• Variants: Irvine, Erving, and Earving

 

Warrick

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: Old man name that means “leader who defends”

• Pronunciation: “wah-reek”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American football running back Warrick Dunn and British puppeteer Warrick Brownlow-Pike

• Variants: Warrik and Warwick

 

Sports-Inspired Rare Baby Boy Names 

Evander

 

• Origin: Greek and Scottish boy name

• Meaning: “Strong man”

• Pronunciation: “eeh-van-dr”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #823

• Namesakes/Description: After American former professional boxer Evander Holyfield and Canadian ice hockey player Evander Frank Kane

• Variants: Evvander, Evandder, and Evandyr

 

Lebron

 

• Origin: French name for boys

• Meaning: “Brown-haired one”

• Pronunciation: “lee-brohn”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: After American professional basketball player LeBron James and American NFL (National Football League) player Lebron B. Shields

• Variants: LeBron, Labrun, and Labrun

 

Rare Celebrity Boy Names

Chadwick

 

• Origin: British boy name

• Meaning: “Town of Chad” or “town of Ceadda”

• Pronunciation: “chad-wik”

• Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: After the late American actor and “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman

• Variants: Chaddwick

 

Elton 

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: Country boy name that means “from the old town”

• Pronunciation: “el-tuhn”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: After Australian rules footballer Todd Elton and British singer Sir Elton John

• Variants: Ellton and Eltton

 

Idris

 

• Origin: Welsh and Arabic boy name

• Meaning: “Smart” or “studious”

• Pronunciation: “eed-ris”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #766

• Namesakes/Description: After English actor Idris Elba and American jazz drummer Idris Muhammad

• Variants: Idriss, Idrisi, and Indrissi

 

Kiefer

 

• Origin: Old German boy name

• Meaning: “Barrel maker” or “pine”

• Pronunciation: “kye-fer”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: After British-Canadian musician and actor Kiefer Sutherland and American pianist and producer Kiefer (full name Kiefer Shackelford)

• Variants: Kieffer

 

Rock

 

• Origin: English and German androgynous name

• Meaning: “Stone” or “rest”

• Pronunciation: “rok”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: After American actors Rock Hudson and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

• Variants: Rocky and Rok

 

Rupert

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: “Bright fame”

• Pronunciation: “roo-pert”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: After English actor and “Harry Potter” star Rupert Grint and Australian painter Rupert Bunny

• Variants: Ruprecht

 

Russell

 

• Origin: Anglo-Norman (a French language)

• Meaning: “Reddish,” “red-haired,” “red-skinned,” “little red” (a name that means “red”), or “fox-colored”

• Pronunciation: “ruhs-el”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #374

• Namesakes/Description: New Zealand-born actor Russell Ira Crowe and English comedian, presenter, and actor Russell Edward Brand

• Variants: Russel and Rusel

 

Shia

 

• Origin: Hebrew unisex name

• Meaning: “Gift from God,” “gift,” or “follower”

• Pronunciation: “shee-uh”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: After American actor and “Transformers” star Shia LaBeouf

• Variants: None

 

Spike

 

• Origin: American unisex name

• Meaning: “Long, heavy nail”

• Pronunciation: “spike”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: After American musician Spike Jones and American filmmaker Spike Lee 

• Variants: None

 

What Are Different Or Unpopular Boy Monikers?

Dudley

 

• Origin: English boy name
• Meaning: “People’s field”
• Pronunciation: “duhd-lee”
• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: Fictional character after Harry’s cousin in the “Harry Potter” series
• Also after Irish adventurer and secret agent Dudley Bradstreet and American basketball player Dudley Bradley
• Variants: Duddley and Dudlee

 

Sly

 

• Origin: English

• Meaning: “Cunning”

• Pronunciation: “sly”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American politician Sly James (the former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri; full name Sylvester James, Jr.)

• Variants: Also a short form of “Sylvester”

 

Sweeney

 

• Origin: Irish and Gaelic boy name

• Meaning: “Pleasant” or “the little hero”

• Pronunciation: “swee-nee”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Might be associated with the fictional barber and serial killer Sweeney Todd in the story “The String of Pearls: A Romance” and in the adaptation “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

• Variants: Sweenie

 

Unique Nonbinary & Gender-Neutral Names

Briar

 

• Origin: British unisex name

• Meaning: “A thorny patch” or “brambles”

• Pronunciation: “brai-ur”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #743

• Namesakes/Description: Fictional characters Briar Cudgeon in the “Artemis Fowl” fantasy-adventure series and Briar Moss in the “Circle of Magic” and “Circle Opens” series 

• Variants: Bryar

 

Carmine

 

• Origin: Italian and Latin unisex name

• Meaning: “Song” or “vivid red”

• Pronunciation: “kaar-meen”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Italian visual artist Carmine Di Giandomenico and American comic book artist and editor Carmine Infantino

• Variants: Carmin and Karmin

 

Micah 

 

• Origin: Hebrew unisex name

• Meaning: “Who is like Yahweh (God)?”

• Pronunciation: “mai-kuh”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #90

• Namesakes/Description: Biblical boy name after one of the prophets in the Old Testament

• Also after American Christian musician Micah Tyler and Canadian singer and songwriter Micah Barnes

• Variants: Mikah, Myka, and Mika; also a unisex variant of “Michael”

 

Misha

 

• Origin: Russian unisex name

• Meaning: Angel name that means “who resembles God?”

• Pronunciation: “mee-sha”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Serbian rock guitarist Misha Calvin and Israeli Olympic badminton player Misha Zilberman

• Variants: Mishah

 

More Unique & Rare Boy Names From A To Z

Rare Boy Names Starting With A

Abhishek

 

• Origin: Sanskrit boy name

• Meaning: “Cleansing,” “consecration,” “coronation,” or “anointing”

• Pronunciation: “ah-bee-shehk”

• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Indian actor, director, and writer Abhishek Kapoor and singer and vocalist Abhishek Raghuram

• Variants: Abishek

 

Aimilios

 

• Origin: Greek unisex name

• Meaning: “Strength,” “competition,” or “rival”

• Pronunciation: “ai-mee-lee-uhs”

• Length: 8 letters, 4 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Greek actor, director, producer, and theatrical production director Aimilios Chilakis

• Variants: Emilios

 

Ajani

 

• Origin: Swahili – African boy name

• Meaning: “Victor” or “he who wins the struggle”

• Pronunciation: “ah-jah-nee”

• Length: 5 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American actor and entrepreneur Ajani “AJ” Carr

• Variants: Ajjani and Ajanni

 

Akin

 

• Origin: Nigerian and Yoruban – African boy name

• Meaning: “Warrior”

• Pronunciation: “ah-kin”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Nigerian music video director, entrepreneur, and writer Akin Alabi and American football player Akin Ayodele

• Variants: Akkin

 

Alden

 

• Origin: Old English and British boy name

• Meaning: ‘Old man’ name that means “old friend” or “wise protector” 

• Pronunciation: “awl-duhn”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American composer Alden Jenks and author Alden Carter

• Variants: Elden and Aldden

 

Alton

 

• Origin: Old English and British boy name

• Meaning: “Old town” or “dweller at the old town”

• Pronunciation: “awl-tuhn”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: English footballer Alton Thelwell and American TV personality and cinematographer Alton Brown 

• Variants: Allton, Altton, and Altonn

 

Amell

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: “Strength of an eagle”

• Pronunciation: “ay-mel”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: YouTuber Amell Peralta

• Variants: Amel and Amiel

 

Amos

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “Burden,” “carried by God,” or “load”

• Pronunciation: “ay-mohs”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #629

• Namesakes/Description: American singer and songwriter Amos Lee and inventor Amos Dolbear 

• Also a biblical name after a prophet in the Old Testament

• Variants: Amoss, Aymos, Aymoss, Amus, and Amoka (Hawaiian boy name)

 

Angus

 

• Origin: English, Scottish, and Celtic boy name

• Meaning: “One choice” or “one strength”

• Pronunciation: “ang-guhs”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Scottish actor Angus Macfadyen and English actor, musician, and comedian Gordon Angus Deayton

• Variants: Another variation of Óengus (Celtic) and Aonghus 

 

Ansaldo

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: “Divine power”

• Pronunciation: “ahn-sal-dow”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Italian musical instrument maker Ansaldo Poggi

• Variants: Anssaldo

 

Ansel

 

• Origin: German and Old French boy name

• Meaning: “With divine protection,” “God is my protector,” or “follower of a nobleman”

• Pronunciation: “an-sl”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American thoroughbred horse racing trainer Ansel Williamson and actor and musician Ansel Elgort

• Variants: Anseel, Anssel, Anselm (German), and Annsel

 

Arno

 

• Origin: Armenian and German boy name

• Meaning: “Eagle”

• Pronunciation: “ahr-noh”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: German historian and author Arno Lustiger and Dutch mathematician Arno Kuijlaars

• Variants: Arrno and Arnoh

 

Arsenio

 

• Origin: Greek, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese boy name

• Meaning: “Virile” or “strong”

• Pronunciation: “ahr-see-nee-ow”

• Length: 7 letters, 4 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American comedian, talk show host, and actor Arsenio Hall and Paraguayan celebrity Arsenio Valdez

• Variants: Arsenius

 

Artemas

 

• Origin: Greek boy name

• Meaning: “Gift of Artemis (Greek goddess of the hunt)” or “follower of the goddess Artemis”

• Pronunciation: “ahr-tee-mahs”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Historical name after the American Revolutionary War Major General Artemas Ward

• Variants: None

 

Ashish

 

• Origin: Indian and Nepalese boy name

• Meaning: “Blessing from God” or “blessing from the elderly”

• Pronunciation: “ah-sheesh”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian cricketer Ashish Bagai and Indian actor Ashish Sharma

• Variants: Aashish

 

Atticus

 

• Origin: Latin and Greek boy name

• Meaning: “Man from Attica (a municipality in Greece)” or “belonging to Attica”

• Pronunciation: “ah-tuh-kuhs”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #274

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian musician and actor Atticus Mitchell and English musician Atticus Ross

• Also a mystical name after the fictional character Atticus O’Sullivan in “The Iron Druid Chronicles” (novel series)

• Variants: Attikus and Attica

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With B

Baldwin 

 

• Origin: Old English, German, and Anglo-Saxon boy name

• Meaning: “Bold friend,” “brave,” or “bold, brave friend”

• Pronunciation: “bawl-dwin”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American politician Baldwin Domingo and a royal name after several kings (such as King Baldwin I of Jerusalem from the 1110s)

• Variants: Bawdwin, Baldwyn, Baldwen, and Baldwwin

 

Barnes

 

• Origin: Old English and Old Norse boy name

• Meaning: “Barn” or “one living near the barns”

• Pronunciation: “barnz”

• Length: 6 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: English scientist, engineer, and inventor Barnes Wallis and Irish Gaelic footballer Barnes Murphy

• Variants: Barns

 

Barney

 

• Origin: Slavic boy name

• Meaning: “Son of comfort”

• Pronunciation: “baar-nee”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American Hall-of-Fame basketball player Barney Sedran and jazz guitarist Barney Kessel

• Variants: Barnee, Barnie, and Barny; also a nickname for “Bernard” and similar names

 

Bartlett

 

• Origin: Aramaic boy name

• Meaning: “Son of the earth,” “from the barley farm,” or “son of the farmer”

• Pronunciation: “bahrt-lutt”

• Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include American comedian and actor Rob Bartlett and Australian actor Murray Bartlett)

• Variants: Bartlet and Barttlet

 

Bear

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: Animal name after a large carnivorous mammal; can also mean “strong and brave bear” or “as strong as a bear”

• Pronunciation: “bayr”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: #767

• Namesakes/Description: British adventurer and television presenter Bear Grylls (real name Edward Michael Grylls) and American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Bear Rinehart (real name William Stanley Rinehart III)

• Variants: Baer

 

Bernie

 

• Origin: German gender-neutral name

• Meaning: “Strong and brave bear”

• Pronunciation: “bur-nee”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American comedian, voice actor, and actor Bernie Mac and British sports entrepreneur Bernie Ecclestone

• Variants: Bernee and Berney

 

Bingham

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Homestead at a hollow”

• Pronunciation: “bing-ham”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: British businessman and baron William Bingham Baring and celebrity kid Bingham Hawn Bellamy (the son of English musician Matt Bellamy and American actress Kate Hudson)

• Variants: Also a short form of Binghampton and Binghamton 

 

Boden

 

• Origin: Scandinavian boy name

• Meaning: “Shelter”

• Pronunciation: “bow-den”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #859

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include Australian rugby footballer Ron Boden and Swedish javelin thrower Patrik Bodén) 

• Variants: Bowden

 

Bodhi

 

• Origin: Sanskrit unisex name 

• Meaning: “Enlightenment” or “awakening”

• Pronunciation: “bow-dee”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #301

• Namesakes/Description: Celebrity kid Bodhi Hawn Hudson (son of American actor Oliver Hudson and American actress Erinn Bartlett)

• Variants: Boddie, Boddhi, and Bohdi

 

Bond 

 

• Origin: Old English and Anglo-Saxon unisex name

• Meaning: “Tiller of the soil,” “tied to the land,” or “farmer”

• Pronunciation: “bond”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include American basketball player Phil Bond and English rugby union player Tony Bond)

• Variants: Bondi (Old Norse) and Bunde

 

Brett

 

• Origin: Middle English unisex name

• Meaning: “Briton (people who inhabited Great Britain)”

• Pronunciation: “bret”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: English writer and director Brett Barnett and American football player Brett Boyko

• Variants: Bret and Bhrett

 

Brick

 

• Origin: English nonbinary name 

• Meaning: “Dweller from a hilly place,” “reliable or strong,” “good person,” or “dried clay used in construction”

• Pronunciation: “breek”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American football coach and player Brick Haley and American baseball player Brick Dudley Smith

• Variants: Brik and Bricker

 

Bridger

 

• Origin: British unisex name

• Meaning: “Lives near a bridge” or an occupational name that means “one who builds bridges”

• Pronunciation: “brid-ger”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #738

• Namesakes/Description: American cinematographer and filmmaker Bridger Nielson and actor Bridger Palmer

• Variants: Briggs

 

Brody

 

• Origin: Scottish and Irish name for boys

• Meaning: Earthy name that means “a ditch,” “a muddy place,” or “broad island”

• Pronunciation: “bro-dee”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American artistic gymnast Brody Malone and actor Brody Hutzler 

• Variants: Brodee and Brodie

 

Bruce

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “The willowlands,” “thicket,” or “thick brush”

• Pronunciation: “broos”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #563

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian artist and actor Bruce Horak and American actor, director, writer, author, and producer Bruce Campbell

• Variants: None

 

Buggi

 

• Origin: Old Norse boy name

• Meaning: “Powerful man”

• Pronunciation: “buh-gee”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Fictional character after the playable character Buggi in “Andaron Saga”

• Variants: Buggy

 

Burke

 

• Origin: French, Old English, and Old German boy name

• Meaning: “From the fortified settlement” or “from the fortress” 

• Pronunciation: “burk”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Fictional character Burke in the sci-fi movie “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country”

• Variants: Bourke, Burk, Berk, and Burgh

 

Busby

 

• Origin: Scottish boy name
• Meaning: “Shrub farm” or “village in the thicket”
• Pronunciation: “buhz-bee”
• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: American movie director and musical choreographer Busby Berkeley
• Also a last name (e.g., British music producer and songwriter Luke Busby and American gospel singer Rick Busby)
• Variants: Busbee

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With C

Cael

 

• Origin: Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Slender”

• Pronunciation: “kayl”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American professional wrestler Cael Norman Sanderson and the fictional character Cael Malloy in “The Riches” TV series

• Variants: Kael, Kale, Cale, and Cayl

 

Callaway

 

• Origin: French boy name

• Meaning: “Place of stones or pebbles”

• Pronunciation: “kah-luh-way”

• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include Australian cricketer Sydney Callaway and American football player Antonio Callaway)

• Variants: Kallaway, Cellaway, and Kellaway

 

Camillo

 

• Origin: Latin and Spanish boy name

• Meaning: “Priest-helper”

• Pronunciation: “kah-mee-loh”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Italian virtuoso violinist and composer Camillo Sivori (from the 1800s) and Austrian football player Camillo Jerusalem

• Variants: Camilo, Kamilo, and Kamillo

 

Castor

 

• Origin: Greek name for boys

• Meaning: “Beaver,” “to excel,” or “to shine”

• Pronunciation: “kas-tr”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American jazz saxophonist Castor McCord and Paraguayan football player Castor Cantero

• Variants: Kastor, Castyr, and Castur

 

Chasin

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “Strong” or “mighty”

• Pronunciation: “cha-seen”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Chassin 

 

Chevy

 

• Origin: French unisex name

• Meaning: “Horseman,” “knight,” or “cavalier”

• Pronunciation: “sheh-vee”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American singer, songwriter, and rapper Chevy Woods and American actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter Chevy Chase

• Variants: Chevy and Chevie

 

Chip

 

• Origin: Old English and German boy name

• Meaning: “Man” or “thin, small, and flat piece of something”

• Pronunciation: “chip”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American journalist and environmentalist Chip Giller and jazz double bass player Chip Jackson

• Variants: Chipp

 

Cillian

 

• Origin: Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Little church,” “bright-headed,” or “war strife”

• Pronunciation: “kill-eeh-yan”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #736

• Namesakes/Description: Irish actor Killian Scott and American-French basketball player Killian Hayes 

• Variants: Cilian, Killian, and Kilian

 

Clifton

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Place on a cliff” or “town by the cliff”

• Pronunciation: “klif-tuhn”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American radio and television personality Clifton Fadiman and English composer Clifton Parker

• Variants: Cliffton and Cliftonn

 

Clive

 

• Origin: British boy name

• Meaning: “Slope” or “cliff”

• Pronunciation: “klyv”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: British entrepreneur and inventor Clive Sinclair and American record producer Clive Davis

• Variants: Klive, Clyve, and Klyve

 

Colter

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: Country boy name that means “one who looks after horses” or “colt herder”

• Pronunciation: “kowl-tr”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #430

• Namesakes/Description: Also a middle name for boys after American baseball pitcher Colter Bean (full name Randall Colter Bean)

• Variants: Kolter

 

Connor

 

• Origin: Scottish and Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Lover of hounds,” “wise,” or “dog master”

• Pronunciation: “kon-nuhr”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #118

• Namesakes/Description: American actor Connor Paolo and Irish professional mixed martial artist Conor Anthony McGregor 

• Variants: Konnor, Konner, and Conner

 

Conroy

 

• Origin: Irish and Gaelic boy name

• Meaning: “Hound of the plain” or “keeper of the hound”

• Pronunciation: “kon-roy”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: English surrealist painter, collagist, and writer Conroy Maddox

• Variants: Konroy

 

Copland

 

• Origin: Scottish boy name

• Meaning: “Bought land”

• Pronunciation: “kow-pluhnd”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include American composer Aaron Copland and English printer William Copland)

• Variants: Kopland and Copeland

 

Cornel

 

• Origin: Latin and Romanian boy name

• Meaning: “Horn”

• Pronunciation: “kor-nel”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American philosopher and political activist Cornel West and American actor and director Cornel Wilde (birth name Kornél Lajos Weisz)

• Variants: Kornel

 

Crispin

 

• Origin: Latin boy name

• Meaning: “Curly-haired”

• Pronunciation: “kris-pin”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American voice actor Crispin Freeman and English actor Crispin Bonham-Carter

• Variants: Krispin, Crispinus (Roman), and Crispus (Latin)

 

Cyan

 

• Origin: American unisex name

• Meaning: “Greenish-blue” (color name)

• Pronunciation: “sai-ahn”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description:

• Variants: Cian

 

Cyprian

 

• Origin: Greek boy name

• Meaning: “Man of Cyprus”

• Pronunciation: “see-pree-uhn”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Nigerian novelist Cyprian Odiatu Duaka Ekwensi and Polish poet Cyprian Kamil Norwid

• Variants: Cyprianus (Latin), Kyprianos (Old Greek), and Kyprian

 

Cyril

 

• Origin: Greek and Old English boy name

• Meaning: “lordly” or “masterful” 

• Pronunciation: “seer-uh”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American football player Cyril Grayson and American-Japanese magician Cyril Takayama

• Also a spiritual name after several popes and saints (e.g., Pope Cyril II of Alexandria and St. Cyril the Philosopher)

• Variants: Kyril, Ciril, Kyrill, and Cyrill

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With D

Deckard

 

• Origin: German and American boy name

• Meaning: Occupational name that means “roofer”

• Pronunciation: “deh-kard”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description:  Badass boy name after fictional characters Deckard Shaw in movie franchise “The Fast and the Furious” and Deckard Cain in “Heroes of the Storm” and the “Diablo” series 

• Variants: Deckert 

 

Dennison

 

• Origin: Scottish and Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Son of Dennis”

• Pronunciation: “den-eeh-sohn”

• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include Scottish writer and folklorist Walter Traill Dennison and American football player Doug Dennison)

• Variants: Denison

 

Devon

 

• Origin: Irish and Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Defender” and “deep valley dwellers” 

• Pronunciation: “dev-uhn”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables 

• Popularity/Rank: #837

• Namesakes/Description: English actor Devon Carlo Anderson and American athlete Devon Allen 

• Variants: Devin

 

Dewey

 

• Origin: American and Welsh boy name

• Meaning: “Beloved”

• Pronunciation: “doo-eeh”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American kickboxer and boxer Dewey Cooper and professional boxer Dewey Bozella

• Variants: Also a form of “David”

 

Dodger

 

• Origin: English boy name
• Meaning: “One who dodges”
• Pronunciation: “daa-jr”
• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: Fictional character Artful Dodger (real name Jack Dawkins in Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist” classic novel)
• Can also be an adorable boy dog name
• Variants: Dodjer

 

Dove

 

• Origin: British nombinary name

• Meaning: “A bird symbolizing peace”

• Pronunciation: “dov”‘

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: French-Tunisian musical producer and television personality Dove Attia (real nameJules Dove Attia)

• Variants: None

 

Drystan

 

• Origin: Welsh boy name

• Meaning: “Melancholy” or “full of sorrow”

• Pronunciation: “drees-tahn”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Welsh form of the Celtic boy name “Tristan”

 

Duncan

 

• Origin: Scottish boy name

• Meaning: “Dark warrior” (also a black boy name)

• Pronunciation: “dun-kuhn”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #924

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian stage, film, and TV actor Duncan Regehr and American playwright and actor Duncan Pflaster

• Variants: Donnchadh (Scottish Gaelic) and Donnchadh (Old Irish)

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With E

Eames

 

• Origin: Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Wealthy protector” or “prosperous protector”

• Pronunciation: “eemz”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Fictional characters Eames in the “Inception” film and the crossbow-bearing warlock Eames in the fantasy TV series “Charmed”

• Variants: Emmis, Emms, Eams, and Emes

 

Eaton

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Deer,” “riverside,” or “island settlement”

• Pronunciation: “eeh-tohn”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (e.g., Canadian-American portrait painter Wyatt Eaton and Welsh gymnast David Eaton)

• Variants: Eatonn

 

Edwyn

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Wealth,” “the wealth of friendship,” or “wealthy friend”

• Pronunciation: “ed-ween”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: English landowner and courtier Edwyn Burnaby and Scottish musician Edwyn Collins

• Variants: Edwin

 

Efron

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name
• Meaning: Musical name that means “singing bird”
• Pronunciation: “eh-fruhn”
• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: US-based model, skateboarder, and artist Efron Danzig
• Also a last name (e.g., American actor Zac Efron, full name Zachary David Alexander Efron)
• Variants: Effron and Efrron

 

Eliam

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “People of God” or “God is my nation”

• Pronunciation: “eh-lee-ahm”

• Length: 5 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #672

• Namesakes/Description: Biblical name after Eliam, identified as the father of Bathsheba (one of King David’s wives and the mother of King Solomon)

• Variants: Elliam and Elyam

 

Elio

 

• Origin: Spanish boy name

• Meaning: Name that means “sun”

• Pronunciation: “eeh-lee-oh”

• Length: 4 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #877

• Namesakes/Description: Italian writer, screenwriter, and poet Elio Bartolini and Cuban-American author Elio M. García Jr.

• Variants: Ellio, Eilyo, Eillyo, Elyo, and Elleeo

 

Emil

 

• Origin: Latin, Hispanic, Spanish, and German boy name

• Meaning: “Excel,” “to rival,” or “to strive”

• Pronunciation: “eh-meel”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Russian pianist Emil Gilels and Romanian poet and prose writer Emil Dorian 

• Variants: Emile and Emilio

 

Ennis

 

• Origin: Irish gender-neutral name

• Meaning: “From the island” or “one choice”

• Pronunciation: “eh-nees”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American major league baseball player Ennis Telfair “Rebel” Oakes and basketball player Ennis Whatley

• Variants: Enis and Enniz

 

Eon

 

• Origin: Scottish and English boy name

• Meaning: “God is gracious” or a word name that means “indefinitely or immeasurably long period of time”

• Pronunciation: “eeh-aan”

• Length: 3 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Australian former rules footballer Eon Densworth and Breton religious leader Éon de l’Étoile (from the 1100s)

• Variants: Éon (with an accent)

 

Ernst

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: “Serious business”

• Pronunciation: “ernst”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Dutch art historian and Rembrandt (Dutch painter in the 1600s) expert Ernst van de Wetering and Russian sculptor Ernst Neizvestny

• Variants: Ernest, Ernesto (Hispanic boy name), and Earnest

 

Ezri

 

• Origin: Hebrew gender-neutral name

• Meaning: “Helper”

• Pronunciation: “ehz-ree”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Israeli industrial designer and design educator Ezri Tarazi and English professional footballer Ezri Konsa

• Variants: Ezra

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With F

Fable

 

• Origin: English nonbinary name

• Meaning: “Folk tale” or “legendary story of supernatural happenings”

• Pronunciation: “fay-bl”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also the name of a videogame series

• Variants: None

 

Farrell

 

• Origin: Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Descendant of Fearghail” or “man of valor”

• Pronunciation: “far-uhl”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Filipino math genius Farrell Eldrian Wu

• Variants: Pharrell and Farrel

 

Faulkner

 

• Origin: Middle English boy name

• Meaning: “Falcon trainer”

• Pronunciation: “fawk-nr”

• Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include American writer William Cuthbert Faulkner and Irish race car driver Damien Faulkner)

• Variants: Falkner, Fawkner, and Faulknor

 

Fenway

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Path through the marsh” or “through the fens”

• Pronunciation: “fen-way”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a place name after Fenway Park (a baseball stadium in Boston, Massachusetts)

• Variants: Fennway

 

Franklin

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Freeman” or “free landholder” 

• Pronunciation: “frangk-leen”

• Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: British radio personality Franklin Engelmann and former US Presidents Franklin Pierce and Franklin D. Roosevelt 

• Variants: Francklyn, Francklin, Franklyn, and Frankie

 

Frazier

 

• Origin: Scottish boy name

• Meaning: “Of the forest men” or a nature name that means “strawberry plant”

• Pronunciation: “fray-zee-uhr”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Fraser and Frasier

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With G

Gable

 

• Origin: French nonbinary name 

• Meaning: “Triangular feature in architecture” or a spiritual name that means “God is my strength” or “God is bright”

• Pronunciation: “gay-bl”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include Australian record producer Howard Gable and English dancer and actor Christopher Gable)

• Variants: None

 

Gerard

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: “Brave spear”

• Pronunciation: “jeh-rard”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American singer-songwriter and comic book writer Gerard Way and Dutch floral painter Gerard van Spaendonck

• Variants: Gerardo (Spanish boy name), Gerhardt, Guérard, Gherardo, and Gerhard

 

Gian

 

• Origin: Italian boy name

• Meaning: Short boy name that means “God is gracious”

• Pronunciation: “jee-uhn”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #921

• Namesakes/Description: Italian count, antiquarian (one who studies or collects antiques), and economist Gian Rinaldo Carli and British musician Gian Pyres

• Variants: Giann, Giannie, and Gianni

 

Gibbs

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Bright promise” or “son of Gilbert”

• Pronunciation: “gibz”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include American football player Jahmyr Gibbs and British oil painter Henry Gibbs)

• Variants: Gibbes, Gybbes, Gibbis, Gybb, and Gibb

 

Grayson

 

• Origin: Old English and British boy name

• Meaning: “Son of the gray-haired one”

• Pronunciation: “gray-suhn”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #37

• Namesakes/Description: American baseball player Grayson Rodriguez and golfer Grayson Murray 

• Variants: Gracen, Graysen, and Greyson (British)

 

Griffen

 

• Origin: Welsh boy name

• Meaning: Mystical name that means “strong lord” or “mythical creature”

• Pronunciation: “gree-fen”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian country music singer and songwriter Griffen Palmer

• Variants: Griffin 

 

Griffith

 

• Origin: Welsh boy name

• Meaning: “Chief” or “strong lord”

• Pronunciation: “gree-fuhth”

• Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Welsh comedian, actor, television presenter, writer, and personality Griffith “Griff” Rhys Jones and Welsh rugby union player Griffith “Giotto” Griffiths

• Variants: Griffyth

 

Gulliver

 

• Origin: Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Glutton”

• Pronunciation: “guhl-eeh-vr”

• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: British musician Gulliver Ralston and Australian actor Gulliver McGrath

• Variants: Gullivyr and Gullyver

 

Gus

 

• Origin: Latin boy name

• Meaning: “Majestic,” “great,” or “exalted”

• Pronunciation: “gus”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American film director, photographer, author, and musician Gus Van Sant and British actor Gus McNaughton

• Variants: Guss

 

Gustavo

 

• Origin: Spanish boy name

• Meaning: Magical name that means “staff of the gods” or “royal staff”

• Pronunciation: “goos-tah-voh”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #636

• Namesakes/Description: Argentine artist, curator, theater designer, and writer Gustavo Aguerre and Mexican actor, director, and film producer Gustavo Alatriste

• Variants: Gustav and Gustavus

 

Guthrie

 

• Origin: Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Windy place” or “windy spot”

• Pronunciation: “gah-three”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: English guitarist Guthrie Govan

• Variants: Guthree

 

Guy

 

• Origin: Hebrew, Norman, German, and French boy name

• Meaning: Earthy name that means “ravine,” “valley,” “boy,” “wood,” “guide,” or “leader”

• Pronunciation: “gai”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American Emmy Award-winning TV presenter and restaurateur Guy Ramsay Fieri and English film director, screenwriter, and producer Guy Stuart Ritchie

• Variants: Guido (Italian and German) and Goy (Hebrew) 

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With H

Hale

 

• Origin: English unisex name

• Meaning: “Someone living in a hollow,” “from the hall,” or “hero”

• Pronunciation: “hayl”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American composer and musician Hale Ascher VanderCook and golfer Hale Irwin

• Variants: Haile, Hayle, Hayles, and Hailes

 

Hans

 

• Origin: Scandinavian boy name

• Meaning: “God is gracious”

• Pronunciation: “hans”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000

• Namesakes/Description: German playwright and novelist Hans Henny Jahnn and Danish author Hans Christian Andersen

• Variants: Also a form of “John”

 

Hari

 

• Origin: Sanskrit boy name
• Meaning: “Lion” or “dark and tawny” 
• Also a spiritual name that means “one who forgives all sins”
• Pronunciation: “hah-ree”
• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: Indian-American comedian Hari Kondabolu and the fictional character Hari Seldon in Isaac Asimov’s “Foundation” series
• Variants: Harri

 

Hariric

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: 3 syllable boy name that means “powerful army” or “army ruler”

• Pronunciation: “hah-ree-reek”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Haririk

 

Hawthorne

 

• Origin: British boy name

• Meaning: “Where Hawthorn hedges grow”

• Pronunciation: “haw-thorn”

• Length: 9 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a musical name after the American rock band Hawthorne Heights

• Variants: Hawthorn

 

Hero

 

• Origin: Greek nonbinary name

• Meaning: “Brave one” or “demi-god”

• Pronunciation: “hee-row”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: English actor and model Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Bangladeshi model, actor, producer, and singer Hero Alom

• Variants: None

 

Herschel

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “Deer”

• Pronunciation: “hur-shl”

• Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American football player Herschel Sims and stock car racer Hershel McGriff

• Variants: Herschell and Hershel

 

Hewitt

 

• Origin: Old French boy name

• Meaning: “Intellect,” “one who lives near the wood clearing,” or “descendant of Hugh”

• Pronunciation: “hyoo-eet”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian publisher and businessman Hewitt Bostock and American engineer Hewitt Crane

• Variants: Hewit

 

Homer

 

• Origin: Greek boy name

• Meaning: “Pledge,” “hostage,” or “security”

• Pronunciation: “how-mr”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American football player and coach Homer Rice and Canadian-born British photographer Homer Sykes

• Variants: Homero and Homere

 

Honor

 

• Origin: English androgynous name

• Meaning: “Reputation” or “dignity”

• Pronunciation: “aah-nr”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American musician and multi-disciplinary artist Honor Titus and football player Honor Jackson

• Variants: Honour (British)

 

Honovi

 

• Origin: Hopi – Native American unisex name

• Meaning: “Strong deer”

• Pronunciation: “hoh-noh-vee”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: None

 

Hopper

 

• Origin: American unisex name

• Meaning: Occupational name that means “hop grower” or “dancer”

• Pronunciation: “haa-pr”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include English rugby union footballer Matt Hopper and English musician Kev Hopper)

• Variants: None

 

Hoss

 

• Origin: English and German boy name

• Meaning: Western boy name that means “big like a horse”

• Pronunciation: “haas”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include Hungarian-Argentine cinematographer Américo Hoss and German football manager Bernd Hoss)

• Variants: Hos, Hosse, and Hossi

 

Hughes

 

• Origin: Old German boy name

• Meaning: “Mind” or “son of Hugh”

• Pronunciation: “hyoogz”

• Length: 6 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (such as English racing driver Warren Hughes and American writer and film producer Todd Hughes)

• Variants: Hughes, Hugeus, and Hughues

 

Humphrey

 

• Origin: Old German boy name

• Meaning: “Peaceful warrior”

• Pronunciation: “hum-free‘

• Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: British television comedy producer Humphrey Barclay and Dutch footballer Humphrey Rudge

• Variants: Humphry, Humfrey, and Humphreys

 

Hutton

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Ridge enclosure” 

• Pronunciation: “hut-uhn”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American writer Hutton Peter Gibson (the father of American actor and film director Mel Gibson)

• Variants: Huton

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With I

Iggy

 

• Origin: British gender-neutral name

• Meaning: “Fiery” (name that means “fire”)

• Pronunciation: “eeh-gee”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Australian rugby union player Iggy O’Donnell (full name Ignatius Charles “Iggy” O’Donnell) and Irish former hurler Iggy Clarke

• Variants: Iggie 

 

Ike

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “Laughter”

• Pronunciation: “ayk”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Burmese-British jazz guitarist Ike Isaacs and Nigerian-American voice actor Ike Amadi

• Variants: Also a form of the biblical boy name “Isaac”

 

Imre

 

• Origin: Hungarian boy name

• Meaning: “Strength” or “home ruler”

• Pronunciation: “im-reh”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Estonian ice sledge hockey player Imre Tiitsu and Hungarian-American composer, music producer, musician, and orchestrator Imre Czomba

• Variants: Imreh

 

Ion 

 

• Origin: Romanian, Irish Gaelic, and Russian boy name

• Meaning: “God is good”

• Pronunciation: “eye-uhn”

• Length: 3 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Moldovan former footballer and Moldovan national football team assistant manager Ion Testemițanu and Romanian musician Ion Miu

• Variants: Ionn; also a Russian form of “John”

 

Iver

 

• Origin: Scandinavian boy name

• Meaning: “Archer”

• Pronunciation: “eye-vur”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Danish engineer and Arctic explorer Iver P. Iversen 

• Variants: Ívarr and Iverr

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With J

Jamesson

 

• Origin: Irish and British boy name

• Meaning: “Son of James”

• Pronunciation: “jay-muh-sn”

• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Jameson and Jammeson

 

Jaren

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “To sing out” or “cry of rejoicing”

• Pronunciation: “jay-ren”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American former basketball player and coach Jaren Jackson and singer and songwriter Jaren Johnston

• Variants: Jarren

 

Jarrell

 

• Origin: German gender-neutral name

• Meaning: “Spear ruler”

• Pronunciation: “jaa-rayl”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American boxer and kickboxer Jarrell Miller and professional basketball player Jarrell Brantley

• Variants: Jarel, Jarrel, and Jarell

 

Jarvis

 

• Origin: Old English and French boy name

• Meaning: “Servant spear” 

• Pronunciation: “jar-vis”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: English singer-songwriter and band frontman Jarvis Cocker and American basketball player Jarvis Hayes

• Variants: Jarrvis, Jerrvis, Jervis, and Gervis

 

Jennings

 

• Origin: Middle English and British boy name
• Meaning: “Little John”
• Pronunciation: “jen-eengs”
• Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: American film producer Jennings Lang
• Also a last name after British author Luke Jennings and American football player Jauan Jennings
• Variants: Jennens, Jenings, and Jenning

 

Jhett

 

• Origin: British unisex name

• Meaning: “Jet black” or “wild spirit”

• Pronunciation: “jet”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American musician Jhett Black and Filipino film producer Jhett Tolentino

• Variants: Jett and Jeht

 

Jiraya

 

• Origin: Japanese boy name

• Meaning: “Young thunder”

• Pronunciation: “jee-rah-yah”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Jiraiya

 

Joss

 

• Origin: German and Old English gender-neutral name

• Meaning: Gothic name that means “little Goth” or “the merry one” 

• Pronunciation: “jaas”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: English footballer Joss Labadie and American Olympic gold medalist and freestyle skier Joss Christensen 

• Variants: Josh

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With K

Kaax

 

• Origin: Mayan boy name

• Meaning: “God of wild animals” or “lord of the forests”

• Pronunciation: “kah-ax”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: None

 

Kamilo

 

• Origin: Spanish and Latin boy name

• Meaning: Hispanic boy name that means “helper to the priest,” “noble,” or “attendant at a religious ceremony”

• Pronunciation: “kam-eeh-loh”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Slovenian music composer Kamilo Mašek and Colombian musical artist Kamilo Sanclemente

• Variants: Also a Mexican form of the Portuguese and Spanish boy name “Camilo” and the Old Roman name “Camillus”

 

Karl

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: “Free man”

• Pronunciation: “karl”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Austrian race car driver Karl Wendlinger and Australian television presenter Karl Stefanovic

• Variants: Carl and Karlo

 

Kauffman

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: “Merchant”

• Pronunciation: “koff-man”

• Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: German-born American Bible scholar Kaufmann Kohler and a middle name for boys (after American editor and lexicographer Isaac Kaufmann Funk)

• Variants: Kaufman and Kauffmann

 

Keats

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Kite”

• Pronunciation: “keets”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include New Zealander rugby union player Tyson Keats and English poet John Keats)

• Variants: Keets

 

Keen

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “King”

• Pronunciation: “keen”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include American author, philosopher, and professor Sam Keen)

• Variants: Keene

 

Kel

 

• Origin: Irish unisex name

• Meaning: “Warrior,” “lively,” or “aggressive”

• Pronunciation: “kel”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American actor, comedian, musician, writer, and dancer Kel Mitchell and YouTuber Kel Swann

• Variants: Kell

 

Kenan

 

• Origin: Hebrew and Turkish boy name

• Meaning: “Acquire”

• Pronunciation: “keh-nan”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American actor and comedian Kenan Thompson and Turkish-German footballer Kenan Şahin

• Variants: Kennan

 

Kendrix

 

• Origin: Welsh boy name

• Meaning: “Greatest champion” or “royal chieftain”

• Pronunciation: “ken-driks”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American counselor Kendrix Hemenway 

• Variants: Kendrick

 

Kendry

 

• Origin: Malagasy – Austronesian unisex name

• Meaning: “Wise man”

• Pronunciation: “ken-dree”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Kendrys 

 

Kiley

 

• Origin: Irish unisex name

• Meaning: Name that means “graceful” or “beautiful”

• Pronunciation: “kai-lee”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None for boys

• Variants: Kilee and Kailee

 

Kilian

 

• Origin: German and Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Church”

• Pronunciation: “kee-lee-uhn”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Spanish long-distance runner, ski mountaineer, and duathlete Kílian Jornet Burgada and Bermudian footballer Kilian Elkinson

• Variants: Killian, Kylian, Cillian, and Kylian

 

Kit

 

• Origin: English unisex name

• Meaning: “Christian”

• Pronunciation: “kit”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American-born pianist and composer Kit Armstrong and British illustrator Kit Williams

• Variants: Kitt

 

Knowles

 

• Origin: British boy name

• Meaning: “Little hill” or “at the knoll”

• Pronunciation: “nohlz”

• Length: 7 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include British journalist Richard Brinsley Knowles) and Australian field hockey player Mark Knowles

• Variants: Knowle and Knolles

 

Koen

 

• Origin: Dutch boy name

• Meaning: “Bold” and “brave”

• Pronunciation: “kow-ehn”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #812

• Namesakes/Description: Belgian road bicycle racer Koen Barbé and Dutch footballer Koen van der Biezen

• Variants: Koyne, Kohen, and Koine

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With L

Laird

 

• Origin: Scottish boy name

• Meaning: “Lord” or “lord of the land”

• Pronunciation: “lehrd”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American author and poet Laird Barron and Australian rules footballer Laird Smith

• Variants: Lairde, Lairds, and Laerd

 

Laker

 

• Origin: English unisex nme

• Meaning: “Living by a stream” or “one who lives by the stream”

• Pronunciation: “lay-kr”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: None

 

Lance

 

• Origin: Old French boy name

• Meaning: “Land,” “territory,” or “servant”

• Pronunciation: “lanz”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: #792

• Namesakes/Description: Ghanaian-American actor, photographer, and model Lance Gross and Venezuelan actor Lance Dos Ramos

• Variants: Lanzo (Germanic)

 

Lando

 

• Origin: Portuguese boy name

• Meaning: “Famous throughout the land” or “long hill”

• Pronunciation: “lan-dow”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American professional mixed martial artist Lando Vannata and Italian actor and singer Lando Fiorini

• Variants: Landy

 

Laramie

 

• Origin: French gender-neutral name

• Meaning: “Canopy of leafy boughs,” “protecting hands,” or “leafy grove”

• Pronunciation: “lay-rah-mee”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a place name after the city of Laramie in Wyoming, USA

• Variants: Larami and Laramy

 

LeVar

 

• Origin: English and Slovenian boy name

• Meaning: “The pool” or “risen”

• Pronunciation: “lee-var”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American actor, presenter, author, and director LeVar Burton and professional tennis player Levar Harper-Griffith

• Variants: Levar

 

Lex

 

• Origin: Greek unisex name

• Meaning: “Defender of men”

• Pronunciation: “leks”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American football running back and fullback Lex Hilliard and Dutch Olympic water polo player Lex Franken

• Variants: Also a short form of Alex, Alexis, Alexander, and similar names

 

Liev

 

• Origin: Yiddish, Hebrew, and Russian boy name

• Meaning: “Heart” and “lion”

• Pronunciation: “lee-ev”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American actor and director Liev Schreiber

• Variants: None

 

Linden

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Made from linwood,” “linden tree hill,” or “with linden trees”

• Pronunciation: “lin-dehn”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American football player Linden King and TV and movie actor Linden Ashby 

• Variants: Linnden

 

Linus

 

• Origin: Greek boy name

• Meaning: “Flax colored” or “flax”

• Pronunciation: “la-nuhs”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American musical artist Linus Dotson (also known as Linus of Hollywood) and Swedish footballer Linus Tornblad

• Also a mythical name after one of the Greek god Apollo’s sons

• Variants: Linnus and Lynus

 

Lloyd

 

• Origin: English and Welsh boy name

• Meaning: “Gray-haired,” “sacred,” or “gray”

• Pronunciation: “loyd”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American R&B artist Lloyd (born Lloyd Polite Jr.) and Nobel Prize-winning mathematician and economist Lloyd Shapley

• Variants: Llwyed, Lloyed, Luyd, and Lhuyd

 

Lord

 

• Origin: British boy name

• Meaning: “Loaf-keeper” or “noble title”

• Pronunciation: “lord”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include English squash player Paul Lord and American drummer Ben Lord)

• Variants: Lorde, Laud, and Lordi

 

Lorne

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Fox”

• Pronunciation: “lorn”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American football player Lorne Sam and Canadian jazz musician Lorne Lofsky

• Variants: Lorn

 

Loyal

 

• Origin: British unisex name

• Meaning: “Faithful”

• Pronunciation: “loy-uhl”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #702

• Namesakes/Description: American journalist Loyal Durand “L.D.” Hotchkiss and American politician (former Oregon State Representative) and attorney Loyal B. Stearns

• Variants: None

 

Lynx

 

• Origin: Greek unisex name

• Meaning: “Wild cat”

• Pronunciation: “lingks”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: None

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With M

Macallister

 

• Origin: Scottish boy name

• Meaning: “Son of Alasdair (Gaelic form of Alexander)”

• Pronunciation: “mak-ah-lis-tr”

• Length: 11 letters, 4 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include American blues and Americana musician Randy McAllister and Scottish interior designer Colin McAllister)

• Variants: McAllister and MaxAlaster

 

Macon

 

• Origin: French gender-neutral name

• Meaning: “Marsh dweller”

• Pronunciation: “may-kuhn”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American film director Macon Blair

• Variants: Makon

 

Maguire

 

• Origin: Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Son of the beige one”

• Pronunciation: “mah-gwair”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (such as American actor and film producer Tobey Maguire) 

• Variants: McGuire and Mac Guire

 

Malone

 

• Origin: Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Disciple of Saint John”

• Pronunciation: “mah-lown”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (examples include English musician, documentary maker, and choirmaster Gareth Malone and English footballer Scott Malone)

• Variants: Mallone

 

Malthe

 

• Origin: Danish boy name

• Meaning: “Rule” or “power”

• Pronunciation: “mahl-tah”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Danish footballer Malthe Højholt and motorsports racing driver Malthe Jakobsen

• Variants: Malte

 

Mariner

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Sailor” or “lives by the sea” 

• Pronunciation: “mah-ree-nr”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: None

 

Marlon

 

• Origin: American boy name

• Meaning: “Warlike little one” or “little hawk”

• Pronunciation: “mahr-lohn”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #991

• Namesakes/Description: Trinidadian football player and coach Marlon Rojas and American hip-hop guitarist Marlon Williams 

• Variants: Marrlon

 

Marty

 

• Origin: Latin gender-neutral name

• Meaning: “Of Mars, the god of war in Roman mythology)”

• Pronunciation: “mar-tee”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian National Hockey League goaltender Marty Turco and American professional wrestler Marty Jannetty

• Variants: Martee and Martie

 

Maverick

 

• Origin: English and American boy name

• Meaning: “Independent,” “man who avoids conformity,” or “nonconformist”

• Pronunciation: “mah-vr-uhk”

• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #40

• Namesakes/Description: Spanish pop singer Maverick Lopez and American actor Maverick Thompson

• Variants: Mavric, Mavrick, Maverik, and Maverrick

 

Mcewen

 

• Origin: Scottish and Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Son of Ewan”

• Pronunciation: “mah-kyoo-uhn”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a place name after the city of McEwen in Tennessee, USA

• Variants: McEwen

 

McKay

 

• Origin: American boy name

• Meaning: “Fiery,” “happy,” or “rejoicing”

• Pronunciation: “mah-kay”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American journalist and author McKay Coppins and baseball player McKay Christensen

• Variants: MacKay and Mackay

 

Meinrad

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: “Strong advisor”

• Pronunciation: “mayn-rad”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Spiritual name after the German Benedictine hermit and saint Meinrad of Einsiedeln

• Variants: None

 

Mercer

 

• Origin: French boy name 

• Meaning: “Merchant”

• Pronunciation: “mur-sr”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American children’s book writer and illustrator Mercer Mayer and American television producer and art director Mercer Barrows

• Variants: Merker and Mercier

 

Morris

 

• Origin: Old English, Latin, and French boy name

• Meaning: “One from Mauritania (a country) in Africa” or “dark-skinned” (also a black name)

• Pronunciation: “morr-is”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Kenyan cricketer Morris Ouma and American professional basketball player Morris Almond 

• Also a last name, such as Jamaican poet Mervyn Morris and American orchestral trumpeter Craig Morris

• Variants: Moriz and Moritz 

 

Morten

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: “From the farm by the moor”

• Pronunciation: “mor-ten”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Danish handball player Morten Stig Christensen and American composer Morten Lauridsen 

• Variants: Morton

 

Munro

 

• Origin: Scots Gaelic boy name

• Meaning: “Mouth of River Ro”

• Pronunciation: “muhn-row”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian actor Munro Chambers (also a twin boy name with painter Thomas Chambers) and American children’s author Munro Leaf (real name Wilbur Monroe Leaf)

• Variants: Munroe

 

Murray

 

• Origin: Scottish and Gaelic boy name

• Meaning: “From the sea”

• Pronunciation: “muh-ray”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American conductor and pianist Murray Perahia and English singer and actor Murray Head 

• Variants: Murrai

 

Rare Boy Names Starting with N

Neal

 

• Origin: Gaelic and Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Champion,” “passionate,” “honor,” or “cloud”

• Pronunciation: “neel”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American comic book artist and writer Neal Adams and English footballer and AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley 

• Variants: Neil

 

Neville

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “New village” or “new town”

• Pronunciation: “neh-vil”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: British graphic designer Neville Brody and a magical name after the fictional character Neville Longbottom in the “Harry Potter” series

• Variants: Nevile

 

Niander

 

• Origin: Greek boy name

• Meaning: “New man” or “new human”

• Pronunciation: “nee-uhn-dr”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Fictional character and antagonist Niander Wallace, Jr. in the sci-fi and mystery film “Blade Runner 2049”

• Variants: Neander

 

Noble

 

• Origin: Latin unisex name

• Meaning: “Aristocratic”

• Pronunciation: “now-bl”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American builder, author, and architect Noble Foster Hoggson (from the 1800s) and American National Football League halfback Noble Doss

• Variants: None

 

Norris

 

• Origin: French, English, and Scottish boy name

• Meaning: “Northerner” 

• Pronunciation: “nor-ees”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Panamanian basketball player Norris Webb and American basketball player Norris Cole

• Variants: None

 

Nowell

 

• Origin: French boy name

• Meaning: Masculine name that means “Christmas”

• Pronunciation: “now-uhl”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (such as American basketball player Markquis Nowell and New Zealander rugby player Ben Nowell)

• Variants: Noel and Nowel

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With O

Orson

 

• Origin: Norman, Latin, and French boy name

• Meaning: “Bear cub” or “bear” 

• Pronunciation: “or-sn”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American science fiction author Orson Scott Card and television, film, and stage actor Orson Bean

• Variants: Orsen, Orsson, and Orsino

 

Osiris

 

• Origin: Egyptian boy name
• Meaning: “Powerful” or “mighty”
• Pronunciation: “ow-sai-ruhs”
• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: #977
• Namesakes/Description: Uruguayan writer, poet, singer, and composer Osiris Rodríguez Castillos and American basketball player Osiris Eldridge
• Also after the Egyptian god of fertility, the afterlife, the dead, agriculture, resurrection, and life
• Variants: Osyris and Osirys

 

Owyn

 

• Origin: Old English and Welsh boy name

• Meaning: “Noble-born” or “young warrior” (warrior name)

• Pronunciation: “oh-in”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Magical name after the fictional character Owyn Merrilin in “The Wheel of Time” fantasy book series

• Variants: Alternative spellings include “Owen” and “Owain” 

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With P

Palmer

 

• Origin: Old English unisex name 

• Meaning: “Pilgrim” or “one who holds the palm tree”

• Pronunciation: “pam-er”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+ (boy)

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian illustrator Palmer Cox and Welsh rugby union footballer Palmer Griffiths 

• Variants: Palmerr

 

Parry

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Son of the home ruler” or “son of Harry”

• Pronunciation: “peh-reeh”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American musician (pop punk band Nerf Herder) Parry Gripp and Olympic shot putter Parry O’Brien 

• Variants: Parri, Parrie, and Parrey

 

Pax

 

• Origin: Latin nonbinary name

• Meaning: “Peaceful” or “peace”

• Pronunciation: “paks”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Celebrity kid Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt (son of Hollywood former couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt)

• Also a mystical name after the main character Pax Afrika in the “URBO: The Adventures of Pax Afrika” (South African animated TV series)

• Variants: Paxi and Paxx 

 

Percy

 

• Origin: French boy name

• Meaning: “One who pierces the valley”

• Pronunciation: “pur-see”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and American football player Percy Harvin

• Variants: Also a short form of “Percival” and similar names

 

Phineas

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “The Nubian (the ancient region of Nubia along the Nile River),” “the bronze-colored one,” “oracle,” or “serpent’s mouth”

• Pronunciation: “fee-nee-uhs”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American jazz pianist Phineas Newborn, Jr. and clockmaker and inventor Phineas Davis

• Also a mystical name after “Harry Potter” character Phineas Nigellus Black (great-great-grandfather of Harry’s godfather, Sirius Black)

• Variants: Fineas, Phinees, and Pinhas

 

Pip

 

• Origin: British unisex name

• Meaning: “Lover of horses”

• Pronunciation: “pip”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: English golfer Pip Elson (real name Philip Ambrose Elson) and Australian pilot Pip Borrman (real name Peter Borrman)

• Variants: Pipp; also a short form of “Philip” and similar names

 

Poe

 

• Origin: Norse unisex name

• Meaning: “Peacock”

• Pronunciation: “pohw”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (such as American writer, poet, literary critic, and editor Edgar Allan Poe and football player Billy Poe)

• Variants: None

 

Powell

 

• Origin: Welsh and English boy name

• Meaning: “Eminent” or “son of Howell”

• Pronunciation: “pow-uhl”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American singer and songwriter Powell St. John and English opera singer Powell Lloyd

• Variants: Powel

 

Pratt

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Clever trickster”

• Pronunciation: “prat”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (such as American actor Chris Pratt and Jamaican singer and record producer Phil Pratt)

• Variants: None

 

Pruitt

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Brave one” or “brave little one”

• Pronunciation: “proo-eet”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American character actor Pruitt Taylor Vince

• Variants: None

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With Q

Qadir

 

• Origin: Arabic boy name

• Meaning: “Powerful,” “mighty,” “capable,” or “competent”

• Pronunciation: “kah-dir‘

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Azerbaijani (Turkic ethnic group) chess Grandmaster Qadir Huseynov and Pakistani Sufi poet Qadir Bux Bedil

• Variants: Kadir and Qadeer

 

Quentin

 

• Origin: Latin, French, and Roman boy name

• Meaning: “The fifth”

• Pronunciation: “kwen-tin”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #654

• Namesakes/Description: American philosopher Quentin Smith and British motoring journalist and TV presenter Quentin Willson

• Variants: Quinton and Quinntin

 

Quirijn

 

• Origin: Dutch and Roman boy name

• Meaning: “Spear” or “one armed with a spear”

• Pronunciation: “kwee-ree-jn”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Dutch genre painter Quirijn van Brekelenkam (from the 1600s) and Dutch cricketer Quirijn Gunning

• Variants: Krijn, Crijn, and Quirine

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With R

Rainier

 

• Origin: French and Old Norse boy name

• Meaning: “Army,” “judgment warrior,” or “advice”

• Pronunciation: “ray-nee-uhr”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Action hero star and fictional character Rainier Wolfcastle in the series, “The Simpsons” 

• Variants: Renier, Raynier, Rainer, and Raynor

 

Raleigh

 

• Origin: British gender-neutral name

• Meaning: Earthy name that means “deer’s meadow”

• Pronunciation: “rah-lee”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American artifact collector Raleigh DeGeer Amyx and Australian botanist Raleigh Black 

• Also a place name after the city of Raleigh in North Carolina, USA

• Variants: Rallee, Ralegh, Rawleigh, and Rawley

 

Ralph

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Wise counsel,” “wolf,” or “wolf counsel”

• Pronunciation: “rahlf”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American actor Ralph Macchio and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson 

• Variants: Raife, Raif, and Raul (Spanish)

 

Ram

 

• Origin: Sanskrit and Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “Pleasing” or “supreme”

• Pronunciation: “ram”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Israeli Olympic competitive sailor Ram Torten and Indian television actor Ram Kapoor

• Variants: Rahm and Rama

 

Redford

 

• Origin: British boy name
• Meaning: “Red ford (river crossing)”
• Pronunciation: “red-ford”
• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: Filipino actor Redford White (real name Cipriano “Dodoy” M. Cermeño II) and American politician Redford Webster
• Also a last name (e.g., American actor and director Robert Redford)
• Variants: None

 

Reece

 

• Origin: Welsh unisex name

• Meaning: “Enthusiasm,” “fiery warrior,” or “ardor”

• Pronunciation: “rees”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: #528 (boy)

• Namesakes/Description: American basketball player and coach Reece Gaines and Australian rugby union player Reece Hodge

• Variants: Reese

 

Reef

 

• Origin: English and German unisex name

• Meaning: “Underwater ledge”

• Pronunciation: “reef”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: None

 

Reeve

 

• Origin: English gender-neutral name

• Meaning: “Bailiff” (occupational name)

• Pronunciation: “reev”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American actor and singer-songwriter Reeve Carney

• Variants: Reeves

 

Renato

 

• Origin: Italian and Spanish boy name

• Meaning: “Reborn” or “to rise again”

• Pronunciation: “ren-ah-toh”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American anthropologist Renato Rosaldo and Mexican professional wrestler Renato Ruiz 

• Variants: Rene (French name)

 

Ripley

 

• Origin: Old English gender-neutral name

• Meaning: “Strip of clearing in the woods”

• Pronunciation: “rip-lee”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American editor Ripley Hitchcock and archaeologist and academic Ripley P. Bullen

• Variants: Riplee and Riplie

 

Roarke

 

• Origin: Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Illustrious and mighty,” “kingly,” or “red-haired”

• Pronunciation: “rawr-kee”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Fictional character Roarke Hartman in the American film “The River Wild”

• Variants: Rourke

 

Rohr

 

• Origin: German and Swiss boy name

• Meaning: “From a place thickly grown with reeds”

• Pronunciation: “rowr”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (for example, German footballer Oskar Rohr and Swiss hurdler Alain Rohr)

• Variants: Roare, Rhor, and Roer

 

Romulus

 

• Origin: Latin boy name

• Meaning: “Man of Rome” or “citizen of Rome”

• Pronunciation: “roh-myoo-looz”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Romanian science fiction novelist Romulus Bărbulescu and American playwright Romulus Zachariah Linney IV (actress Laura Linney’s father)

• Variants: Romulos and Romulous

 

Roscoe

 

• Origin: Norse boy name

• Meaning: “Deer forest”

• Pronunciation: “raa-skow”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American bass guitarist and record producer Roscoe Beck and actor Roscoe Born

• Variants: Roskoe

 

Ross

 

• Origin: Scottish boy name

• Meaning: “Horse”

• Pronunciation: “ross”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American singer and songwriter Ross Copperman and English comedian and actor Ross Noble

• Variants: Roz and Rozz

 

Ryett

 

• Origin: Hebrew and Canadian boy name

• Meaning: “Gentle” or “strong-willed and driven (physically and mentally)”

• Pronunciation: “rye-ett”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Ryet

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With S

Saber

 

• Origin: French boy name

• Meaning: “Sword”

• Pronunciation: “say-br”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Tunisian pan-Arab singer and composer Saber Rebaï and Egyptian football player Saber Eid

• Variants: None

 

Saunders

 

• Origin: Greek boy name
• Meaning: “Warrior” or “man’s defender”
• Pronunciation: “sohn-drz”
• Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: American mathematician Saunders Mac Lane 
• Also a place name after some villages or counties in the US (e.g., Saunders County in Nebraska)
• Variants: None

 

Saylor 

 

• Origin: German unisex name

• Meaning: “Boatman,” “dancer,” or “tailor”

• Pronunciation: “say-lor”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+ (boy)

• Namesakes/Description: Place name after the community of Saylor in Iowa, USA

• Also a last name (such as American composer Bruce Saylor and author Steven Saylor)

• Variants: Sailor, Sayllor, Saylorr, and Seyler

 

Seneca

 

• Origin: Native American unisex name

• Meaning: “People of the standing rock”

• Pronunciation: “seh-neh-kah”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American National Football League quarterback Seneca Wallace and landscape photographer Seneca Ray Stoddard

• Variants: Seneka and Senecca

 

Seymour

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Marshy land near the sea”

• Pronunciation: “see-moor”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American journalist and writer Seymour Topping and German film producer Seymour Nebenzal

• Variants: None

 

Sheldon

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Steep valley” or “from the shelter of the hill”

• Pronunciation: “shel-dn”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American racing driver Sheldon Creed and 1979 Physics Nobel Prize winner Sheldon Glashow 

• Variants: Shelldon, Shelddon, Sheldin, and Shieldon

 

Sidney

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Wide riverside meadow”

• Pronunciation: “sid-nee”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American model and playwright Sidney Mttron Hirsch and French football player Sidney Govou

• Variants: Sydney, Cidney, and Cydney

 

Sinclair

 

• Origin: French and Latin boy name

• Meaning: “From the town of St. Clair,” “pure,” or “illustrious”

• Pronunciation: “sin-klayr”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American novelist and short story writer Sinclair Lewis

• Variants: Synklar and Sainclair

 

Skip

 

• Origin: American boy name

• Meaning: “Skipper” or “sea captain”

• Pronunciation: “skip”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Jamaican singer Skip Marley (Bob Marley’s grandson) and American sports columnist and commentator Skip Bayless

• Variants: None

 

Smith

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Metal worker” or “blacksmith”

• Pronunciation: “smith”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American composer Smith Newell Penfield and American-Canadian professional wrestler Smith Stewart Hart

• Variants: Smyth

 

Stark

 

• Origin: Scottish and English boy name

• Meaning: “Firm and unyielding”

• Pronunciation: “staark”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American playwright, novelist, essayist, and painter Stark Young and actor Stark Bunker Sands

• Variants: None

 

Stryker

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: “Tester”

• Pronunciation: “strai-kr”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American journalist Stryker McGuire

• Also a last name (such as American architect and philanthropist Jon Lloyd Stryker)

• Variants: Striker

 

Stuart

 

• Origin: Scottish, French, and British boy name

• Meaning: “Steward”

• Pronunciation: “stoo-uhrt”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Irish actor and director Stuart Townsend and American football player Stuart Mitchell

• Variants: Stuartt

 

Sullivan

 

• Origin: Gaelic and Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Little dark-eyed one” or “dark eyes”

• Pronunciation: “suhl-uh-van”

• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #365

• Namesakes/Description: American actor Sullivan Skye Sweeten and Australian actor Sullivan Stapleton

• Also a place name after several towns and cities in the US (e.g., the city of Sullivan in Illinois)

• Variants: Sulivan

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With T

Tamari

 

• Origin: Hebrew and Japanese unisex name

• Meaning: “Date palm tree,” “date tree,” “precious jade,” or “pearl”

• Pronunciation: “tah-mah-ree‘

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None for boys

• Variants: Tamar

 

Tashi

 

• Origin: Tibetan boy name

• Meaning: “Good fortune” or “auspiciousness (in favor of successful results)”

• Pronunciation: “tah-shee”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Sherpa (Nepalese ethnic group living near Mt. Everest) mountaineer Tashi Tenzing and Bhutanese Olympic archer Tashi Peljor

• Variants: Tasshi and Tashih

 

Tennyson

 

• Origin: British boy name

• Meaning: “Son of Dennis”

• Pronunciation: “teh-nuh-sn”

• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Celebrity kid Tennyson Spencer Crowe (the son of Hollywood actor Russell Crowe)

• Variants: Tennison

 

Terrance

 

• Origin: French boy name 

• Meaning: “Smooth”

• Pronunciation: “teh-ranz”

• Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American basketball small forward Terrance Ferguson and professional mixed martial artist Terrance McKinney

• Variants: Terrence

 

Thoreau

 

• Origin: American boy name

• Meaning: “Strength of a bull”

• Pronunciation: “thr-ow”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (such as American naturalist, essayist, philosopher, and poet Henry David Thoreau)

• Variants: Thoreaux

 

Tiberius

 

• Origin: Latin boy name

• Meaning: “Of the Tiber (river in Rome)”

• Pronunciation: “tai-bee-ree-uhs”

• Length: 8 letters, 4 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Roman plebeian tribune Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus and Emperor Tiberius Claudius Nero

• Also after several kings of the ancient kingdom of Bosporus, including King Tiberius Julius Cotys I and King Tiberius Julius Eupator

• Variants: Tyberius

 

Timon

 

• Origin: Greek boy name

• Meaning: “Honor” or “respect”

• Pronunciation: “tee-mown”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Norwegian alpine skier Timon Haugan and Slovak footballer Timon Dobias

• Variants: Timmon

 

Titian

 

• Origin: Roman and Italian unisex name

• Meaning: “Red-gold”

• Pronunciation: “tee-shn”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Italian Renaissance painter Titian (real name Tiziano Vecelli)

• Variants: Titianus (Latin)

 

Toheeb

 

• Origin: Nigeria – African boy name

• Meaning: “Holiness”

• Pronunciation: “tow-heeb”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: English actor Toheeb Gbolabo O. Jimoh

• Variants: None

 

Topher

 

• Origin: Greek boy name

• Meaning: “Christian”

• Pronunciation: “tow-fr”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American actor Topher Grace (full name Christopher John Grace)

• Variants: Also a short form of “Christopher” or similar names

 

Torin

 

• Origin: Irish boy name

• Meaning: “Chief”

• Pronunciation: “tow-reen”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Welsh rugby union player Torin Myhill and American professional basketball player Torin Francis

• Variants: Torrin

 

Trevor

 

• Origin: Welsh boy name

• Meaning: “Homestead” or “great settlement” 

• Pronunciation: “treh-vr”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #537

• Namesakes/Description: Australian cricket coach Trevor Bayliss and American basketball player Trevor Ariza

• Variants: Trever, Trebor, and Trevarus

 

Trip

 

• Origin: English unisex name

• Meaning: “Traveler”

• Pronunciation: “trip”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American political journalist Trip Gabriel and football manager Trip MacCracken (real name Alan MacCracken)

• Variants: Tripp

 

True

 

• Origin: English nonbinary name

• Meaning: “Real,” “loyal,” or “genuine”

• Pronunciation: “troo”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: None

 

Truman

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Loyal one”

• Pronunciation: “troo-muhn”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American football player and coach Truman F. Wilbanks and writer Truman J. Nelson

• Variants: Trumann

 

Tuck

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Fabric pleater” or “garment maker” (occupational name)

• Pronunciation: “tuhk”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (such as American college basketball player Morgan Tuck and British painter Horace Tuck)

• Variants: Tucker

 

Tyrion

 

• Origin: Latin and Welsh boy name

• Meaning: “From Tyre (ancient city in Lebanon)”

• Pronunciation: “tee-ree-uhn”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Fictional character Tyrion Lannister in the “Game of Thrones” TV series

• Variants: Tyrone and Tyron

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With U

Ulysses

 

• Origin: Greek boy name

• Meaning: “Wrathful,” epic voyage,” or “adventure”

• Pronunciation: “yoo-lee-seez”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Mexican-American mixed martial arts fighter Ulysses Gomez and American actor Ulysses Cuadra

• Variants: Ulises (Spanish), Ulisses (Portuguese), and Ulyses

 

Umar

 

• Origin: Hebrew and Arabic boy name

• Meaning: “Speaker,” “life,” “long-lived,” “one who has a long life,” or “flourishing”

• Pronunciation: “ooh-mar”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Pakistani-born Canadian cricketer Umar Bhatti and American football player Umar Muhammad

• Variants: Omar, Omer, Umer, Umaru, and Omaar

 

Urbano

 

• Origin: Hispanic, Italian, and Spanish boy name

• Meaning: “City dweller” or “from the city”

• Pronunciation: “oor-ban-oh”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Retired Spanish footballer Urbano Ortega and Mexican-American professional boxer Urbano Antillón 

• Variants: Also a form of the Latin name “Urbanus”

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With V

Valko

 

• Origin: Bulgarian boy name

• Meaning: “Wolf”

• Pronunciation: “val-kow”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Communist Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Valko Chervenkov and a last name (e.g., Belarusian sprint canoer Taras Valko)

• Variants: Vallko and Valkko

 

Vibes

 

• Origin: English and American unisex name

• Meaning: “Distinctive feeling” or “connection between two people”

• Pronunciation: “vaibz”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also the title of the comedy and adventure movie “Vibes”

• Variants: Vibe

 

Vincenzo

 

• Origin: Italian boy name

• Meaning: “To conquer” or “to win”

• Pronunciation: “vin-sehn-zow”

• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #683

• Namesakes/Description: Italian actor and sculptor Vincenzo Amato and Australian football player Vincenzo Grella

• Variants: Vincenz, Vicenç (Catalan), Vicente (Portuguese), Vikenti (Russian), and Vincent 

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With W

Webster

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Weaver”

• Pronunciation: “webs-tr”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American author, journalist, and lecturer Webster Tarpley and former football player Webster Slaughter

• Variants: None

 

Wellesley

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: Southern boy name that means “farm among the willows” or “woodland belonging to the town of Wells”

• Pronunciation: “welz-lee”

• Length: 9 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a place name after the town of Wellesley in Massachusetts, USA

• Variants: Wellesley and Wellsley

 

West

 

• Origin: Old English nonbinary name

• Meaning: “West direction” or “western stream”

• Pronunciation: “west”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (such as American actor and musician Nathan West and English actor Dominic West)

• Variants: None

 

Whit

 

• Origin: British unisex name

• Meaning: “White”

• Pronunciation: “wit”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American theater director, actor, and writer Whit Hertford and writer and director Whit Stillman (full name John Whitney Stillman)

• Variants: Whitt

 

Wolf

 

• Origin: English and German androgynous name

• Meaning: “Animal name” or “traveling wolf”

• Pronunciation: “wulf”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American water polo player and coach Wolf Wigo and English artist and musician Wolf Howard

• Variants: Wolff

 

Woodrow

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Row of houses by the woods”

• Pronunciation: “wood-row”

• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American television actor Woodrow Tracy Harrelson (stage name Woody Harrelson) and British comics artist, children’s book author, writer, and graphic designer Woodrow Phoenix

• Variants: None

 

Wright

 

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic and Old English boy name

• Meaning: Occupational name meaning “wood shaper,” “carpenter,” “craftsman,” or “woodworker”

• Pronunciation: “rite”

• Length: 6 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a last name (such as American football player Brock Wright and Australian rugby league footballer Broderick Wright)

• Variants: Wrighte and Right

 

Wrigley

 

• Origin: English unisex name
• Meaning: “Clearing by the river bend” or “woodland clearing”
• Pronunciation: “ree-glee”
• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: Celebrity kid Wrigley Irk (son of American model Katie Stam Irk and husband Brian Irk)
• Also a last name (e.g., Australian football player Stephen Wrigley and English singer, actor, and comedian Bernard Wrigley)
• Variants: None

 

Wylder

 

• Origin: British and Anglo-Saxon boy name

• Meaning: “Untamed”

• Pronunciation: “wayl-dr”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #863

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Wilder

 

Wynn

 

• Origin: Old English gender-neutral name

• Meaning: “Friend”

• Pronunciation: “win”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American stage and screen actor Wynn Harmon and athlete Wynn Andrew Roberts

• Variants: Winn, Win, and Wyn

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With X

Xanthippus

 

• Origin: Greek boy name

• Meaning: “Yellow” (color name) and “horse”

• Pronunciation: “zan-tee-pohs”

• Length: 10 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Athenian politician and general Xanthippus in the 5th century BC (the father of Greek historical figure Pericles)

• Variants: Xanthippos

 

Xenon

 

• Origin: Greek nonbinary name

• Meaning: “Stranger”

• Also a chemical element

• Pronunciation: “zee-non”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Fictional character Xenon Nnaksta in the “Star Wars” franchise

• Variants: Zenon

 

Xhafer

 

• Origin: Albanian and Arabic boy name

• Meaning: “Stream” (a name that means “water”)

• Pronunciation: “xay-fr”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Albanian former Minister of Internal Affairs Xhafer Deva and former Prime Minister Xhafer Ypi 

• Variants: Džafer (Bosnian) and Cafer (Turkish)

 

Ximun

 

• Origin: Basque boy name

• Meaning: “Son” or a spiritual name that means “God has heard”

• Pronunciation: “zai-moon”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: Also a form of “Simon”

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With Y

Yale 

 

• Origin: Old English and Welsh boy name

• Meaning: “Fertile moor,” “upland,” “heights,” or “fertile upland”

• Pronunciation: “yayl”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American composer and violinist Yale Strom

• Variants: None

 

York

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: “From the yew estate”

• Pronunciation: “york”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Also a place name after several cities or towns (e.g., the city of York in Pennsylvania, USA)

• Variants: None

 

Yuri

 

• Origin: Russian and Japanese unisex name

• Meaning: “Farmer,” “the light of God,” “abundant ideals,” or a flower name for boys that means “lily”

• Pronunciation: “yoo-ree”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American actor, screenwriter, and producer Yuri Lowenthal and Russian footballer Yuri Zhirkov 

• Also a historic name after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (the first human in space)

• Variants: Yurri and Yury

 

Rare Boy Names Starting With Z

Zahn

 

• Origin: German boy name

• Meaning: “Tooth”

• Pronunciation: “zahn”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American actor Zahn McClarnon (full name Zahn Tokiya-ku McClarnon)

• Variants: Zan and Zhan

 

Zayre

 

• Origin: Yiddish boy name

• Meaning: “Very good”

• Pronunciation: “zehr”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: None

• Variants: None

 

Zale

 

• Origin: Greek unisex name

• Meaning: “Sea-strength”

• Pronunciation: “zayl”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: US-based photographer Zale Richard Rubins

• Variants: Zayl

 

Zebedee

 

• Origin: Ancient Greek and Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “Gift of Jehovah” or “Yahweh has bestowed” 

• Pronunciation: “zeh-buh-dee”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: English painter Zebedee Jones and radio presenter Zebedee “Zeb” Soanes 

• Also a biblical name after the father of James and John (two of Jesus’ disciples)

• Variants: Also a form of “Zebadiah”

 

Zebulon

 

• Origin: Ancient Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “Gift,” “to dwell,” “dwelling of honor,” or “exaltation”

• Pronunciation: “zeh-byuh-laan”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Western boy name after Zebulon “Zeb” Macahan, a fictional character in “How The West Was Won”

• Also a biblical name after one of Israel patriarch Jacob’s 12 sons

• Variants: Also spelled as “Zebulun”

 

Zeno

 

• Origin: Greek boy name

• Meaning: “Gift of Zeus”

• Pronunciation: “zee-noh”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American voice actor Zeno Robinson and English footballer Zeno Ibsen Rossi

• Variants: Xeno

 

Zubin

 

• Origin: Persian boy name

• Meaning: “Mighty sword,” “short spear,” or “something that touches the sky”

• Pronunciation: “zoo-bn”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: British actor and singer Zubin Varla and Indian musical conductor Zubin Mehta

• Variants: Zubbin and Zhubin

 

Bonus: Popular Boy Names

Ace

 

• Origin: Latin nonbinary name

• Meaning: “Number one,” “unity,” or “leader”

• Pronunciation: “ays”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: #153

• Namesakes/Description: American Major League Baseball relief pitcher Ace Adams and Japanese-American filmmaker and artist Ace Norton

• Variants: Acie and Acey

 

Angelo

 

• Origin: Latin and Italian boy name

• Meaning: Angel name that means “messenger from God” or “an angel”

• Pronunciation: “ahn-jeh-loo”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #313

• Namesakes/Description: Italian composer, musicologist, and guitarist Angelo Gilardino and Swedish contemporary artist Angelo Keder

• Variants: Angel, Aingeru (Basque), Anghel (Romanian), and Andelo (Croatian)

 

Archer

 

• Origin: Anglo-Saxon unisex name

• Meaning: “Bowman”

• Pronunciation: “ahr-chr”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #126

• Namesakes/Description: American musician and cartoonist Archer Prewitt and British video game programmer Archer Maclean

• Variants: None

 

Arlo

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Fortified hill”

• Pronunciation: “ahr-low”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #169

• Namesakes/Description: American folk singer and activist Arlo Guthrie and English sports commentator Arlo White

• Variants: Arrlo and Arllo

 

Asher 

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “Fortunate,” “happy one,” or “blessed” 

• Pronunciation: “ah-shr”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #19

• Namesakes/Description: American painter Asher Brown Durand and a middle name for boys (after American actor Judd Asher Nelson)

• Variants: Ashor, Asherr, and Ashar

 

Callum

 

• Origin: Latin boy name

• Meaning: “Dove”

• Pronunciation: “kah-loom”

• Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #249

• Namesakes/Description: American-born Irish rugby union player Callum Black and Australian rules footballer Callum Ah Chee

• Variants: Kallum, Calum, and Colm

 

Dante

 

• Origin: Italian, Spanish, and Latin boy name

• Meaning: Hispanic boy name that meas “steadfast,” “everlasting,” or “enduring”

• Pronunciation: “dan-tay”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #311

• Namesakes/Description: American glass artist Dante Marioni and Argentine singer-composer Dante Spinetta 

• Variants: Donte, Deonte, and Dontae

 

Dax

 

• Origin: French boy name 

• Meaning: “Leader”

• Pronunciation: “daks”

• Length: 3 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: #444

• Namesakes/Description: American beach volleyball player Dax Holdren and professional wrestler Dax Harwood

• Variants: Daxx

 

Easton

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: Classic boy name that means “east town” or “east-facing place” 

• Pronunciation: “east-uhn”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #80

• Namesakes/Description: American football quarterback Easton Stick and country music singer Easton Corbin

• Also after the fictional character Easton in the “Almost, Maine” play (his name was originally “Michael” but got mixed up with the state name, his birthplace, on his birth certificate)

• Variants: Eastton, Easston, and Eastonn

 

Elias

 

• Origin: Greek, Hungarian, Hispanic, Spanish, Arabic, and Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: Masculine name that means “my God is Yahweh” or “the Lord is my God”

• Pronunciation: “ee-ly-uhs”

• Length: 5 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #43

• Namesakes/Description: American photographer Elias Tahan and Brazilian football player Elias Mendes Trindade

• Variants: Another variation of the biblical boy name “Elijah”

 

Enzo

 

• Origin: Italian boy name

• Meaning: “Home ruler”

• Pronunciation: “ehn-zow”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #121

• Namesakes/Description: Italian journalist and actor Enzo Bottesini and Chilean football player Enzo Roco

• Variants: Also a form of “Heinz” and “Heinrich”

 

Ethan

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “Firmness,” “long-lived,” “enduring,” or “strong and firm”

• Pronunciation: “eeh-thuhn”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #21

• Namesakes/Description: American motivational speaker Ethan Zohn and film director, author, and actor Ethan Green Hawke

• Variants: Eithan, Eytan, and Eitan

 

Everett 

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: “The strength and courage of a wild boar” or “brave and strong bear”

• Pronunciation: “eh-vr-uht”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #81

• Namesakes/Description: American jazz guitarist Everett Barksdale and writer and playwright Everett De Morier 

• Variants: Everet and Everitt

 

Ezra

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: “Help” or “helper”

• Pronunciation: “ez-ruh”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #25

• Namesakes/Description: American musician and songwriter Ezra Furman and actor Ezra Miller

• Variants: Ezrah, Ezzra, Ezrra, and Azra

 

Harrison

 

• Origin: English boy name

• Meaning: “Son of Harry”

• Pronunciation: “hah-ree–son”

• Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #127

• Namesakes/Description: After American actor Harrison Ford and racing driver Harrison Rhodes

• Variants: Harryson, Harrysson, Harrisson, and Harisson

 

Jace

 

• Origin: Hebrew unisex name

• Meaning: “Lord of salvation” or “healer”

• Pronunciation: “jays”

• Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: #103

• Namesakes/Description: Magical name after the fictional character Jace with telepathic powers in “Magic: the Gathering”

• Variants: Jayce and Jaycie

 

Jeremiah

 

• Origin: Hebrew boy name

• Meaning: Biblical boy name that means “the Lord exalts” or “Yahweh will exalt”

• Pronunciation: “jeh-ruh-mai-uh”

• Length: 8 letters, 4 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #93

• Namesakes/Description: American singer-songwriter Jeremiah Birnbaum and Samoan-American football player Jeremiah Kolone

• Also a biblical name after Jeremiah, “The Weeping Prophet”

• Variants: Jeremias

 

Lennox

 

• Origin: Scottish and Gaelic unisex name

• Meaning: “With many elm trees” or “elm grove”

• Pronunciation: “len-uhks”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #248

• Namesakes/Description: English professional boxer Lennox Clarke and British composer Lennox Berkeley

• Variants: Lenox and Lenixx

 

Leo

 

• Origin: Latin boy name

• Meaning: Strong boy name that means “lion”

• Pronunciation: “lee-oh”

• Length: 3 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #22

• Namesakes/Description: Jewish Hungarian-American physicist Leó Szilárd and British-born Australian pop musician Leo Sayer

• Variants: Leon

 

Luca

 

• Origin: Italian boy name

• Meaning: Name that means “light” or “sacred wood”

• Pronunciation: “loo-kah”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #28

• Namesakes/Description: Italian film director, screenwriter, actor, and journalist Luca Ragazzi and Swiss ice hockey player Luca Sbisa

• Variants: Lucca, Luka, Lukka, Lucas, and Luke

 

Maddox

 

• Origin: English and Welsh boy name

• Meaning: “Fortunate,” “giving,” “son of Madoc,” or “generous”

• Pronunciation: “mah-doks”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #179

• Namesakes/Description: Celebrity kid Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt (son of Hollywood A-lister stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt)

• Variants: Maddocks, Madocks, and Madox

 

Miles

 

• Origin: German, Latin, and Norman unisex name

• Meaning: “Soldier,” “gracious,” or “servant”

• Pronunciation: “mylez”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: #55

• Namesakes/Description: American jazz trumpeter Miles Davis and Canadian record producer and guitarist Miles Holmwood

• Variants: Can be spelled as Mylo, Myles, Milosz, and Milan; also a form of the Germanic name “Milo”

 

Onyx

 

• Origin: English unisex name

• Meaning: “Black gemstone,” “nail,” or “claw”

• Pronunciation: “ow-niks”

• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #355

• Namesakes/Description: American pro wrestler Onyx (real name Kyle McNeely) and celebrity kid Onyx (the son of Australian rapper and model Iggy Azalea)

• Variants: Onyxx, Onix, and Onnex

 

Phoenix

 

• Origin: Greek androgynous name
• Meaning: “Immortal bird” 
• Also a name that means “red” or “dark red”
• Pronunciation: “fee-nix”
• Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: #261 (boy)
• Namesakes/Description: Place name after the city of Phoenix in Arizona, USA
• Also after the bird that’s reborn from its ashes in Greek mythology
• Variants: None

 

Quinn

 

• Origin: Old Irish gender-neutral name

• Meaning: “Counsel,” “reason,” or “wise”

• Pronunciation: “kwin”

• Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable

• Popularity/Rank: #443 (boy)

• Namesakes/Description: American ice hockey player Quinn Hughes and Virgin Island soccer player Quinn Farrell 

• Variants: Kwinn, Quin, and Quynn

 

Silas

 

• Origin: Greek, Hebrew, and Latin boy name

• Meaning: “Wood” or “forest” 

• Pronunciation: “sy-luhs”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #87

• Namesakes/Description: American basketball player Silas Melson and Brazilian footballer Silas Feitosa José De Souza

• Also a tough boy name after the fictional character Silas Greaves (bounty hunter and protagonist in the “Call of Juarez: Gunslinger” video game)

• Variants: Silvan (German) and Sylas; also a name after “Silvanus,” the Roman god of forests

 

Tucker 

 

• Origin: Old English and German boy name

• Meaning: “Cloth weaver,” “cloth softener,” “fabric pleater,” or “all heart”

• Pronunciation: “tuh-kr”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #197

• Namesakes/Description: American sportswriter Tucker Elliot and lacrosse player Tucker Durkin

• Variants: Tokker and Tooker

 

Walter

 

• Origin: German and Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Commander of the army” or “ruler of the army”

• Pronunciation: “wol-tr”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #269

• Namesakes/Description: American musician, songwriter, and record producer Walter Becker and Dutch footballer Walter Waalderbos

• Variants: Nicknames include “Walt” (such as for Disney founder Walter Elias “Walt” Disney)

 

Wyatt

 

• Origin: Old English boy name

• Meaning: Warrior name that means “brave in war”

• Pronunciation: “wy-ut”

• Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #38

• Namesakes/Description: American filmmaker Wyatt Bardouille and football player Wyatt Davis

• Variants: Wyot (Old English) and Wiatt

 

Xander

 

• Origin: Greek and Old English boy name

• Meaning: “Defender of humankind”

• Pronunciation: “zan-der”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: #199

• Namesakes/Description: Aruban baseball player Xander Yan Bogaerts and American actor Xander Corvus 

• Variants: Zander

 

Bonus: Rare Baby Girl Names

Aella

 

• Origin: Ancient Greek girl name

• Meaning: Badass girl name that means “tempest” or “whirlwind” 

• Pronunciation: “ah-eh-lah”

• Length: 5 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Amazon (a tribe of warrior women in Greek mythology) fighter Aella 

• Variants: Aela and Aellah

 

Axelle

 

• Origin: Scandinavian and French girl name

• Meaning: “My father is peace

• Pronunciation: “ax-sell”

• Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Canadian water polo player Axelle Crevier and French actress and comedian Axelle Laffont 

• Variants: Also a female variation of the Scandinavian boy name “Axel”

 

Jessamine

 

• Origin: French and Old Persian girl name

• Meaning: Girl plant name that means “jasmine flower”

• Pronunciation: “jeh-suh-meen”

• Length: 9 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: American cartographer, historian, and artist Jessamine Shumate

• Variants: Jessamin and Jessamyn

 

Sunniva

 

• Origin: Norwegian girl name

• Meaning: “Sun gift”

• Pronunciation: “sun-eeh-vah”

• Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables

• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+

• Namesakes/Description: Irish-born Western Norway patron saint Sunniva

• Variants: Suniva, Sunngifu, and Sunnivah

 

Yara

 

• Origin: Brazilian and Arabic girl name
• Meaning: “Small butterfly”
• Pronunciation: “yah-rah”
• Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
• Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
• Namesakes/Description: Lebanese singer Yara and Brazilian classical pianist Yara Bernette 
• Variants: Yarra and Yarah

 

FAQs

What Are Some Reasons For Choosing A Rare Baby Name?

• You want your baby to have a unique name
• You’re fascinated by the name’s spelling, pronunciation, and meaning
• You’re honoring someone with this uncommon name
• You want to create a unique spin on a popular or classic name by slightly changing its spelling

 

What Are The Downsides To Choosing A Rare Baby Name?

• People might not be familiar with it and keep asking about the meaning or pronunciation
• The name might often be misspelled or mispronounced

 

Popular & Trending Baby Name Lists

• Baby names for 2023
• Biblical girl names
• Country boy names
• Girl names starting with K
• Rare baby names for girls
• Unique girl names
• Goddess names for girls
• Male Greek god names
• Old-English names for men
• Mexican boy names
• Middle names for girls
• Classic boy names
• Hawaiian girl names
• Mexican girl names
• Greek gods and goddesses
• Warrior names
• Names that mean death
• Black girl names
• Biblical boy names

 

You can also find ideas from the top 15 baby name generators.

 

Baby Name Lists By Letter

• Girl names starting with A
• Boy names starting with F
• Boy names starting with G
• Girl names starting with G
• Boy names starting with J
• Girl names starting with J
• Girl names starting with K
• Boy names that start with L
• Boy names starting with N
• Boy names starting with R
• Boy names that start with V
• Boy names starting with W

 

Other Resources For Pregnant Moms

• Anemia during pregnancy
• Best fish oil supplements
• Best prenatal vitamins
• Birth affirmations
• Birth doula
• Birth plan template
• Choline during pregnancy
• Essential oils for labor and delivery
• Hospital bag checklist
• Hot yoga while pregnant
• Iodine during pregnancy
• Normal iron levels during pregnancy
• Postpartum doula
• Postpartum essentials
• Pregnancy guide
• Pregnancy spotting
• Stress during pregnancy
• Vitamin D and pregnancy

 

REFERENCES

(1) https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/index.html