998+ Unique, Rare, and Uncommon Boy Names (with Meanings and Origins)

Most commonly associated with artist M.C. Escher, Escher makes a great hero name that would fit in nicely with the surname names of today.

Amiable, undiscovered geographic option.

Familiar as the most common form of greeting in Hebrew, but also associated with top female model Shalom Harlow.

Adaiah is a rare Old Testament name with a pleasing sound.

Athens is one of the newer place names, used for both baby boys and girls. The Greek city got its name from Athena, goddess of wisdom and courage.

A long and dramatic name derived from the Latin name Quintus, "fifth". A notable bearer was the 1st-century rhetorician Marcus Fabius Quintilianus, usually known as Quintilian in English.

Spence is occasionally used as a name all on its own and it has more of a sense of completeness than many nickname-names.

Either means "the flowers" or "the child" – lei can mean both. Either way, Kalei is a strong and pretty Hawaiian name.

There are lots of grandpa Daves and Davids out there, and Dawes can make an original honor name. It's right in step with the current craze for surname names that end in S: Brooks, Wells, Rhodes etc.

Painter is among the most creative choices in this very fashionable category of names, with a particularly pleasant sound. Whereas most occupational names conjure up physical labor, this one feels like a gateway to the arts.

Very popular in Wales; this could make a nice middle name in honor of a Grandpa Glenn.

Tahoma was the original name of Mount Ranier, used by the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest.

See ST.

Welsh form of Piers/Pierce, which comes from Peter.

Perky Cherokee boy name with a great meaning. Foxes symbolize cleverness and playfulness in Cherokee culture.

The Swiss city of Basel was first Basilia, thought to have been dubbed in honor of the Roman castle of the same name. The castle's name would have derived from Basilius, a Roman personal name from which the name Basil also originated.

This old short form might be seen as a little dubious by some, though it could make for a fun pet name or an update on Roger.

A surname name, most popularly associated with actor Heston, has a blue-blooded ring to it. Charlton is also a more unusual pathway to evergreen nickname Charlie.

This name seems to foresee a future CFO. Not a bad thing. Osgood Perkins is the name of both the father and son of actor Anthony. Oz is the enlivening nickname.