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

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

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.

This can be a cool and unusual way to honor your family Robert, conjuring up memories of Robinson Crusoe and Swiss Family Robinson, as well as narrative poet Robinson Jeffers, born John Robinson, who shared his mother's middle name.

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

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

Amiable, undiscovered geographic option.

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.

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.

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.

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

See ST.

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

In Ancient Egyptian mythology, Khepri is a scarab-faced god who represents the rising sun, as well as new life.

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

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.

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.

Galsworthy used this for "The Forsyte Saga," but in modern real life Julian would work better.

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