If you want your little one to stand out from the crowd, look no further. Truly unique baby names are hard to come by, but you’re sure to find the rare baby name you’re looking for in this ultimate list.
Whether you’re searching hard for a unique baby girl name or a unique baby boy name, we’ve put together 40 of the best uncommon names that will give your little boy or little girl the edge!
It’s packed with color-inspired names, nature-inspired names, baby names inspired by places and everything in-between, along with name meanings and just how rare they really are…
Top 15 unique names for baby girls
- Ever
We’ll start as we mean to go on – with a truly unique name for a baby girl that’s beautiful to boot. Ever can, in fact, be used for a girl or a boy, but I love the name for a little girl. It means ‘Always’, and it didn’t make the top 2000 baby girl names in the US in 2017, the last data available. So it’s an incredibly rare name that your little girl will carry proudly.
- Bay
Bay just made the top 3000 names for baby girls in the US in 2023, making it a truly uncommon and rare name. It has Latin origins and can mean ‘berry’ or ‘bathe’. In modern English, it could be considered a nautical name, making it a great choice for little girls who live on the coast!
- Azalea
Azalea means ‘dry flower’, but don’t let that put you off! The azalea shrub produces striking pink flowers, and is an unusual name that will give your little girl the edge! Not quite making the top 400 names in the US in 2023, she’s sure to be the only Azalea in her class.
Read Next: Whispers of Nature: Top 30 Baby Girl Names Inspired by Trees
- Zinnia
Zinnia has Latin origins and, like Azalea, means flower. Despite surging in popularity in the US in the 2010s, it remains a very rare and unique name, making only the top 1900 names for baby girls in 2023.
- Opal
I can’t say I’ve ever met someone called ‘Opal’, but this beautiful and sophisticated name should be more popular. Meaning ‘precious stone’, the name is linked with confidence and loyalty, and will work at all stages of life. It peaked in popularity in the US way back in 1909, and is a very rare name in 2023, when it didn’t quite make the top 500 baby names for little girls.
Read Next: Life in Color: Most Vibrant Baby Names Inspired by Colors
- Alda
Linked with age and wisdom, Alda is a traditional name of German origin that didn’t even make the top 7,000 names in the US in 2023. Pronounced OL-DA, this wise name is a great choice if you’re looking for a highly unusual – yet sophisticated – baby name for your little girl.
- Bronwyn
Of Welsh origin, Bronwyn can be spelled in various ways – including Branwen or Bronwen – and means ‘white raven’. And if you’re thinking Bronwyn sounds like a character from Game of Thrones, you’d be right! So it makes for a great baby name for a GOT-loving couple!
If you’re looking for a truly unique name, Bronwyn surely tops the list. It fell outside of the top 10700 baby girl names in the US in 2023!
- Clementine
Clementine is a soft and gentle name of Latin and French origins. It means ‘merciful’ and ‘mild’ and makes a peaceful name for a brand new baby girl. It fell outside of the top 500 baby girl names in the US in 2023, so it’s an incredibly uncommon name.
- Carmel
Carmel can actually be used as a name for both baby girls and baby boys. Whilst its popularity has increased in recent years, it’s still way down on the list of popular baby girl names in the US. The name has Hebrew origins and means ‘garden’.
- Ari
Another uncommon gender-neutral name is Ari. It has Hebrew origins, means ‘lion’ and the one and only Ariana Grande is often referred to as Ari.
- Boston
Many place-inspired names like Boston are very uncommon, and make great choices for parents looking for a unique name for their baby. Less than 30 baby girls per million were given the name in the US in 2023.
- Devon
Devon is another place-inspired name that makes for a very unique choice. The name peaked in popularity back in 1993 and in 2018, only 34 baby girls per million were given the name in the US.
- Farris
Only 3 babies per million were given the name Farris in the US in 2022, which has Gaelic origins. Farris could be used as a name for boys or girls, but we love it for little girls. And don’t be put off by the meaning of this incredibly unusual name: ‘masculine strength’. There’s nothing wrong with giving your little girl the strength to navigate life’s obstacles!
Read Next: Top 40 Powerful Baby Names That Signify Perseverance and Strength
- Amalthea
Amalthea is a name that’s out of this word, quite literally. The name of one of Jupiter’s moons, the name has Greek origins and means ‘to soften’ and ‘to soothe’. Just 7 babies per million were given this name in the US back in 2021. Your little Amalthea is highly unlikely to meet another Amalthea… well… ever. It’s a truly unique addition to the list!
- Roswitha
Roswitha is so unusual in the US that there’s no data readily available on how popular it is! My guess is – not very. This unique name – pronounced ROS-WE-TA – has German origins and means ‘fame’ and ‘strength’. And ‘strength’ is a beautiful gift to pass on to a little one!
Top 15 unique names for Boys
- Forest
Whilst nature-inspired names are becoming more and more popular, Forest (or Forrest, as it’s sometimes spelt) is still a very rare name for little boys. In fact, only 214 babies per million were given the name in the US in 2022. It makes a wonderful name for nature-loving parents!
Read Next: Top 50 Earthy Boy Names and Their Significance
- Blaize
This strong and fiery name has both French and Latin origins. Your little boy would be unlikely to meet another Blaize in his class, given that just over 50 baby boys were given this name in the US in 2021!
- Tan
Tan France bought this name into the mainstream, but it remains very uncommon in the US. Meaning ‘significant’, the name has Ancient Chinese origins and didn’t manage to make the top 20000 names in the US back in 2018.
- Granger
The perfect name for a country bumpkin baby, Granger, meaning farmer, is very uncommon in the US. Of English origins, this name was given to only 118 babies per million in American in 2022. It’s also a well-known surname – think Hermione Granger!
Read Next: Top 50 Literary Baby Girl Names with Meanings and Famous Book Inspirations
- Amos
Staying on the Harry Potter theme, Amos is a magical name for a precious little boy. Made famous in Harry Potter circles thanks to Cedric Diggory’s dad, Amos Diggory, the name was given to just over 450 baby boys in the US in 2021. It has Hebrew origins and means ‘to carry’.
- Mannix/Manix
This bold name has Irish origins and means ‘monk’. A little boy given this highly unusual yet striking name is unlikely to meet another Mannix at school – it fell just outside of the top 20000 baby names in America in 2022.
- Lake
Returning to the nature theme, Lake is a name for both boys and girls, but we love it as a name for little boys. The name has English origins and is very uncommon. Only 50 babies per million were given the name Lake in the US in 2021. It evokes a wonderful feeling of calm and connection with nature, making it a great choice for a nature-loving family.
Read Next: Baby Names Inspired by the Nature for Boys and Girls
- Rishi
Provided you don’t have strong negative feelings about the UK’s Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, Rishi makes a great alternative to Richard or Ritchie. It has Sanskrit origins and means ‘sage’, believed by many to remove negative energy when burned. It only just made the top 2000 names in the US in 2021.
- Barclay
A Scottish surname of Scottish and English origins, Barclay is an uncommon first name for boys, but one that should definitely be considered.
It’s so rare as a first name in the US that no data on its use is readily available! It means birch wood and is a very popular surname in the UK.
- Aitken
Another common surname in Scotland that we love as a first name for boys is Aitken. Meaning ‘son of Adam’, this Gaelic name is so rare as a first name that there’s no data readily available on its use. A worthy addition to the list, for sure!
- Acton
Meaning ‘oak tree settlement’ Acton has Old English origins and is another name that’s used so rarely as a first name, that there isn’t any data available on its use. And if a baby Acton doesn’t grow up to be uber cool, I don’t know what baby will!
- Duran
A very interesting choice for fans of 80s pop music, Duran has Latin origins and means ‘enduring’ or ‘firm’. It fell outside of the top 20000 baby names in 2022 in America.
It’s perhaps not the best choice if the family surname is also ‘Duran’, unless you’re a seriously committed fan.
- Cairo
Place names are the perfect choice for a travel-loving family… or maybe the city of Cairo means something to you and your family. The name means ‘the conqueror’ in Arabic and was given to just over 1000 baby boys in the US back in 2021.
- Bran
Another Game of Thrones inspired unique baby name is Bran. The name has Welsh and Irish origins and means ‘crow’ or ‘raven’, which will come as no surprise to GOT fans! Only 3 babies per million were given this name in the US in 2022, so it’s very safe to say that Bran is a truly unique name.
- Ferry
You know a name’s rare when there’s no data available on its popularity! Ferry is a highly unusual name for a boy and means ‘peaceful ruler’. We love this meaning that’s sure to help your little boy become the fair leader he was born to be!
Need more inspiration? Check out our top celebrity-inspired baby names, nature-inspired baby names and names inspired by color!
