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

Paterson is a surname-name to continue a line of Peters and also the name of a city in New Jersey, hometown of poets William Carlos Williams and Allen Ginsberg.

Cullinan is an Irish surname that is unusual but accessible, with the unique nickname of Cully.

Trivia tidbit: The Cullinan diamond was the largest rough diamond ever found--over 3,000 carats--when it was unearthed in 1905.

Drover, an ancient occupational surname, is right in step with today's styles and would make a distinctive choice. Drover and brothers are fresh updates of such now-widely-used names as Carter and Cooper.

A dapper English surname derived from the Old English personal name Hunwine "bear friend", which comes with winning nickname Win.

A possible hero name inspired by notables from Spanish poet/playwright Federico Garcia Lorca to writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez to the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia.

A strong and handsome Indian boy name with a fitting meaning, Aveer was a fast rising choice in England and Wales in a 2023. It derives from the Sanskrit virah and Hindi veer, meaning "brave, valiant, daring, heroic". Other forms of the name include Vir, Veer, and Vira.

A really unusual choice that could be used to honor Grandpa Will.

This Romani name may derive from the Yiddish name Zindel, which is itself a name derived from Alexander.

Two completely different images come from its national pronunciations -- BOY-err or boy-AY -- the latter giving it an effete French accent.

This lively, springy, rarely used surname name has an interesting history. For the English, German, Dutch and Ashkenazic Jews it was a nickname for a lively person or traveling entertainer, deriving from the words springen/springhen/shpringen, and in English it's also a topographical name for someone living near the source of a stream. An unusual option if you're seeking an out-of-the-ordinary 'er'-ending name. Though for some it might bring to mind Jerry Springer, or a Spaniel.

Now that Kimberly is no longer one of the top girl names, Kim or long form Kimball feel more gender neutral.

Manx variant of the Norse name Asketill.

The surname of filmmaker J.J. Abrams, used as a first name. It first appeared on the US charts in 2020. The M1 Abrams is a model of army tank.

Nichol, a Medieval English form of Nicholas, has been pretty much lost to history but survives today in the surname form of Nichols.