Updated 24th July 2023
There’s no doubt about it, some baby names are simply more popular than others.
While there is nothing wrong with naming your baby boy James or baby girl Charlotte, some expectant parents feel that they want to give their children unique baby names to their new arrival that’s just a little bit more distinct.
That said, research has shown that most parents are actually very fond of the same specific names. For instance, for the past five years, both Olivia and Oliver have remained firmly in place in the top ten boys and girls names in the English speaking world. Sophia is another name that continues to occupy the top 10 list across the Western world year after year, and last year saw it top the US charts for the 11th year in a row!
As beautiful as these names are, you might want something a little more rare or unique. We have carefully curated rare baby names from across the planet to give you a list of over 300 unique baby names to choose from.
Table Of Contents
What's in a name?
Well according to the world’s greatest ever golf player Ben Hogan, it’s worth everything:
“Your name is the most important thing you own. Don’t ever do anything to disgrace or cheapen it.”
Or if you are to believe the late great fashion designer Pierre Cardin:
“My name is more important than myself.”
So, apparently, there’s quite a lot riding on the baby names you choose for your children! However, don’t put yourself under any undue pressure. Becoming a new dad is hard enough, the last thing you need to burden yourself with is the guilt of choosing the so-called “right” name for your newborn.
The great thing is that there’s no such thing as a right or wrong name (but there is arguably such thing as an ugly baby name). Your choice will always be personal to you as a couple. The issue is that you might not agree. While you might have particular baby names in mind, your other half may hate them. And you might cringe at the sound of their suggested baby names.
It’s not about listening to suggestions from friends and family, either. It’s about choosing a name that resonates with both of you and that you could both repeat for hours on end and still feel the same way about it. Naming someone is incredibly personal, and you should both be happy with your final decision.
How many names should we pick?
Excellent question. The answer? Probably more names than you had initially envisioned. Don’t forget you have to throw middle names into the mix, and you might be in the fortunate position of having multiples such as twins and triplets.
Dads expecting multiples and leaving the gender a surprise have their work cut out. Let’s take twins as an example. You could have a boy-boy, girl-girl, or a girl-boy combination. That’s as many as 12 baby names you need to have nailed down by the time it comes to signing the birth certificate!
There’s also a phenomenon that many dads have experienced over the years. Suppose you, together with your partner, come up with a name that you both become dead set on. Then your beautiful bundle of joy arrives, and something doesn’t quite feel right.
For instance, after much haggling, you’ve managed to settle on Georgia for your baby girl’s name, but when she arrives, she’s definitely more of a Samantha. Sometimes, you just have a gut feeling that the name you’ve chosen isn’t right, and it will linger until you make the switch (which is perfectly fine, by the way, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise).
Therefore, it’s a great idea to draw up a shortlist of baby names that you both agree are excellent fits for your newborn baby and then make a final decision once they arrive.
If you want to learn more about how to go about choosing baby names, why not pick up one of the Daddilife mini-books? There’s a mini-book dedicated to choosing baby names that will help prevent this activity from becoming a nuclear war in your household and includes an extensive A-Z list that is even more extensive than the one below.
The Daddilife mini-books are available for FREE for a limited time only, so don’t hesitate to pick up your copy today.
Related: 50 Heroic Baby Names
What are some of the most unique baby names?
So, without further ado, it’s time to get into our list of over 300 painstakingly-researched unique baby names that originate from across the globe. Although we’ve broken them down into baby boy names and baby girl names, that is not to say that they can be only used for boys or girls. Many of them could easily be considered to be a gender neutral name.
We hope they give you plenty of inspiration if you are at the start of your baby-naming journey.
Let’s kick off the list of unique baby names with the boys before moving on to the girls.
Unique baby names for boys
Having a boy? Here are more than 150 unique baby names for your baby boy. Some of these could even be described as a 'classic name' that have long been forgotten.
1. Tau – Pronounced TAH-oh. This name is of African origin, meaning “lion.”
2. Cassian – The name Cassian comes from the Latin word “hollow.” A great name for fans of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Andor.
3. Nelson – A boy’s name of British origin meaning “champion.”
4. Keoni – Originates from Hawaii and is their form of the name “John.”
5. Rakesh – A Sanskrit name meaning ‘lord of the full moon’. Its celestial meaning evokes a hint of mysticism.
6. Hart – The name Hart is a boy’s originating from English, meaning “stag.”
7. Zephyr – This Greek name means “west wind.”
8. Judson – A diminutive of the name Jordan, which means “Descender; flow down.”
9. Van – The Dutch depiction is “of, from,” and while it’s currently unique, it was very popular back in the 1880s.
10. Arlo – An Anglo-Saxon moniker meaning “fortified hill.” In recent years, Arlo has been increasingly used as a gender neutral name.
11. Huck – Old English name meaning “Resembling the fruit.”
12. Dashiell – This Scottish name originated from the French“de Chiel,” which was originally a surname, and allows for the nickname Dash (perfect if you’re a fan of The Incredibles!)
13. Yoshi – Japanese name meaning “righteous” and “respectable.”
14. Booker – British name meaning “someone concerned with books” and “binder” or “scribe.”
15. Xerxes – The name Xerxes is a boy’s name of Persian origin, meaning “hero among heroes.”
16. Cormac – From old Irish Corbmac, “son of the charioteer.”
17. Jaxon – Shortened, Anglo-American form of Jackson, from the English surname, meaning “son of Jack”.
18. Orson – Yes, as in Orson Welles. Orson stems from French and means "bear".
19. Achilles – Synonyms with Greek mythology, he was a hero of the Trojan War.
20. Kai – Hawaiian origin, meaning “sea.”
21. August – Derived from the Latin word for “great, magnificent.”
22. Rhett – This name of English and Dutch origin means “advice.”
23. Ryker – This rare name of German origin means “rich.”
24. Jagger – The name Jagger is primarily an English male name that means “carter” or “peddler.”
25. Yves – A medieval French name synonymous with the French fashion designer and brand.
26. Lorcan – The name Lorcan is an Irish boy's name, meaning “little, fierce.”
27. Zeke – The short form of Ezekiel, which means “God strengthens” in Hebrew.
28. Homer – Ancient Greek name Homer referring to the epic poet who is thought to have written the Iliad and the Odyssey. People might just assume you've named your child after Homer Simpson...
29. Iskander – This is the Malay, Indonesian and Arabic form of Alexander, which means “defender of people” in Greek.
30. Cosmo – The name Cosmo is a boy’s name of Greek origin, meaning “order, beauty.”
31. Birch – The name Birch is a boy’s name from English, referring to the tall, strong and graceful white-barked tree.
32. Asher – Inspirational in more ways than one, this Hebrew name means “fortunate, happy one.” It's also one of our 111 biblical boy names.
33. Bowen – A name of Welsh origin meaning “son of Owen.”
34. Zayd – Of Arabic origin, it means “to prosper” or “abundance.”
35. Leif – A male name of Scandinavian origin, meaning “heir.”
36. Harlan – A German name meaning “rocky land.”
37. Kofi – A boy’s name of Ghanaian origin, and the meaning of Kofi is “born on Friday”.
38. Pearson – A boy’s name related to the English name Pierce and the Greek name Piers. The meaning of Pearson is “rock”.
39. Barnabas – Of Greek and Aramaic origin. The meaning of Barnabas is “son of consolation”.
40. Dune – A boy’s name meaning “sibling of beach and ocean.”
41. Roscoe – The name Roscoe is a boy’s name of Norse origin, meaning “deer forest”.
42. Abbott – A Hebrew boy’s name meaning “father.”
43. Talon – This English name is based on a bird of prey's large claw.
44. Gage – A French boy’s name meaning “oath, pledge.”
45. Boone – This French name means “good, blessing.”
46. Maxton — Reaching the top 1,000 boy names for the first time in 2011, this name of Latin origin means “greatest.”
47. Fletcher – A boy’s name pronounced FLECH-er. It is of Middle English origin, and the meaning of Fletcher is “arrow-maker”.
48. Winslow – An old English another, Winslow means "friend's hill".
49. Ridge – Also an old English name, this Ridge means, well... ridge.
50. Gervaise – The name Gervaise is a French boy's name , meaning “skilled with a spear”.
51. Amias – The name Amias is a boy’s name of Latin origin meaning “loved”.
52. Chaim – When bringing life into the world, consider this Hebrew name that actually means “life.”
53. Jahdiel – This biblical name means “the unity of God.”
54. Kellan – The Gaelic baby name meaning is “slender, slim.”
55. Jonas – This Greek origin name is a great choice, meaning “dove.”
56. Grady – “Noble, illustrious,” of Irish origins.
57. Ellison – Ellison as a boy’s name from old English, and the meaning of Ellison is “son of Ellis.”
58. Leonel – Recognized as the Spanish equivalent of Lionel, this name of Latin and Greek origin means “young lion.”
59. Kane – Meaning “warrior,” this is a mix of Welsh, Japanese, and Hawaiian origin. If you have another boy, you could call him Undertaker and train them to be professional wrestlers!
60. Quinton – Another of the old English names, Quinton means “queen’s settlement”.
61. Tobin – The name Tobin is a boy’s name of English origin meaning “God is good.”
62. Finnian – The name Finnian is a boy’s name meaning “fair.”
63. Reign – A boy’ name that means “ruler” or “sovereign.”
64. Zander – “Protector of men,” of Greek origin.
65. Judah – A Hebrew boy’s name that means “praised.”
Related: 111 biblical boys names
66. Everest – A twist on the standard Everett takes it to lofty heights. The snow-capped Everest would surely stand out in a classroom, yet has an acceptable name-like feel. This is another one that is increasingly being seen as a unisex name.
67. Wolf – The name Wolf is a boy’s name from Germany meaning “traveling wolf.”
68. Jasper – This Persian moniker is accurately described as “bringer of treasure.”
69. Waylon – Of English origin, meaning “land beside the road.”
70. Flynn – A boy’s name pronounced Flin. It is of Irish and Gaelic origins, and the meaning of Flynn is “of ruddy complexion.” Perfect for babies with rosy cheeks!
71. Scipio – Scipio is a boy’s name of African origin. Also an Ancient Roman name.
72. Nile – The name Nile is a boy’s name of Greek origin, meaning “champion.” It's also commonly associated with the River Nile in Africa, the longest river in the world.
73. Baird – The name Baird is a boy’s name of Scottish origin, meaning “minstrel, poet.”
74. Aleric – A boy’s name of Old German origin, it means “noble ruler.”
75. Ronin – “Well-advised ruler,” this boy’s name is of Germanic origin.
76. Lian – Only one letter off from Liam, this name means “the graceful willow”
77. Elian – This Hebrew name translates “God is family.”
78. Reuben – Like the sandwich, Reuben, as a boy’s name, is pronounced ROO-ben. From Hebrew, is means "behold, a son".
79. Jair – A Hebrew name meaning “he shines.”
80. Aydin – A boy’s name meaning “enlightened, bright, clear” in Turkish.
81. King – Comes from an Old English word for “tribal leader.”
82. Lyle – An English name representing “the island.”
83. Emmett – “Universal” or “truth,” a name adopted from the feminine Germanic Emma.
84. Davian – A modern take on David, meaning “beloved.”
85. Keaton – This name is of English origin, and the meaning of Keaton is “place of hawks”.
86. Gerard – Gerard as a boy’s name is pronounced je-RARD. It is of Old English origin, and the meaning of Gerard is “spear brave”.
87. Blaise – This is a French take on the Latin name “Blasesus,” and means “lisp.”
88. Wesson – A variant of “Weston” (meaning “from the western town”), this moniker first showed up in the baby name charts back in 2010.
89. Caspian – This name is most likely inspired by the Caspian Sea – the world’s largest body of inland water.
90. Ellington – Ellington as a boy’s name is of Old English origin. Place name: possibly “Ellis’ town.”
91. Egon – German in origin, Egon means “edge of a sword” – a unique name for your baby boy that exudes bravery.
92. Axel – The medieval Danish form of Absalom, which means “my father is peace” in Hebrew. Axel can also be spelled Aksel, another unique variation.
93. Kahlil – A name with Arabic roots, Kahlil means “friend.”
94. Brooklyn – Made famous by the Beckham family, this name from America means “pretty brook”, and it could be just the ticket for your pretty child.
95. Leith – The word for a “broad river” in Scottish Gaelic, it’s also the name of the river that flows through Edinburgh as well as a district of the city itself.
96. Zorion – Also spelled Zorione, this name means “happiness” in Basque, the language of the Basque people in Spain and France.
97. Landry – A natural leader, this rare name of Anglo-Saxon origin translates to “ruler.”
98. Thatcher – Comes from “roof thatcher,” as an English occupational title.
99. Kenji – Of Japanese origin, this means “intelligent second son, strong.” Perfect if you are naming your second son!
100. Darwin – The name means “dear friend.”
101. Yannick – This name derives from the French or Breton Yann or Yanna, both of which come from the name John. Although it’s linked to a very common name, Yannick sounds unique and different.
102. Tadeo – This is the Spanish version of Thaddeus, expressing “to praise.” Possible nicknames include Teddy and Todd.
103. Merrick – Got big plans for your little one? This rare name means “fame, power.”
104. Shiloh – Reaching the top 1,000 names for boys in 2015, this is a Hebrew name for “tranquil.”
105. Anders – A classic Scandinavian name that means “strong, manly.”
106. Kole – “Victory of the people,” of Slavic origin.
107. Gannon – Originated in Ireland, and means “fair-skinned.”
108. Amos – A boy’s name pronounced AYM-ess. Amos comes from Hebrew and means “to carry; borne by God.”
109. Brecken – Another Irish alternative to the more frequent-used Beckham, its appearance-based meaning is “freckled.”
110. Cairo – Besides the capital of Egypt, this name comes from Arabic, meaning “victorious.”
111. Otto – A German name that was popular years ago, but much more rare today, the meaning is “wealthy.”
112. Casen – Without a clear meaning, this name is of Celtic origin. Perfect if you want to create your own name mythology.
113. Colby – Nothing to do with the cheese. This name actually means “coal town.”
114. Coltrane – The name Coltrane is a boy’s name from Ireland, meaning “descendant of Coltarán.”
115. Garner – Garner, as a boy’s name, is of Middle English origin, and the meaning of Garner is “to gather grain.”
116. Anselm – The name Anselm is a boy’s name of German origin, meaning “with divine protection.”
117. Daxton – The name Daxton is a boy’s name of American origin.
118. Rocco – Meaning “rest,” you’ll be hoping that will also mean the baby will be a good sleeper!
119. Kian – A variant of the Gaelic name Cian, this one means “ancient.”
120. Leland – This name of English origin means “meadow land,” and provides Lee as a fitting nickname option.
121. Joss – Joss was originally an old German name for boys, meaning 'a member of the Germanic tribe, the Gauts'. However, it's more of a unisex name nowadays, notably through musician Joss Stone.
122. Qirin – The name Qirin is a boy’s name of Chinese origin.
123. Kyan – Kyan is a quintessential twenty-first-century name, a twist on the twentieth-century standard Ryan.
124. Reed – While the name of English origin means “red-haired,” it also carries connotations of both nature and music.
125. Mikel – A boy’s name from Hebrew, and the meaning of Mikel is “who resembles God?”
126. Kash – A variant of Cash, which is an English name also representing money.
127. Jenson – Rose to prominence thanks to Jenson Button (the Formula One driver). However, it has yet to reach the top 1000 boy names in the United States. This name of Hebrew origin means “God is gracious,”
128. Jett – As in jet black, this name literally means “black mineral.”
129. Lane – A choice for you of English origin, meaning “a small roadway or path.”
130. Archer – This moniker relates to a bowman and is perfect if you are a fan of the world’s greatest spy – Sterling Archer!
131. Knox – Brought to everyone’s attention when used by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, it means “round hill.”
132. Griffin – A Latin name meaning “strong lord.”
133. Colson – Means “People of victory,” and actually originally comes from the name Nicholas.
134. Ledger – A twist on the Germanic name Leodegar, which is made up of two elements with the meanings of “people” and “spear.”
135. Apollo – A boy’s name of Greek origin. Known most famously for his role as a Greek god that brought the dawn by riding across the sky in his fiery chariot, this name will set up your baby for an epic lifelong adventure. Dads of a certain age will have their minds immediately cast to Apollo Creed from the Rocky films.
136. Oisin – Pronounced OSH-han. The name Oisin is an Irish boy’s name, meaning “little deer”.
137. Seneca – The name Seneca is a boy’s name of Latin and Native American origin meaning “people of the standing rock.”
138. Bishop – Originating from the English with the meaning “guardian.”
139. Ambrose – A boy’s name pronounced AM-brohz. It is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Ambrose is “immortal.”
140. Gatlin – Of English origin, meaning “companion.”
141. Tristian – An Arthurian Legend moniker indicating “outcry,” based on the Celtic name Tristan.
142. Benton – Traditionally “settlement in a grassy place,” describing an area of land, this easily lends itself to the nickname, Ben.
143. Coen – A Germanic variant on the Dutch name Conrad, and was actually originally spelled Coenraad or Koenraad. Its meaning is “bold advisor.”
144. Henrik – First entering the top 1,000 names in America in 2014, this Hungarian moniker (“ruler of the house”) is actually one of the most popular choices in Scandinavian countries.
145. Zyaire – An African name meaning “river,” and a variant spelling of Zaire (the name of a past Central African state).
146. Alden – A Benjamin Button-esque moniker, since it means “old, wise friend.”
147. Axton – “Sword stone” of English origin, it’s a different take on the similar-sounding Austin or Ashton and perfect if you don’t like the sound of Maxton or Daxton mentioned above.
148. Niko – A diminutive of the Greek Nicodemus, meaning “victory of the people.”
149. Brice – This name is of Scottish, Celtic origin meaning “speckled.”
150.Aden – An Irish name meaning “little fire,” perfect for your little one!
151. Bruin – It’s a derivative of Bruno, but this Germanic/Scandinavian name means “bear; brown.”
152. Clarke – A boy’s name meaning “cleric” or “clerk” that derives from the Latin name Clark (or Clark Kent, if you’re a fan of Superman).
153. Gustav – Popular in Sweden and Germany, it’s thought that this name originally means “royal staff,” although it may also have evolved from the Slavic name Gostislav.
Related: 111 Ugly Baby Names
Unique baby names for girls
We've got more than 150 unique baby girl names coming up for you. We're not just offering up the bizarre, either. Plenty of these give you just the right balance between a unique, and short and sweet name.
1. Halima – Halima an Arabic name meaning “gentle or mild-mannered.”
2.Xyla – A girl’s name is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Xyla is “wood-dweller.”
3. Alora – With African origins, this moniker means “my dream” and was just added to the top 1,000 girls’ names in 2018.
4. Danica – This girl’s name means “the morning star,” which is of Slavic origin.
5. Paisleigh – Based on the Scottish-origin Paisley, which means “church.”
6. Milena – A name of Czech origin (and the real first name of Mila Kunis) meaning “love, warmth, grace.”
7. Aubriella – A 21st century hybrid of the names Aubrey and Ella.
8. Lyra – “Lyre” (a stringed instrument) of Greek origin. Perfect for fans of His Dark Materials!
9. Darby – This Irish/Norse origin name means “free from envy,” which represents a virtue that many hope their children will exhibit. Although it is traditionally a girl's name, it's now thought to be a unisex name.
10. Zola – A girl’s name is of Italian origin, meaning “lump of earth.”
11. Cassia – The name Cassia is a girl’s name of Greek-Latin origins meaning “cinnamon.”
12. Tenley – A name of English origin meaning “burnt clearing.”
13. Meloria – The name Meliora is a Latin girl’s namemeaning “better; honey.”
14. Zahara – A girl’s name of both Arabic and Hebrew origins, meaning “flowering or shining.”
15. Kenna – An American, feminine take on the Irish name Kenneth, meaning “fire born; good-looking.”
16. Cosette – Cosette as a girl’s name is pronounced 'koh-ZETT'. It is of French and Greek origins, and the meaning of Cosette is “people of victory.”
17. Remy – A French name depicting someone from the (also French) city of Rheims.
18. Sanchia – The name Sanchia is a girl’s name of Spanish origin, meaning “sacred”.
19. Chantria – In the Khmer language, this girl’s name means “moonlight.”
20. Wrenly – The name Wrenley is a girl’s name of American origin.
21. Anya – A girl’s name of Greek and Hebrew origin, and the meaning of Anya is “resurrection”. Anya is a variant of the Greek name Anastasia and the Hebrew name Ann.
22. Veda – A girl’s name of Sanskrit origin meaning “knowledge or wisdom”. For reference, the Vedas are the four sacred books of the Hindus.
23. Zuri – A girl’s name of African, Kiswahili origin meaning “good, beautiful.”
24. Rylie – A feminine variant of the unisex name Riley, this name is of old Irish and Gaelic origins, meaning “courageous, valiant.”
25. Talia – This moniker is of Hebrew origin, meaning “gentle dew from heaven; by the water.” Younger parents will best know this name from musician and YouTuber, Talia Mar.
26. Beatrix – Of Beatrix Potter fame, this moniker means “she who brings happiness,” and while it’s come pretty close, it hasn’t made it to the top 1,000 baby girls’ names within the last decade.
27. Arlette – This mighty moniker of French origin means “lion of God.”
28. Taya – A rare name of Japanese origin meaning “young; valley field.”
29. Marleigh – “Marshy meadow, pleasant wood,” this name can also be spelled as Marley, and Marlee.
30. Aminah – This Arabic girl’s name means “feel safe”. It was the name of the prophet Muhammad’s mother. You could opt for alternative variations such as Aamina, Aaminah or Amina.
31. Cambrie – The name Cambrie is a girl’s name made by combining Cam and Brie.
32. Divya – A girl’s name of Indian origin.
33. Tierneigh – A girl’s name of Irish Gaelic origin, and the meaning of Tierneigh is “lord”. Stems from the Irish name Tierney.
34. Geovana – Geovana is a girl’s name of Hebrew origin meaning “God is gracious.”
35. Loreta – Loreta, as a girl’s name, has Italian and Latin origins. The meaning of Loreta is “laurel or sweet bay tree; symbol of victory.” Related to the names Loretta and Laura.
36. Sorcha – The name Sorcha is a girl’s name of Irish origins meaning “bright, shining”.
37. Effie – A pet form of Euphemia, which is of Old Greek, meaning “well-spoken, well regarded.” May also have the variant spelling of Effy.
38. Meilani – A name of American origin meaning “heavenly flower.” Other similar names include Milani and Leilani.
39. Annika – A Swedish take on Anna, meaning “grace, favored.”
40. Alaska – This baby girl name of Native American origin means “great land,” which makes sense for the American state that shares its name.
41. Cleo – “Glory,” of English origin.
42. Cadie – This cute girl’s name originates from Ireland and means a “rhythmic flow of sounds.”
43. Cinzia – The Italian form of Cynthia has a unique ring to it, especially since it’s pronounced with a “ch” sound. Cynthia comes from the ancient Greek word, meaning “woman from Kynthos.”
44. Haruko – In Japanese, this name means “spring child,” making it a great choice if your daughter is born in springtime. The name can be shortened to Yoko or Youko.
45. Delaney – A girl’s name of Gaelic origin, this means “descendant of the challenger.”
46. Kira – Give your baby the royal treatment with this Russian origin name, meaning “throne!”
47. Erina – If you have Irish in your blood, or really love the country, this name of Gaelic origin actually means “Ireland.”
48. Goldie – This pretty moniker means “Made Of Gold” and is of English origin.
49. Mariko – Mariko, as a girl’s name, is of Japanese origin, meaning “ball or circle.”
50. Clementine – Clementine, as a girl’s name, is of French and Latin origin, and the meaning of Clementine is “merciful.”
51. Abril – This name is the Spanish and Portuguese word for “April” and has remained in the top 1,000 girls’ names throughout most of the last decade.
52. Duana – The name Duana is a girl’s name of Irish origin, meaning “song.”
53. Karma – A girl’s name of Hindi and Sanskrit origin meaning “fate or destiny.” In Buddhism and Hinduism, karma is the inevitable effect of actions during life.
54. Lotus – A Greek girl’s name meaning “lotus flower.”
55. Clarice – The name Clarice is an old French variation of the Latin name “Clara”.
56. Georgiana – A girl’s name of Greek and Latin origin, and the meaning of Georgiana is “farmer.”
57. Leya – The name Leya as a girl’s name is of Spanish origin, meaning “the law.”
58. Tully – The name Tully is a girl’s name of Irish origin, meaning “flood, peaceful, or hill.”
59. Devony – While there were no baby girls named Devony on record in recent years, the name has been used over time for a handful of females. It may be a variation of the British county name Devon or an entirely made-up name.
60. Eluned – The name Eluned is a girl’s name of Welsh origin, meaning “idol, image.”
61. Shenandoah – While some sources assign the place-name the romantic meaning “beautiful daughter of the stars,” the Virginia region itself says the name is of uncertain Native American origin with many possible but no definitive meaning.
62. Soleil – The name Soleil is a girl’s name of French origin meaning “sun.”
63. Brielle – This feminine choice is of French origin, meaning “hunting grounds.”
64. Athena – Known through Greek mythology as the daughter of Zeus, she was the goddess of wisdom, skill, and warfare.
65. Cierra – A girl’s name, which is a variant of Ciara (Irish, Gaelic) and Sierra (Spanish), and the meaning of Cierra is “black; saw.”
66. Magdalena – Coming from Greek, it's a name meaning “woman from Magdala.” It’s synonymous with the second half of Mary Magdalene‘s name – a biblical woman from the area of Magdala.
67. Selene – Less frequently used/heard than the Latin variation Selena, this Greek name means “moon goddess.”
68. Emmaline – “Peaceful home” is the meaning of this variation that’s similar to names such as Emeline, Emily, Emma, Emmeline, etc.
69. Dalary – A modern-invented name, it popped up in 2014 and has been in the top 1,000 girls’ names since.
70. Farren – “Adventurous,” of English origin.
71. Sariah – “Princess,” of Hebrew origin.
72. Kadence – Related to the Latin name Cadence, this means “with rhythm.”
73. Esme – A name of French, Persian origin meaning “esteemed, beloved.” It can be used as the short-form of Esmeralda.
74. Lia – A Greek name meaning “bearer of good news.” It is a different spelling than the more-common Leah.
75. Rafaela – A girl’s name of Spanish origin meaning “God has healed.” It is a feminine form of Raphael.
76. Edie – A pet form of Edith, which is of Old English origin, meaning “rich in war,” and derived from ead + gth, meaning “wealth, blessed” and “fight, battle.”
77. Davina – A girl’s name of Scottish and Hebrew origin meaning “beloved,” as the feminine form of David.
78. Wynter – A modern take on this colder season, this spelling has been gaining popularity consistently since 2012.
79. Zariyah – Believed to have three possible origins: The Arabic Zara, which means “flower;” the Hebrew Azaria, meaning “God has helped;” or the Russian Zaria, meaning “sunrise, dawn.”
80. Noemi – A variant of Naomi, this Latin take means “my delight.”
81. Houda – In Arabic, this name means “guidance.” It can also be spelled Huda or Hooda.
82. Snow – The name Snow is a girl’s name of English origin and is perfect for a winter arrival!
83. Vianna – A girl’s name of Spanish origin meaning “alive.”
84. Luna – The name Luna means “moon” in Latin and several other languages with Latin roots, including Spanish and Italian. In ancient Roman mythology, Luna was the moon goddess.
85. Ione – A Greek name meaning “Amethyst; Violet.”
86. Lennox – A Scottish origin name meaning “elm grove.”
87. Stevie – Related to the Greek name Stephanie, which means “garland, crown.” Perfect if she grows up to love Fleetwood Mac!
88. Ansley – “From the pasture land of the noble,” of English origin.
89. Imani – Of Arabic origin, this Swahili name simply means “faith.”
90. Kensa – Meaning “first,” this name has a powerful ring to it and might be perfect for your firstborn daughter.
91. Cressida – The name Cressida is a girl’s name from Greece, meaning “gold”.
92. Oona – The name Oona is a girl’s name of Irish origin, meaning “lamb.”
93. Calliope – This Greek name means “beautiful voice” and lends itself to the nickname, Callie.
94. Jaslynn – The meaning of this French and Persian-origin moniker is “jasmine.”
95. Rosalind – Derived from Germanic roots associated with horses and softness, the name was brought to England by the Normans. The name may take its modern form from the Latin expression rosa linda, which means beautiful rose.
96. Elektra – A girl’s name related to the Greek name Electra. The meaning of Elektra is “shining.”
97. Nadine – The French diminutive form of Nadia, which comes from the Slavic name Nadezhda, meaning “hope.”
98. Valencia – Meaning “bravery,” this location-inspired option is beautiful and rare.
99. Mina – This excellent option is of German origin, meaning “love.”
100. Holland – Fittingly, this name of Dutch origin (that means “wooded land”) also represents two provinces in the Netherlands.
101. Kensington – Suggestive of royalty, this English name is also a district in London.
102. Giana – An Italian baby name meaning “God is gracious.”
103. Bryleigh – An Americanized combination (most likely of Bryan and Leigh). It means “gracious, strong.”
104. Ottilie – The name Ottilie is a girl’s name of French origin, meaning “prosperous in battle.”
105. Fern – Named after the botanical plant, Fern was most popular from the turn of the last century through the 1940s, reaching a high of #152 in 1916.
106. Lizbeth – A girl’s name of English origin and is a short form of Elizabeth, “God’s promise.”
107. Ophelia – The name was most likely derived from the ancient Greek “ōphéleia,” meaning “aid” or “benefit,” but it is best known as the name of Shakespeare’s tragic heroine in his play “Hamlet.”
108. Chaya – It means “life” of Hebrew and Yiddish origin.
109. Odilia – This name is thought to have Germanic roots that mean “wealth” or ‘fortune.” It’s also the name of the patron saint of Alsace.
110. Onyx – A name taken straight from the synonymous black gemstone. Parents of a certain generation will have their minds drawn to the rock-like Pokemon...
111. Stella – “Star,” of Latin origin.
112. Priscilla – A girl’s name of Latin origin meaning “ancient or venerable.” In the Bible, Priscilla is a first-century Christian missionary.
113. Vera – An option of Russian origin meaning “faith.”
114. Ember – The “smoldering remains of a fire,” also closely related to Amber, which is a “reddish yellow gemstone.”
115. Saffron – This cute name means “yellow flower.”
116. Mariam – This name comes from Greek history and means “beloved.” Variations include Miriam, Maryam, and Amelia.
117. Maura – This gentle-sounding name is the anglicised form of Máire, which in turn is the Irish-Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic version of Mary.
118. Inez – This name of Portuguese or Spanish origin means “pure” or “holy.” If you like the sound of it but would like an even more unique spelling, there are plenty to choose from, including Ines, Ynes or Ynez.
119. Demetria – The mythical goddess of the harvest and corn.
120. Chidi – A girl’s name of African origin.
121. Belinda – Although the meaning behind this name is uncertain, it may stem from the Italian word bella, which means beautiful, and the German word lind, meaning tender, supple, or soft.
122. Maisha – A girl’s name related to the Arabic name Aisha. The meaning of Maisha is “alive and well.”
123. Kynlee – A spelling variant of Kinley, this means “fair-haired Viking” and is of Irish origin.
124. Dallas – Not just a city in Texas, this is also an Irish origin moniker meaning “skilled.”
125. Sloane – This name of Irish origin means “raider.”
126. Saige – The name is of Latin origin and means “wise.”
127. Khaleesi – Taken from the fictional language in Game of Thrones, this roughly means “queen” (the title of Daenerys Targaryen).
128. Jessamy – This name, meaning “jasmine flower”, is a unique amalgamation of Jasmine and Jessica/Jessie.
129. Meadow – A description of low-lying grassland, this nature-themed name has remained in the girls’ top 1,000 names since 2001.
130. Kesia – Kesia, as a girl’s name, is of African origin meaning “favorite.”
131. Clover – The name Clover is a girl’s name of English origin, meaning “key”.
132. Romina – The feminine, Latin origin version of “Roman.”
133. Sky – Exactly as it seems, this name of Scottish origin means “sky.”
134. Ambrosia – The name Ambrosia is a Greek girl's name meaning “Immortal." Not to be confused with the custard and rice pudding brand.
135. Jacinta – This is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the name Hyacinthus, which has Greek origins and is similar to the name of a fragrant spring flower.
136. Suri – A girl’s name of Hebrew origin meaning “princess.” It is a pet form of Sarah.
137. Opal – A name of Hindu and Sanskrit origin meaning “gem, jewel.”
138. Noor – A name of Arabic origin meaning “light.”
139. Marla – A girl’s name of English origin and a variant of Marlene, which is derived from Madeline, meaning “woman of Magdala.”
140. Deidra – This name is a variant of Deirdre (Irish, Gaelic), and the meaning of Deidra is “broken-hearted, sorrowful”.
141. Chana – A variation of Channah and Hannah, this name means “moon; grace.”
142. Vienna – An elegant girl’s name of Latin origin, based on Austria’s capital city.
143. Mylah – This is an English girl’s name meaning “soldier.”
144. Silvana – A girl’s name is of Italian origin meaning “woodland or forest.”
145. Ivy – Short and sweet, the name of Old English origin refers to an ivy plant and represents fidelity.
146. Tora – A girl’s name of Japanese origin meaning “tiger.”
147. Delta – If you’re having your fourth child, this is spot-on. Stemming from the Greek alphabet, it means “born fourth.”
148. Pearl – A girl’s name of Latin origin. Its meaning is exactly as it sounds: “pearl.”
149. Ariadne – “Most holy,” in Greek.
150. Isolde – The name Isolde is a girl’s name of Welsh origin, meaning “ice ruler.”
151. Elowen – The name Elowen is a girl’s name of Cornish origin, meaning “elm.”
152. Timea – This name has its origins in 19th-century Hungarian literature and is thought to be derived from the Greek name Euthymia, which means “happy” or “generous.”
153. Caoimhe – Pronounced kwee-va or kee-va, The name Caoimhe is a girl’s name of Gaelic, Scottish, Irish origin meaning “beautiful.”
154. Terra – A girl’s name of Latin origin meaning “Earth”. In mythology, Terra is the Roman earth goddess and equivalent to the Greek Gaia.
So there you have it! Over 300 names for you and your partner to sink your teeth into and draw inspiration from. Don’t forget to delve into baby-naming hints and tips from Dads who have been there and done it with our Daddilife mini-books, which you can pick up for free here.
FAQs
What makes a unique baby name?
The word 'unique' is defined as "being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else". So we're probably not talking about strictly unique baby names here.
When we're talking about unique baby names we're actually talking about uncommon or rare baby names... ones that you may never have heard of before, or don't hear often.
And it's important to remember that languages and cultures play a part in this, too. Some names may be totally unique in one culture or part of the world, but be incredibly common in other parts.
Why should I choose a unique baby name?
There's actually some really interesting science behind this. According to numerous studies, a unique name is usually easier to remember. I dare suggest most of us probably know what Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's children are called, or Beyonce and Jay-Z, or Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. And so giving your child a unique name instantly makes them more memorable.
Other studies suggest an unconventional name means you're more likely to embrace unconventional or creative thinking, which can lead to better job prospects and career opportunities.
Are all unique baby names good?
No, definitely not. While there are definitely some benefits to having unusual names, there is also evidence of them causing problems later in life. Of course, we know that have a really unique name can put a child at risk of bullying. And there are studies that show children with truly unique names often have a negative impact on their performance during their education.
