Names to add to your shortlist
Alaric
Adventurous and story-ready, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 205 births · #1,063Peak: 2020 · 279 births
Aramis
Old-world with a legendary sound, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 30 births · #3,663Peak: 2004 · 77 births
Bastian
Distinctive enough for a fantasy shortlist, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 219 births · #1,021Peak: 2024 · 224 births
Caspian
Dramatic without requiring an invented spelling, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 614 births · #491Peak: 2025 · 614 births
Cedric
Adventurous and story-ready, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 209 births · #1,051Peak: 1982 · 977 births
Dorian
Old-world with a legendary sound, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 557 births · #539Peak: 2008 · 641 births
Eamon
Distinctive enough for a fantasy shortlist, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 102 births · #1,646Peak: 2016 · 182 births
Eldon
Dramatic without requiring an invented spelling, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 60 births · #2,311Peak: 1926 · 647 births
Evander
Adventurous and story-ready, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 389 births · #698Peak: 2025 · 389 births
Galen
Old-world with a legendary sound, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 23 births · #4,442Peak: 1949 · 433 births
Hadrian
Distinctive enough for a fantasy shortlist, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 50 births · #2,617Peak: 2025 · 50 births
Leander
Dramatic without requiring an invented spelling, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 122 births · #1,463Peak: 2025 · 122 births
Lorcan
Adventurous and story-ready, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 9 births · #8,656Peak: 2018 · 17 births
Lucan
Old-world with a legendary sound, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 15 births · #6,028Peak: 1978 · 41 births
Merlin
Distinctive enough for a fantasy shortlist, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 59 births · #2,343Peak: 1927 · 389 births
Oberon
Dramatic without requiring an invented spelling, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 17 births · #5,544Peak: 2021 · 37 births
Osric
Adventurous and story-ready, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 10 births · #8,069Peak: 2015 · 10 births
Percival
Old-world with a legendary sound, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 113 births · #1,536Peak: 2025 · 113 births
Rafferty
Distinctive enough for a fantasy shortlist, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 14 births · #6,360Peak: 2024 · 19 births
Soren
Dramatic without requiring an invented spelling, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 665 births · #464Peak: 2025 · 665 births
Stellan
Adventurous and story-ready, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 186 births · #1,140Peak: 2025 · 186 births
Theron
Old-world with a legendary sound, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 55 births · #2,474Peak: 1966 · 180 births
Torin
Distinctive enough for a fantasy shortlist, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 140 births · #1,350Peak: 2018 · 210 births
Tristan
Dramatic without requiring an invented spelling, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 1,103 births · #309Peak: 2008 · 5,659 births
Valerian
Adventurous and story-ready, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 23 births · #4,526Peak: 2018 · 24 births
Zephyr
Old-world with a legendary sound, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 169 births · #1,203Peak: 2022 · 195 births
Caius
Distinctive enough for a fantasy shortlist, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 254 births · #927Peak: 2025 · 254 births
Magnus
Dramatic without requiring an invented spelling, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 337 births · #765Peak: 2021 · 354 births
Orson
Adventurous and story-ready, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 126 births · #1,433Peak: 2023 · 132 births
Sylvan
Old-world with a legendary sound, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 99 births · #1,674Peak: 1918 · 103 births
The data line uses the exact spelling shown. “No published 2025 count” can mean the spelling had zero births or fewer than five, because SSA does not publish counts below five.
Fantasy style often comes from older names
Many names that sound at home in fantasy fiction were used long before modern novels and games. That history can make a dramatic name feel much more wearable.
Separate the name from one character
If a name is strongly tied to a fictional figure, imagine it without that story. The best choice should still appeal to you once the character association fades into the background.
Sound can create the mood
Long vowels, old consonant patterns and endings such as -an, -or and -us can create a legendary feel even when the name itself has no fantasy origin.
Build a shortlist before you rank it
Save the names that make you stop for a second. After you have five to ten, compare sound, initials, likely nicknames and current popularity. A smaller shortlist makes the differences much easier to hear.
Remember that national data is only one lens
A U.S. rank cannot measure family meaning, cultural fit or how common a name feels in your own community. Use the numbers for context, then give your personal reasons more weight.
Roscoe's pick
Leander
Leander sounds adventurous and lyrical while still having a long history as a real given name.
More names to explore
Questions parents ask
Are these rare fantasy boy names with legendary style actually rare?
The style pages are editorial, but every name card also shows its exact-spelling 2025 U.S. count when SSA published one. Data-led pages use explicit thresholds or rank movement.
Does a missing 2025 count mean nobody used the name?
No. The national public file omits names recorded fewer than five times for a sex in a year, so a missing count can mean zero or one to four births.
Should I avoid a name if it is rising?
Not necessarily. Popularity is only one part of choosing a name. If you love the sound, meaning or family connection, a rising rank may not change your decision.
Will the same name be equally rare outside the United States?
No. Popularity varies by country, region, language and community. The numbers on this site describe U.S. national data unless a page says otherwise.