Truly Unique Names You’ll Never Meet IRL
“Unique” is something of a buzzword when it comes to baby names.
Most of the time, it means unconventional, a little bit edgy, or even simply below the Top 1000 names nationwide. British newspaper The Daily Mail recently reported on the unique baby names chosen by some of its readers: uncommon choices like April and Avni, Kaydence and Khaius, Titus and Theoden.
Unique Baby Names in the US
“Unique” baby names in the #1000-1500 range in the US include under-the-radar gems like Elowen, Tess and Guinevere for girls, and Cormac, Aurelius and Ewan for boys.
But truly unique baby names — those never recorded in the US at all — are a little harder to come by. Especially if you’re looking for something straightforward to say and spell, in line with current trends, and not made up or creatively respelled. It’s a tough ask!
Luckily, we’ve rounded up 20 of the best one-of-a-kind baby names that meet all of these criteria. None of these truly unique names has ever been given to 5 or more babies in the US in any given year (for privacy reasons, the SSA doesn’t record names used four or fewer times), so we’re as sure as we can be that you’ll never run into another!
Unique Girl Names
Avelot
This Old English form of the Latin Avis, meaning bird, remains rare despite sharing sounds with Top 10 favorites Ava and Charlotte. It may appeal to parents looking for bird names for babies, beyond Wren and Sparrow.
Betsan
A sweet Welsh pet form of the regal Elizabeth. Rarely used outside of Wales, this name combines traditional origins with a fresh and uncommon twist.
Concordia
In Roman mythology, Concordia is the goddess of harmony and agreement. This name is a distinctive choice for parents looking for a classical name with a strong history and meaning.
Elula
An uncommon route to the nicknames Lula, Lulu, and Lu. This feminization of Elul, the sixth month of the Hebrew calendar, was chosen by Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen for their daughter born in 2011.
Innogen
A potential Shakespearean typo turned this Celtic name into Imogen, but Innogen retains its ancient roots and distinctive charm.
Lenity
A melodic virtue name meaning "kindness" or "gentleness." It also offers a unique long form of Leni.
Margalo
Considering the perennial appeal of Margaret and the rapid rise of Margot (in all its spellings) in recent years, it’s a wonder this cool Greek variant hasn’t been picked up yet.
Tiggy
A quirky nickname form of the ancient Antigone, occasionally encountered in England, particularly among Telegraph-reading circles.
Viatrix
Rare and bold, this is a distinctive twist on Beatrix. Its "voyager" meaning may appeal to globetrotting parents.
Wildrose
An adventurous, botanical smoosh name that combines the natural allure of "wild" with the classic charm of "rose." This name, which can also be spelled Wilderose, provides a wild alternative to traditional choices like Rose or Lily.
Unique Boy Names
Antioch
The name of the capital city of ancient Syria, known as an early center of Christianity. While it has been used for saints, it remains unheard of for babies.
Bede
Meaning "prayer," this name is most famously associated with the seventh-century monk, the Venerable Bede. While Saint Bede's name didn't survive as well as his works, it is a distinct religious and historical choice, pronounced as "beed."
Bramwell
An unexpected route to nicknames Bram or Wells. It is a surname stemming from the Old English word for "bramble bush", connecting it to the natural world.
Caraway
This edible plant, used in seed and spice form, brings a fresh twist and a touch of culinary charm to the naming landscape.
Dawsey
A charming, approachable literary name that appeared in the 2008 novel, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
Faro
Names ending in O are popular, but this one is nearly unheard of. Its "lighthouse" meaning adds a coastal flair to this Italian name.
Innes
Derived from the Gaelic word for "island," this name is rarely heard outside of Scotland but could attract more attention with the popularity of Latin s-ending boys' names like Atticus.
Sulien
Said to be the most learned man in ancient Wales, this name has never made its way across the pond. Its meaning, "sun born," gives it a bright feel alongside other celestial picks. Sulien is pronounced "SIL-yen," although its pronunciation may seem unintuitive to English speakers.
Tarka
The quirky name of the male otter protagonist of Henry Williamson’s 1927 novel Tarka the Otter. It has some rare usage in England for both boys and girls, especially among the Telegraph crowd, but it has yet to catch on among U.S. parents.
Woolf
Evoking the legacy of Virginia Woolf, this is a bold feminist literary choice. It also has a royal-adjacent connection through Princess Beatrice's stepson, Christopher Woolf "Wolfie."