Choosing a name for a new baby boy can be an exciting but daunting task for parents. While some parents opt for more common, popular names like Liam, Noah, or Oliver, others seek out more unusual, rare names for their sons. This raises the question – what are some of the rarest boy names out there?
When examining name popularity and rarity, there are a few key factors to consider:
- The number of babies given a particular name in a given year – the fewer babies with a name, the rarer it is
- The ranking of the name on popular baby name charts – names at the very bottom of the rankings tend to be more uncommon
- The trajectory of the name over time – names that are rapidly declining in popularity tend to become rare
- Cultural context – a name that is rare in one country or culture may be more common in another
With these factors in mind, this article will explore some of the most unusually rare boy names in the United States over the past decade.
Examining Name Popularity Data
To get a sense of which boy names are truly rare, we’ll examine data from the Social Security Administration, which tracks baby name popularity in the US going back decades.
The SSA releases annual data on the top 1000 most popular boys’ and girls’ names. However, names that fall below the top 1000 are lumped together into a category called “names below the top 1000”, so pinpointing exact name rankings and counts gets tricky for rare names.
Still, this data can give us clues about which names are starting to fade into obscurity. We can look for names that:
- Consistently sit right at the bottom of the top 1000 from year to year
- Have fallen out of the top 1000 in recent years
- Have seen a dramatic drop in rankings year-over-year
These types of uncommon names on the fringe of the top 1000 are likely some of the rarest names for boys these days.
10 Rarest Boy Names in Recent Years
Based on Social Security Administration data from the past decade, here are 10 of the rarest boy names in the US:
10. Cornell
This name associated with the prestigious Ivy League university is an uncommon choice. Cornell had a moderate ranking in the mid-1900s but dropped out of the top 1000 for boys around 2002. Just 16 baby boys were named Cornell in 2020.
9. Loyal
Loyal is a charming and positive vocabulary name for boys, but very few parents are using it. There were only 14 baby boys named Loyal in the US in 2020.
8. Foster
Foster has been drifting downward in popularity, falling out of the top 1000 in 2009. This name with musical ties had only 13 uses for boys in 2020.
7. Homer
While Homer peaked around the 1920s, it has seen minimal usage in the 21st century. Only 13 baby boys were given the literary name Homer in 2020.
6. Cleveland
This presidential surname name dropped out of the top 1000 in the late 1990s. It continues to decline, with only 11 uses for boys in 2020.
5. Roosevelt
Another presidential name, Roosevelt ranked as high as #120 in the early 1900s. But it fell out of favor in the 1970s and had only 10 male births in 2020.
4. Oakley
Oakley has roots as an English surname and a vocabulary name referring to oak trees. It had steady but minimal usage for boys throughout the 2000s, with only 8 male births in 2020.
3. Branden
An alternate spelling of Brandon, this name has become extremely rare in recent years. There were fewer than 5 male births registered for the name Branden in 2020.
2. Lennox
Lennox has Scottish roots and a stylish, sophisticated sound. But it’s rarely chosen for modern boys, with fewer than 5 uses in the US in 2020.
1. Clarke
With its creative spelling, Clarke differentiates itself from the more popular Clark. This distinguished surname name had fewer than 5 baby boy births registered in 2020, making it very rare.
More Rare Names to Consider
In addition to these 10 names that rank at the bottom of the top 1000 or have fallen out of favor, here are a few more rarely used boy names that could make interesting and unique choices:
- Alfred – A vintage name with only 10 births in 2020
- Cassius – An Ancient Roman name with 8 uses in 2020
- Elroy – A musical name with just 7 births in 2020
- Flint – An earthy nature name also tied to a comic book hero, with 9 uses in 2020
- Gus – A friendly short form of Augustus, given to just 13 boys in 2020
- Huxley – A literary surname with 9 male births in 2020
- Leander – A Greek mythological name given to just 5 boys in 2020
- Milton – A poetic choice with 9 uses for boys in 2020
- Pierce – James Bond has boosted this surname, but it’s still uncommon with 14 births in 2020
- Solomon – A biblical name that’s declining, with only 116 male births in 2020
Cultural Context
It’s important to note that name popularity varies widely based on cultural context. So a rare name in North America may be much more common in Australian, British, or European naming pools.
For example, in Australia, the uncommon names Clancy, Angus, and Hamish rank in their top 100. But in the US, those names are rarely heard.
On the flip side, odds are that some truly rare American names like Loyal, Homer, and Roosevelt would also be virtually unseen in other cultures.
So while this article examined name rarity within the United States, the concept of what makes a name uncommon or obscure differs around the world.
Why Rare Names Can Appeal to Parents
So why might the rarest of the rare names appeal to discerning parents looking for just the right fit? Here are some of the advantages parents see in choosing a highly unusual name:
- Gives the child a unique identity
- Avoids the child having the same name as classmates
- Helps the name retain its original meaning rather than becoming trendy
- Allows parents to honor family, culture or interests with an uncommon name
- Prevents nicknames or shortenings of the name from arising
Of course, along with the benefits come some downsides to very rare names that parents should weigh:
- Child may have to frequently correct pronunciation and spelling
- More difficult for teachers, peers, and others to learn and remember
- Openings for teasing from others
- Questions about background or explanations on meaning may arise
Newly Rare Girl Names
While the focus has been on rare boy names, many girl names that were once popular are also now considered obscure. Here are some examples of girl names that are becoming rarely used:
- Bertha – Just 5 female births in 2020
- Edna – Only 13 girls received this name in 2020
- Goldie – Once tied to early Hollywood, with only 16 uses in 2020
- Jillian – A variation on Jill, with only 113 births in 2020
- Millicent – An elaboration on Millie, given to just 8 girls in 2020
Just like with boys, parents choosing very unusual girl names may want to brace for some mispronunciations but will likely appreciate the original style.
Conclusion
While trendy popular names come and go each year, the rarest names have an appeal all their own. Names like Loyal, Lennox, Oakley, and Branden for boys or Bertha, Edna, and Millicent for girls offer creative options steeped in history and meaning.
Of course, popularity is not the only factor for parents to weigh when naming a child. But those seeking a truly unusual, rare pick can consider names at the tail ends of popularity rankings or ones that have fallen out of favor. A rare name lets children stand out from the crowd and gives them an uncommon identity to carry through life.