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

Qusay, which can also be spelled Qusai, was the name of the prophet Muhammad's patrilineal great-great-great grandfather.

An almost unknown member of the cool two-syllable, n-ending group of boy names.

The traditional spelling of River is currently in the US and the UK Top 200s, where it ranks as a solidly unisex option. Ryver, with its edgy Y and sharper, less tranquil vibe has yet to catch up, perhaps because its similarity to Ryder might lead to mispronunciations. Nevertheless, in 2023 it was given to 80 American boys - and to 70 girls - making it an equally unisex choice as River, with a contemporary (though possibly confusing) twist.

Name of nine provincial Spanish kings, but more likely to conjure up Sancho Panza, the hapless squire of Don Quixote.

The vast plateau in central India makes an intriguing first name, similar to the better-known Irish Declan.

An evocative, windswept choice that is part of the third generation of western-influenced names, picking up where first Jesse and then Dakota left off, though with a slight feminine edge.

Undiscovered single-syllable surname option, a friendly alternative to Reed.

Eleven didn't feel more namelike than any other number...until the (female) "Stranger Things" character came along. Now it seems like a possibility - albeit a rare one - for both sexes. Other associations include the number of players in a football team, and Apollo 11, the spacecraft of the first moon landing.

See DALEY.

You might think of Jeffers as Jefferson's much rarer younger brother, or maybe Jeffrey's. unconventional son. Surname-names ending in S -- Brooks, Ames -- are trending now, though Jeffers is reminiscent of Jeeves.

One of the less common names that came over on the Mayflower, albeit, one with modern potential.

Runyon is an Irish surname with considerable flair; some will connect it with Guys and Dolls writer Damon Runyon.

Celebratory choice.

Anat is a unisex name that derives from the Latin Anath. Anath is a male character in the Old Testament, however Anat is mostly used among girls today.

Basque alternative to Paddy or Pat

An attractive twist on an Arabic classic, with further twists being Zamari, Jamari, and Jamarion. It was a popular choice from the 70s onwards in the US but has fallen out of favor in recent years, replaced by Jamir.