Rare Baby Names

9086 Rare names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.

If the thought of three children answering to the same name in one classroom makes you wince, this is your list. Rare baby names are beautiful, real, well-established names that simply have not been discovered by everyone else yet — distinctive without being invented.

Rare Girl Names

Elodie, Esme and Elowen are exquisite and still uncommon. For something even less expected, Marceline, Amaris, Davina, Adhara and Xyla.

Rare Boy Names

Cassian and Amias are gorgeous and gaining quiet momentum. For genuinely rare, Ozias, Eliam, Ander, Iker and Enoch.

Rare, Not Made Up

That distinction matters. Every name here has real history and a real meaning — so your child gets to be the only one in the room without ever having to explain that it is not a typo.

Every name below links to its own page with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, famous bearers, and a clear audio pronunciation — so you can hear it before you choose.

Rare Girl Names

Arleth#269 in the U.S.Possibly 'eagle oath' or a Spanish variant of the Germanic name Arlette▶Esme#298 in the U.S.Beloved, esteemed; highly regarded▶Elowyn#299 in the U.S.Elm tree; possibly fair brow — a Cornish or invented Celtic-style name▶Elodie#310 in the U.S.Foreign riches; from the Greek alodia (wealth from another land)▶Adhara#370 in the U.S.From Arabic 'adhara' (maidens, virgins) — the name of the second brightest star in the constell▶Ivory#378 in the U.S.From Old French ivoire and Latin ebur, referring to the creamy white material derived from elep▶Marceline#424 in the U.S.French feminine diminutive of Marcellus, ultimately from Latin Marcus connected to Mars the Rom▶Arlette#494 in the U.S.French feminine diminutive of a Germanic name composed of 'arn' (eagle) and possibly 'leod' (pe▶Ila#718 in the U.S.In Sanskrit, Ila (इला) means 'earth' and is the name of a daughter of Manu in Hindu mythology; ▶Davina#749 in the U.S.Scottish feminine form of David, from the Hebrew Dawid (דָּוִד), meaning 'beloved' or 'darling'▶Amaris#754 in the U.S.Promised by God or given by God; from the Hebrew name Amariah meaning Yahweh has promised▶Neriah#762 in the U.S.Lamp of God or light of the Lord; from the Hebrew Neriyah, combining ner meaning lamp or light ▶Xyla#763 in the U.S.Of the forest or woodland; from the Greek xylon meaning wood or forest, with the feminine -a su▶Elowen#798 in the U.S.Elm tree; from the Cornish elowen meaning elm tree, a Celtic nature name from the ancient Bryth▶Ainhoa#961 in the U.S.Basque name from the small village of Ainhoa in the French Basque Country, meaning fertile plai▶Eliette#1290 in the U.S.My God is an oath; beloved of God▶Zinnia#1349 in the U.S.The zinnia flower, named for botanist Johann Zinn▶Danae#1362 in the U.S.Parched, dry earth▶Adira#1366 in the U.S.Strong, mighty, powerful, noble▶Cattaleya#1380 in the U.S.The cattleya orchid, queen of orchids▶Althea#1396 in the U.S.Healing, wholesome, one who heals▶

See all 6239 rare girl names →

Rare Boy Names

Jaziel#198 in the U.S.God is my strength; allotted by God▶Eliam#313 in the U.S.From the Hebrew elements 'El' (God) and 'am' (people, kinsman, or nation), meaning 'my God is a▶Iker#390 in the U.S.From Basque iker meaning visitation or visit, connected to the Basque place name Ikerne and use▶Cassian#479 in the U.S.From the Roman family name Cassius, derived from Latin 'cassus' meaning hollow, empty, or vain;▶Eliel#586 in the U.S.From Hebrew Eli'el, a compound of El ('God') repeated, or eli ('my God') combined with El ('God▶Amias#642 in the U.S.Possibly a variant of Amatus, from Latin amatus meaning beloved or loved; alternatively linked ▶Jasiel#683 in the U.S.From Hebrew Yasi'el, composed of yasah meaning to make or to do and El meaning God, meaning God▶Ozias#708 in the U.S.Greek form of the Hebrew name Uzziah (עֻזִּיָּה), meaning 'my strength is Yahweh' or 'God has h▶Kenai#713 in the U.S.From the Dena'ina Athabascan people of Alaska; the name of the Kenai Peninsula and city in Alas▶Ander#728 in the U.S.Basque form of Andrew, from the Greek Andreas (Ἀνδρέας), meaning 'manly' or 'strong'; from the ▶Enoch#746 in the U.S.From the Hebrew Hanokh (חֲנוֹךְ), meaning 'dedicated,' 'initiated,' or 'experienced'; Enoch was▶Azaiah#749 in the U.S.From the Hebrew Azayah or variant of Azariah (עֲזַרְיָה), meaning 'Yahweh has helped' or 'God h▶Asaiah#773 in the U.S.God has made or Yahweh has acted; from the Hebrew Asayah, combining asah meaning to do or make ▶Truce#774 in the U.S.Peace or armistice; from Middle English trewes, Old English treow meaning faith, pledge, or agr▶Haziel#795 in the U.S.Vision of God or God sees; from the Hebrew Chazyel, combining chazah meaning to see or to have ▶Boaz#891 in the U.S.From Hebrew Bo'az, possibly meaning swiftness, strength, or in him is strength; in the Book of ▶Syaire#939 in the U.S.Derived from Arabic sha'ir meaning poet, one who recites or composes poetry, a deeply honored r▶Isael#989 in the U.S.Variant of Ismael or a blend of Isaias and Israel, from Hebrew roots; possibly from Yisra'el me▶Macklin#998 in the U.S.Anglicized form of Irish Mac Fhlainn meaning son of Flann, where Flann means red or ruddy, hist▶Jeriah#1330 in the U.S.God has seen, the Lord sees▶Huxton#1437 in the U.S.Hugh's settlement; Hugh's town▶

See all 2847 rare boy names →

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Frequently Asked

What are rare baby names for girls?

Rare girl names include Elodie, Elowen, Marceline, Amaris and Davina.

What are rare baby names for boys?

Rare boy names include Cassian, Amias, Ozias, Ander and Iker.

How do I find a rare name that is not made up?

Look for names with genuine history and a sourced meaning — every name on this page has both, plus its current U.S. popularity so you can check how rare it really is.

How many rare baby names are on More4Kids?

More4Kids lists 9086 rare baby names, each with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, and an audio pronunciation.