88 Rare Baby Boy Names Parents Are Discovering
As a mom of five (including two boys), I've learned that choosing the perfect name is about finding a unique identity that will shape your child's journey. After navigating the naming process multiple times, I've curated a list of 88 rare names that go beyond the typical baby name book.
Here's a collection of names with their meaning, origin, and a fascinating association that might just spark that perfect naming moment.
Or if you're drawn to strong, classic, unique and modern options, or short one-syllable choices, this collection might help you find that perfect fit.
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GETTING STARTED WITH RARE BOY NAMES
1. Alaric
Meaning: Ruler of all
Origin: Germanic
Association: Alaric the Visigoth, the king who sacked Rome in 410 AD
2. Cassian
Meaning: Hollow, empty
Origin: Latin
Association: Saint Cassian of Imola, an early Christian martyr
3. Evander
Meaning: Good man, strong man
Origin: Greek
Association: In Roman mythology, Evander was a hero who founded a city in Italy
4. Leif
Meaning: Heir, descendant
Origin: Norse
Association: Leif Erikson, the Viking explorer believed to have reached North America before Columbus
5. Soren
Meaning: Stern, severe
Origin: Danish/Scandinavian
Association: Søren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher and theologian
6. Osiris
Meaning: Powerful, mighty
Origin: Egyptian
Association: Osiris, the ancient Egyptian god of the afterlife
7. Bastian
Meaning: Venerable, revered
Origin: Latin (short for Sebastian)
Association: Bastian Balthazar Bux, the protagonist in The NeverEnding Story
8. Emrys
Meaning: Immortal
Origin: Welsh
Association: Merlin, the legendary wizard, was also known as Myrddin Emrys
9. Caius
Meaning: Rejoice
Origin: Latin
Association: Caius Cassius, a Roman senator involved in Julius Caesar's assassination
10. Zephyr
Meaning: West wind
Origin: Greek
Association: Zephyrus, the Greek god of the west wind
11. Lucian
Meaning: Light
Origin: Latin
Association: Lucian of Samosata, an ancient satirist and writer
12. Orion
Meaning: Rising in the sky
Origin: Greek
Association: Orion, the legendary hunter in Greek mythology and a prominent constellation
13. Theron
Meaning: Hunter
Origin: Greek
Association: Theron, an ancient Greek name used by kings and warriors
14. Ambrose
Meaning: Immortal, divine
Origin: Latin
Association: Saint Ambrose, a key figure in early Christianity
15. Icarus
Meaning: Follower
Origin: Greek
Association: Icarus, the mythological figure who flew too close to the sun
16. Peregrine
Meaning: Traveler, wanderer
Origin: Latin
Association: Peregrine Falcon, one of the fastest birds in the world
17. Tiberius
Meaning: Of the Tiber River
Origin: Latin
Association: Tiberius Caesar, the second emperor of Rome
18. Ephraim
Meaning: Fruitful, productive
Origin: Hebrew
Association: Ephraim, a biblical patriarch and the founder of one of Israel's twelve tribes
19. Oberon
Meaning: Noble, bear-like
Origin: Germanic
Association: Oberon, the king of the fairies in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream
20. Hawthorne
Meaning: Lives where hawthorn trees grow
Origin: English
Association: Nathaniel Hawthorne, the famous American writer
21. Lazaro
Meaning: God has helped
Origin: Spanish/Hebrew
Association: Saint Lazarus, who was raised from the dead by Jesus in the Bible
22. Zephaniah
Meaning: The Lord has hidden
Origin: Hebrew
Association: Zephaniah, a prophet in the Old Testament
23. Quillon
Meaning: Crossing swords
Origin: Latin
Association: The quillons are the crossguards on a sword, symbolizing protection
24. Dorian
Meaning: Of Doris, a Greek region
Origin: Greek
Association: Dorian Gray, the main character in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
25. Calix
Meaning: Very handsome
Origin: Greek
Association: Calix, derived from "calyx," the protective outer part of a flower
26. Ignatius
Meaning: Fiery, passionate
Origin: Latin
Association: Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits
27. Aurelian
Meaning: Golden, gilded
Origin: Latin
Association: Emperor Aurelian, a Roman emperor known for military prowess
28. Balthazar
Meaning: God protects the king
Origin: Babylonian
Association: One of the Three Wise Men who visited baby Jesus
29. Simeon
Meaning: God has heard
Origin: Hebrew
Association: Simeon the Righteous, a biblical figure who blessed baby Jesus
30. Isidore
Meaning: Gift of Isis
Origin: Greek
Association: Saint Isidore of Seville, a scholar and theologian
31. Endymion
Meaning: To dive into, to enter
Origin: Greek
Association: Endymion, a beautiful youth in Greek mythology loved by the moon goddess Selene
32. Phineas
Meaning: Oracle, mouth of a serpent
Origin: Hebrew
Association: Phineas, a biblical priest known for his zeal
33. Leander
Meaning: Lion-man
Origin: Greek
Association: Leander, a tragic figure in Greek mythology who swam across the sea for love
34. Romulus
Meaning: Citizen of Rome
Origin: Latin
Association: Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome
35. Nicasio
Meaning: Victorious
Origin: Spanish/Greek
Association: Saint Nicasio, a Christian martyr
36. Mordecai
Meaning: Warrior, follower of Marduk
Origin: Hebrew/Persian
Association: Mordecai, the biblical hero in the Book of Esther
37. Ivo
Meaning: Yew tree
Origin: Germanic
Association: Saint Ivo, the patron saint of lawyers
38. Oswin
Meaning: Divine friend
Origin: Old English
Association: Saint Oswin, an Anglo-Saxon king and martyr
39. Theon
Meaning: Godly
Origin: Greek
Association: Theon of Alexandria, a famous mathematician
40. Zebedee
Meaning: Gift of God
Origin: Hebrew
Association: Father of James and John, disciples of Jesus
41. Eustace
Meaning: Fruitful, steadfast
Origin: Greek
Association: Saint Eustace, a legendary Christian martyr
42. Marcellus
Meaning: Little warrior
Origin: Latin
Association: Marcellus, a noble Roman name used by emperors and generals
43. Benedict
Meaning: Blessed
Origin: Latin
Association: Saint Benedict, founder of Western monasticism
44. Lucius
Meaning: Light
Origin: Latin
Association: Lucius Junius Brutus, founder of the Roman Republic
45. Cyrus
Meaning: Sun, throne
Origin: Persian
Association: Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Empire
46. Octavian
Meaning: Eighth-born
Origin: Latin
Association: Augustus, the first Roman emperor, was originally named Octavian
47. Tolliver
Meaning: Metalworker
Origin: English/Scottish
Association: A rare surname with aristocratic ties
48. Lysander
Meaning: Liberator
Origin: Greek
Association: Lysander, a Spartan general who defeated Athens
49. Hadrian
Meaning: Dark-haired
Origin: Latin
Association: Emperor Hadrian, who built Hadrian's Wall in Britain
50. Alban
Meaning: White, fair
Origin: Latin
Association: Saint Alban, the first British Christian martyr
51. Corbin
Meaning: Raven
Origin: Latin
Association: Corbinian, a saint known for his association with a bear in German legend
52. Oisin
Meaning: Little deer
Origin: Irish
Association: Oisín, a warrior-poet in Irish mythology
53. Eldon
Meaning: Sacred hill
Origin: Old English
Association: Eldon, a rare old English surname
54. Hiram
Meaning: Exalted brother
Origin: Hebrew
Association: Hiram, the biblical king of Tyre who helped build Solomon's Temple
55. Vesper
Meaning: Evening star
Origin: Latin
Association: Vesper Lynd, a character from James Bond novels
56. Amias
Meaning: Loved
Origin: Latin
Association: Amias is a name symbolizing affection and kindness
57. Galen
Meaning: Calm, healer
Origin: Greek
Association: Galen, the famous Greek physician of antiquity
58. Otho
Meaning: Wealth, fortune
Origin: Germanic
Association: Otho, a short-lived Roman emperor
59. Renatus
Meaning: Reborn
Origin: Latin
Association: Saint Renatus, an early Christian saint
60. Pascal
Meaning: Born on Easter
Origin: Latin
Association: Blaise Pascal, the French mathematician and philosopher
61. Cillian
Meaning: Bright-headed
Origin: Irish
Association: Saint Cillian, an Irish missionary to Germany
62. Jovan
Meaning: Youthful, God is gracious
Origin: Slavic/Latin
Association: Jovan is a common name in Eastern European cultures
63. Tennyson
Meaning: Son of Dennis
Origin: English
Association: Alfred, Lord Tennyson, the famous English poet
64. Isaias
Meaning: God is salvation
Origin: Hebrew
Association: Prophet Isaiah from the Bible
65. Lior
Meaning: My light
Origin: Hebrew
Association: Lior is a modern Hebrew name symbolizing brightness
66. Azriel
Meaning: God is my help
Origin: Hebrew
Association: Azriel is mentioned in Jewish mysticism and folklore
67. Torin
Meaning: Chief
Origin: Irish
Association: Torin is a rare Gaelic name symbolizing leadership
68. Silvan
Meaning: Of the forest
Origin: Latin
Association: Silvan is connected to Silvanus, the Roman god of forests
69. Casimir
Meaning: Proclaimer of peace
Origin: Slavic
Association: Casimir was a name of several Polish kings
70. Emiliano
Meaning: Rival, eager
Origin: Latin
Association: Emiliano Zapata, a leader of the Mexican Revolution
71. Pax
Meaning: Peace
Origin: Latin
Association: Pax was the Roman goddess of peace
72. Rafe
Meaning: Wolf counsel
Origin: Old Norse/English
Association: Rafe is a variant of Ralph, meaning wise wolf
73. Dario
Meaning: Possessing goodness
Origin: Persian
Association: Darius the Great, ruler of the Persian Empire
74. Noam
Meaning: Pleasantness, charm
Origin: Hebrew
Association: Noam Chomsky, the famous linguist and philosopher
75. Cortez
Meaning: Courteous
Origin: Spanish
Association: Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador
76. Bramwell
Meaning: Well by the broom-covered hill
Origin: English
Association: Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula
77. Inigo
Meaning: Fiery
Origin: Spanish/Basque
Association: Íñigo López de Loyola, the birth name of Saint Ignatius of Loyola
78. Mael
Meaning: Chief, prince
Origin: Breton/Celtic
Association: Mael was a common name among medieval Breton kings
79. Elio
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Spanish/Italian
Association: Elio is a poetic name symbolizing warmth and light
80. Osman
Meaning: Pure, protection
Origin: Arabic/Turkish
Association: Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire
81. Zevi
Meaning: Deer, gazelle
Origin: Hebrew
Association: Zevi is often used in Jewish communities as a symbolic name
82. Faelan
Meaning: Little wolf
Origin: Irish
Association: Faelan was used by ancient Irish warriors and kings
83. Ludovic
Meaning: Famous warrior
Origin: Germanic
Association: Ludovic is a variation of Ludwig, the name of famous kings and musicians
84. Tavish
Meaning: Twin
Origin: Scottish
Association: Tavish is a Scottish Gaelic form of Thomas
85. Zorion
Meaning: Happiness
Origin: Basque
Association: Zorion is a name linked to positive energy and joy
86. Navarro
Meaning: Plains, valley
Origin: Spanish
Association: Navarro is a surname with deep roots in Spanish history
87. Eero
Meaning: Eternal ruler
Origin: Finnish
Association: Eero Saarinen, the renowned Finnish-American architect
88. Yulian
Meaning: Youthful, downy-bearded
Origin: Slavic/Latin
Association: Yulian is a rare variation of Julian, commonly used in Eastern Europe
FINAL THOUGHTS ON RARE BABY BOY NAMES
Selecting a rare baby boy name is a beautiful way to celebrate individuality and cultural richness. Remember, the perfect name is one that resonates with your family's story, carries meaningful significance, and makes your child feel special. Trust your instincts, do your research, and enjoy the magical process of naming your little one!
