The Best Rare Names of WWII - Boys

Benton is an old English surname of a type usually given to local landowners. It is also recorded in early records as Beneton and Bentune. Benton newly returned to the Social Security list in 2011 after a forty-plus year absence, perhaps as a fresh route to Ben.

Old Norman name last current in the 1930s, and firmly in our 'so far out it will always be out' category – despite its appearance as a Hogwarts student in Harry Potter. This is the full first name of P.G. Wodehouse's inimitable Bertie Wooster.

This name of famed philosopher, mathematician and Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell becomes slightly more plausible with the French pronunciation, bare-TRAHN. Another noted bearer is French director and screenwriter Bertrand Tavernier.

Booker would make for a very cool name, for writers, reformers, R & B fans and those wanting to pay tribute to Booker T. Washington.

CEO name.

Brad in a Brooks Brothers suit.

A geographical name that does the samba...and was also borne by a Celtic saint: a winning combination. Well used in the Creole community.

With its slightly cocky feel, this well-used surname is not often heard as a first.

Rare word name that works for either gender.

Tough-yet-cuddly Bruno is an international name even in its origins: it derives from the Germanic word for “brown” plus a Latin ending, and was borrowed as a color word in many European languages.

Mythic lumberjack Paul may inspire some namesakes despite relation to similarly pronounced foot problem.

Prissy, no matter how you spell it.