1000+ Unique, Rare, and Uncommon Boy Names (with Meanings and Origins) - Page 8 (2024)

  1. Arden

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "valley of the eagle; high"

    • Description:

      Arden is a gender-neutral name that's sleek and stylish but always seems to bob just below the surface of popularity, despite ticking all the boxes with its fashionable two-syllable, N-ending shape and its awesome nature-inspired meanings. In the 2021 US statistics, 41 percent of the babies named Arden were boys to 59 percent girls.

    Arden ContinuedChevron - Right

  2. Oslo

    • Origin:

      Norwegian place name, Old Norse

    • Meaning:

      "meadow at the foot of a hill"

    • Description:

      Oslo, the capital city of Norway, makes for an intriguing new place name, especially with its bookended O's, as in Otto. One Berry has already used it and we predict others will follow.

    Oslo ContinuedChevron - Right

  3. Ferris

    • Origin:

      Irish, English

    • Meaning:

      "strong man or ironworker"

    • Description:

      It’s been more than three decades since Ferris Bueller took his famous day off in the cult classic 1986 teen comedy movie, but we think the time for this name could and should be now! Especially with the recent rise of the hero's girlfriend, Sloane, up the baby name rankings. Half preppy, half rugged, it boasts that stylish S ending and has a cozy, retro feel.

    Ferris ContinuedChevron - Right

  4. Leander

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "lion-man"

    • Description:

      Leander is an almost unknown name with great potential as a possible alternative to the overused Alexander. In Greek legend, Leander was the powerful figure who swam across the Hellespont every night to visit his beloved Hero, a priestess of Venus.

    Leander ContinuedChevron - Right

  5. Quentin

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "fifth"

    • Description:

      Quentin, an offbeat name with lots of character, relates to the Latin for the number five and is by far the subtlest and most usable of the Latin birth-order names, masculine as well as stylish and distinctive. It was borne by a third-century saint and came to England with the Normans.

    Quentin ContinuedChevron - Right

  6. Rune

    • Origin:

      German and Swedish

    • Meaning:

      "secret"

    • Description:

      Name with connotations both mystical and tragic, newly popular in Europe. For English speakers, though, this name might be ruined by its hom*onym ruin.

    Rune ContinuedChevron - Right

  7. Fraser

    • Origin:

      Scottish from French

    • Meaning:

      "strawberry"

    • Description:

      Though TV's "Frasier" made the name famous, and Frazier is a well-used variation, Fraser is the original, used mostly in Scotland.

  8. Zimri

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "my music, my praise"

    • Description:

      This unusual and spunky biblical name was one of the Kings of Israel as well as one of Judah's grandsons and has a wonderful meaning. We'd like to see Zimri being used more, and we think it has potential — "traveling lite" names, or 2 syllable names ending in -i, such as Zuri, Ezri, and Rafi are red-hot right now.

    Zimri ContinuedChevron - Right

  9. Basil

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "royal"

    • Description:

      Although Greek in origin--in the fourth century, a bishop by that name established the principles of the Greek Orthodox Church--Basil for years took on the aura of aquiline-nosed upper-class Britishness of Sherlock Holmes portrayer Basil Rathbone, then spiced with the fragrant aroma of the herb that entered with the Pesto generation.

    Basil ContinuedChevron - Right

  10. Job

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "persecuted"

    • Description:

      If you focus on the patience of the biblical Job, rather than his trials, the name becomes more usable. He was, after all, the Old Testament hero of the Book of Job, whose faith was severely tested by God but remained faithful. The name was was used by Puritans and Christian fundamentalists and can be found in the novels of Dickens, George Eliot and Robert Louis Stevenson..

    Job ContinuedChevron - Right

  11. Xavi

    • Origin:

      Catalan diminutive of Xavier, Basque or Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "new house or bright"

    • Description:

      This nickname was given often enough as a standalone to land it in the Top 1000 from 2010—2013.

    Xavi ContinuedChevron - Right

  12. Xavi

    • Origin:

      Catalan diminutive of Xavier, Basque or Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "new house or bright"

    • Description:

      This nickname was given often enough as a standalone to land it in the Top 1000 from 2010—2013.

    Xavi ContinuedChevron - Right

  13. Neo

    • Origin:

      Latin or Tswana

    • Meaning:

      "new or gift"

    • Description:

      This nouveau name of Keanu Reeves's character in The Matrix has not enjoyed the same burst of popularity as its female counterpart, Trinity, but it definitely sounds, well, newer. Neo Rauch is an interesting contemporary German artist.

    Neo ContinuedChevron - Right

  14. Cato

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "all-knowing"

    • Description:

      Cato conjures up images of ancient Roman statesmen and southern antebellum retainers; it could have revival potential, with its 'O' ending and the current interest in the names of Greek and Roman antiquity.

    Cato ContinuedChevron - Right

  15. Eoin

    • Origin:

      Irish, variation of John

    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"

    • Description:

      Though Eoin is a Gaelic form of John, its Anglicized pronunciation links it directly to Owen. Eoin is currently a Top 30 name in Ireland. Other variations: Ewan, Ewen, Evan and Eoghan (pronounced as Owen but also translated as Eugene).

    Eoin ContinuedChevron - Right

  16. Xerxes

    • Origin:

      Persian

    • Meaning:

      "hero among heroes"

    • Description:

      The two X's may be a challenge for even the most intrepid baby namer. Xerxes was the name of two early kings of Persia and the Handel opera Serse or Xerxes is loosely based on Xerxes I.

    Xerxes ContinuedChevron - Right

  17. Conan

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "little wolf"

    • Description:

      The fierce image of the Barbarian made a complete turnaround thanks to amiable talk show host O'Brien, making Conan one of the newly desirable Irish choices, a perfect alternative to Conor/Connor.

    Conan ContinuedChevron - Right

  18. Fritz

    • Origin:

      German, diminutive of Friedrich or Frederick

    • Meaning:

      "peaceful ruler"

    • Description:

      Since female cousins Mitzi and Fritzi have entered the realm of possibilities, there's a chance that Cousin Fritz could as well. Fritz is the name of several notables, from early German-born film director Lang to early footballer Fritz (born Frederick) Pollard, the first African-American to play in the Rose Bowl in 1916.

    Fritz ContinuedChevron - Right

  19. Ike

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Isaac

    • Description:

      Ike, once the quirky one-person nickname of President Dwight Eisenhower, has morphed into a cool kid nickname of the early 21st century. The rise of Isaac and the stylishness of short down-to-earth nicknames like Max and Gus means that many parents like Ike once again. In the Top 200 (!) at the end of the 19th century, Ike fell off the Social Security Top 1000 by the end of Eisenhower's presidency in the late 1950s but may rise again -- though our guess is that more modern parents will put Isaac or Isaiah on the birth certificate.

    Ike ContinuedChevron - Right

  20. Mack

    • Origin:

      Scottish or Irish

    • Meaning:

      "son of"

    • Description:

      Mack, when "formalized" with the final k, makes an engagingly amiable choice, a far more uncommon alternative to the ubiquitous Max and Jack, with a nice, every-guy feel. Mack entered the popularity list in 2009 for the first time since 1989 and continues to climb. However, it's still far from its peak — it was a Top 100 name in 1900.

    Mack ContinuedChevron - Right

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

As an expert in names and their meanings, I can confidently provide information on the concepts used in this article. Each name discussed in the article has a unique origin, meaning, and description. Here is a breakdown of the concepts used:

  1. Arden:

    • Origin: English
    • Meaning: "valley of the eagle; high"
    • Description: Arden is a gender-neutral name that is sleek and stylish. It has a fashionable two-syllable, N-ending shape and nature-inspired meanings.

  2. Oslo:

    • Origin: Norwegian place name, Old Norse
    • Meaning: "meadow at the foot of a hill"
    • Description: Oslo is the capital city of Norway and can be a unique place name. Its bookended O's give it an intriguing appeal.

  3. Ferris:

    • Origin: Irish, English
    • Meaning: "strong man or ironworker"
    • Description: Ferris is a name that gained popularity after the cult classic movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." It has a preppy yet rugged feel with a stylish S ending.

  4. Leander:

    • Origin: Greek
    • Meaning: "lion-man"
    • Description: Leander is an alternative to the commonly used name Alexander. In Greek legend, Leander was a powerful figure who swam across the Hellespont to visit his beloved Hero.

  5. Quentin:

    • Origin: Latin
    • Meaning: "fifth"
    • Description: Quentin is an offbeat name with character. It is related to the Latin word for the number five and has a stylish and distinctive appeal. It was borne by a third-century saint and came to England with the Normans.

  6. Rune:

    • Origin: German and Swedish
    • Meaning: "secret"
    • Description: Rune is a name with mystical and tragic connotations. It has gained popularity in Europe but may be ruined for English speakers due to its hom*onym ruin.

  7. Fraser:

    • Origin: Scottish from French
    • Meaning: "strawberry"
    • Description: Fraser is a name famous for TV's "Frasier" and is a variation of Frazier. It is the original form of the name, mostly used in Scotland.

  8. Zimri:

    • Origin: Hebrew
    • Meaning: "my music, my praise"
    • Description: Zimri is an unusual and spunky biblical name. It was the name of a King of Israel and one of Judah's grandsons. It has a wonderful meaning and potential for usage.

  9. Basil:

    • Origin: Greek
    • Meaning: "royal"
    • Description: Basil is a name of Greek origin. It gained popularity through a bishop who established the principles of the Greek Orthodox Church. It is also associated with the fragrant herb.

  10. Job:

    • Origin: Hebrew
    • Meaning: "persecuted"
    • Description: Job is a name that can be associated with the patience of the biblical character rather than his trials. He was a hero in the Old Testament and his name has been used by Puritans and Christian fundamentalists.

  11. Xavi:

    • Origin: Catalan diminutive of Xavier, Basque or Arabic
    • Meaning: "new house or bright"
    • Description: Xavi is a nickname that can stand alone as a name. It was popular enough to be in the Top 1000 from 2010-2013.

  12. Neo:

    • Origin: Latin or Tswana
    • Meaning: "new or gift"
    • Description: Neo is a name associated with Keanu Reeves's character in "The Matrix." It has a modern and new sound, and it is also the name of an interesting contemporary German artist, Neo Rauch.

  13. Cato:

    • Origin: Latin
    • Meaning: "all-knowing"
    • Description: Cato is a name that brings to mind ancient Roman statesmen and southern antebellum retainers. It has revival potential with its 'O' ending and the current interest in names from Greek and Roman antiquity.

  14. Eoin:

    • Origin: Irish, variation of John
    • Meaning: "God is gracious"
    • Description: Eoin is a Gaelic form of John, and its Anglicized pronunciation is similar to Owen. It is currently a Top 30 name in Ireland. Other variations include Ewan, Ewen, Evan, and Eoghan.

  15. Xerxes:

    • Origin: Persian
    • Meaning: "hero among heroes"
    • Description: Xerxes is a name associated with two early kings of Persia. It may pose a challenge due to its two X's, but it has potential for those interested in names from ancient history.

  16. Conan:

    • Origin: Irish
    • Meaning: "little wolf"
    • Description: Conan is a name that has gained popularity due to talk show host Conan O'Brien. It is an Irish choice and a perfect alternative to the more common name Conor/Connor.

  17. Fritz:

    • Origin: German, diminutive of Friedrich or Frederick
    • Meaning: "peaceful ruler"
    • Description: Fritz is a name that has become more possible since female cousins Mitzi and Fritzi have entered the realm of names. It has been used by notable figures such as film director Fritz Lang and footballer Fritz Pollard.

  18. Ike:

    • Origin: Diminutive of Isaac
    • Description: Ike is a nickname that was once associated with President Dwight Eisenhower. It has become a cool kid nickname of the early 21st century. With the rise in popularity of names like Isaac and Isaiah, Ike has the potential to rise again.

  19. Mack:

    • Origin: Scottish or Irish
    • Meaning: "son of"
    • Description: Mack is a name that has a friendly and approachable feel. It is an uncommon alternative to the more popular names Max and Jack. Mack entered the popularity list in 2009 and continues to climb.

These concepts provide a comprehensive understanding of the names discussed in the article. Whether you're interested in gender-neutral names, nature-inspired names, or names with unique meanings, this article covers a wide range of options to consider.

1000+ Unique, Rare, and Uncommon Boy Names (with Meanings and Origins) - Page 8 (2024)
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