Names to add to your shortlist
Alistair
Familiar in shape but not overused, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 265 births · #897Peak: 2025 · 265 births
Ambrose
A quieter uncommon choice, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 358 births · #735Peak: 2021 · 402 births
Ansel
Recognizable without being everywhere, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 186 births · #1,138Peak: 2025 · 186 births
Bastian
Distinctive enough to stand apart, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 219 births · #1,021Peak: 2024 · 224 births
Blaise
Familiar in shape but not overused, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 213 births · #1,038Peak: 2015 · 283 births
Calder
A quieter uncommon choice, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 94 births · #1,731Peak: 2016 · 120 births
Caspian
Recognizable without being everywhere, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 614 births · #491Peak: 2025 · 614 births
Cassian
Distinctive enough to stand apart, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 633 births · #479Peak: 2025 · 633 births
Cillian
Familiar in shape but not overused, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 595 births · #507Peak: 2024 · 668 births
Cormac
A quieter uncommon choice, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 150 births · #1,298Peak: 2014 · 196 births
Dashiell
Recognizable without being everywhere, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 61 births · #2,291Peak: 2015 · 174 births
Dorian
Distinctive enough to stand apart, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 557 births · #539Peak: 2008 · 641 births
Evander
Familiar in shape but not overused, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 389 births · #698Peak: 2025 · 389 births
Ferris
A quieter uncommon choice, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 38 births · #3,149Peak: 2024 · 57 births
Fletcher
Recognizable without being everywhere, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 549 births · #547Peak: 2025 · 549 births
Hollis
Distinctive enough to stand apart, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 266 births · #894Peak: 1921 · 294 births
Idris
Familiar in shape but not overused, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 391 births · #694Peak: 2025 · 391 births
Ira
A quieter uncommon choice, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 301 births · #822Peak: 1947 · 884 births
Leander
Recognizable without being everywhere, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 122 births · #1,463Peak: 2025 · 122 births
Linden
Distinctive enough to stand apart, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 129 births · #1,415Peak: 2025 · 129 births
Lucian
Familiar in shape but not overused, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 670 births · #462Peak: 2025 · 670 births
Magnus
A quieter uncommon choice, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 337 births · #765Peak: 2021 · 354 births
Oren
Recognizable without being everywhere, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 174 births · #1,184Peak: 2025 · 174 births
Orson
Distinctive enough to stand apart, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 126 births · #1,433Peak: 2023 · 132 births
Roscoe
Familiar in shape but not overused, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 63 births · #2,248Peak: 1920 · 604 births
Rufus
A quieter uncommon choice, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 27 births · #4,019Peak: 1922 · 737 births
Soren
Recognizable without being everywhere, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 665 births · #464Peak: 2025 · 665 births
Stellan
Distinctive enough to stand apart, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 186 births · #1,140Peak: 2025 · 186 births
Sylvan
Familiar in shape but not overused, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 99 births · #1,674Peak: 1918 · 103 births
Vaughn
A quieter uncommon choice, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 183 births · #1,153Peak: 1949 · 374 births
Wells
Recognizable without being everywhere, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 944 births · #347Peak: 2025 · 944 births
Wilder
Distinctive enough to stand apart, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 743 births · #431Peak: 2021 · 890 births
Zephyr
Familiar in shape but not overused, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 169 births · #1,203Peak: 2022 · 195 births
Bram
A quieter uncommon choice, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 56 births · #2,422Peak: 2016 · 72 births
Caius
Recognizable without being everywhere, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 254 births · #927Peak: 2025 · 254 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.
Uncommon is a wide middle ground
There is a big difference between a name ranked around #500 and one ranked around #5,000. Both are outside the most common group, but families will experience them very differently.
Wearability is personal
A name that feels easy in one family or language community may feel unfamiliar in another. Use national data as context, then think about your own location, family history and pronunciation.
Current rank is only one snapshot
Some uncommon names are rising while others are fading from older peaks. Historical context can help explain why a name feels familiar even when few babies receive it now.
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
Ambrose
Ambrose is recognizable, substantial and uncommon without relying on a modern invention.
More names to explore
Questions parents ask
Are these uncommon boy names still feel wearable 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.