100 rare baby names you’re unlikely to hear in the playground

Still looking for more baby name inspiration? Check out our other lists, including double-barrel names for boys and girls, 24 of the best royal baby names for boys and 100 fantasy baby names for girls and boys.

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What counts as a rare baby name?
Rare girl names
Rare boy names
Rare but familiar-sounding names
Rare baby names FAQs

What counts as a rare baby name?

There’s no single official definition of a “rare” name, but for this list we’ve focused on names that are:

Generally outside the current UK top 100 baby names
Recognisably names, rather than invented spellings
Usable in day-to-day life, even if they might invite the occasional “Oh, that’s interesting” comment

Some of these names are traditional choices that have simply fallen out of regular use, while others are imports from other languages or cultures that are still relatively uncommon in UK playgrounds.

For more baby name inspiration, we have lots of other baby name lists on MadeForMums, including themed ideas and more traditional options.

Here’s our pick of rare baby names you’re unlikely to hear in the playground…

Rare girl names | Rare boy names | Rare but familiar-sounding names

Rare girl names

These rare girl names are outside the most popular charts but still feel wearable and straightforward for a child growing up in the UK.

1. Anouk

Origin: Dutch, from Hebrew
Meaning: Grace

2. Alethea

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Truth

3. Anwen

Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Very fair, beautiful

4. Blythe

Origin: Old English
Meaning: Happy, carefree

5. Calla

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Beauty; calla lily

6. Cressida

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Possibly “golden”

7. Delphine

Origin: French, from Greek
Meaning: Woman from Delphi

8. Eira

Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Snow

9. Fenella

Origin: Scottish, from Irish
Meaning: Fair one, white shoulder

10. Ione

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Violet flower

11. Isolde

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Possibly “ice battle”

12. Kerensa

Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Love

13. Liora

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: My light

14. Marigold

Origin: English
Meaning: Golden flower

15. Nerida

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Sea nymph

16. Odette

Origin: French, from Germanic
Meaning: Wealth

17. Oriana

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Dawn, golden

18. Paloma

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Dove

19. Romilly

Origin: French
Meaning: From Romilly / from Rome

20. Saffron

Origin: English
Meaning: Spice name; yellow flower

21. Seren

Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Star

22. Sylvie

Origin: French, from Latin
Meaning: From the forest

23. Thalia

Origin: Greek
Meaning: To blossom

24. Verity

Origin: Latin, via English
Meaning: Truth

25. Vesper

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Evening; evening star

26. Winifred

Origin: Welsh, via English
Meaning: Blessed peacemaker

27. Xanthe

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Golden, yellow

28. Yara

Origin: Tupi (Brazilian)
Meaning: Small butterfly

29. Zinnia

Origin: Latin, via German
Meaning: Flower name

30. Tamsin

Origin: English, from Aramaic
Meaning: Twin

Rare boy names

These rare boy names sit a little off the beaten track but still have clear roots and straightforward spellings.

31. Ambrose

Origin: Latin, from Greek
Meaning: Immortal

32. Asa

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Healer

33. Bastian

Origin: Latin, via German/Spanish
Meaning: Venerable, revered

34. Caius

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Rejoice

35. Cassian

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Hollow

36. Cosmo

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Order, harmony, universe

37. Dorian

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Of the Dorian people

38. Eamon

Origin: Irish, from Old English
Meaning: Wealthy guardian

39. Florian

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Flowering, in bloom

40. Gideon

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Hewer; one who cuts down

41. Idris

Origin: Arabic and Welsh
Meaning: Interpreter; studious

42. Jago

Origin: Cornish/Spanish, from Hebrew
Meaning: Supplanter

43. Leander

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Lion man

44. Linus

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Flaxen-haired

45. Magnus

Origin: Latin, via Scandinavian
Meaning: Great

46. Orson

Origin: Latin, via French
Meaning: Bear cub

47. Pascal

Origin: Latin, via French
Meaning: Of Passover; Easter child

48. Rafferty

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Prosperity, abundance

49. Soren

Origin: Danish, from Latin
Meaning: Stern, serious

50. Stellan

Origin: Swedish
Meaning: Calm, peaceful

51. Theron

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Hunter

52. Torin

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Chief

53. Wilbur

Origin: Old English
Meaning: Bright fortress

54. Bram

Origin: Hebrew, via Dutch/English
Meaning: Father of many

55. Lucian

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Light

56. Osian

Origin: Irish/Scottish
Meaning: Little deer; fawn

57. Inigo

Origin: Basque
Meaning: Little (dear one)

58. Casper

Origin: Persian, via Dutch/German
Meaning: Treasurer

59. Rafe

Origin: Old Norse/Old English
Meaning: Wolf counsel

60. Heath

Origin: Old English
Meaning: Heathland dweller

Rare but familiar-sounding names

These rare names feel like a twist on more familiar UK choices – similar in sound or style to popular names, but much less common.

61. Elowen

Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Elm tree

62. Arden

Origin: English
Meaning: Valley of the eagle

63. Calista

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Most beautiful

64. Della

Origin: Germanic, via English
Meaning: Noble

65. Etta

Origin: Germanic, via English
Meaning: Ruler of the home

66. Fallon

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Leader; ruler

67. Greta

Origin: German, from Greek
Meaning: Pearl

68. Harlan

Origin: Old English
Meaning: Hare land; rocky land

69. Jovie

Origin: Modern English
Meaning: Cheerful; joyful

70. Koa

Origin: Hawaiian
Meaning: Warrior; brave

71. Leni

Origin: German, from Greek
Meaning: Bright, shining one

72. Maeva

Origin: French, from Tahitian
Meaning: Welcome

73. Marlowe

Origin: English
Meaning: From the hill by the lake

74. Nola

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Fair-shouldered

75. Orion

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Rising in the sky; hunter

76. Pierson

Origin: English
Meaning: Son of Peter

77. Romy

Origin: Latin, via German/French
Meaning: Dew of the sea

78. Saskia

Origin: Dutch/German
Meaning: Saxon woman

79. Tove

Origin: Old Norse, Scandinavian
Meaning: Beautiful Thor

80. Una

Origin: Latin/Irish
Meaning: One; unity

81. Vada

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Knowledge; wisdom

82. Wrenna

Origin: English
Meaning: Little wren (bird)

83. Zadie

Origin: Hebrew and Arabic
Meaning: Princess; fortunate

84. Ansel

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Protected by God

85. Briar

Origin: English
Meaning: Thorny bush

86. Callen

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Powerful in battle

87. Dashiell

Origin: French, via English
Meaning: Possibly “from the château”

88. Larkin

Origin: Latin, via English
Meaning: From Laurentum

89. Senna

Origin: Arabic/Latin
Meaning: Senna plant

90. Thayer

Origin: English
Meaning: Tailor

91. Alba

Origin: Latin/Scottish
Meaning: Dawn; white

92. Evander

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Good man

93. Linnea

Origin: Swedish
Meaning: Twinflower

94. Oren

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Pine tree

95. Zella

Origin: Yiddish/German
Meaning: Blessed; happy

96. Corin

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Spear bearer

97. Elara

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Name from Greek mythology

98. Ismay

Origin: English
Meaning: Esteemed; loved

99. Kenzo

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Strong and healthy

100. Ludo

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Famous warrior

Rare baby names FAQs

What is considered a rare baby name in the UK?

In the UK, a rare baby name is usually one that falls well outside the top 100 names and often doesn’t appear in the top 500 at all. Some of the names on this list might show up a handful of times in official statistics, while others may not appear in the data in certain years, which helps keep them uncommon in most playgrounds.

Are rare baby names harder for children to live with?

Most children adapt well to having a slightly different name, especially if it’s easy to say and spell. A very rare name may mean repeating or spelling it out more often, but many parents feel the trade-off is worth it for a name that feels distinctive. If you’re unsure, you can try “test-driving” the name with family and friends to see how people respond.

How can I check how popular a baby name is?

You can look at the latest official baby name statistics for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to see how often a name has been used in recent years. If a name doesn’t appear in the rankings at all, or only appears a handful of times, it’s likely to be a rare or unusual baby name in the UK.

Is it better to choose a rare or a familiar baby name?

There’s no right or wrong answer – it depends on what matters most to you. Some parents like very popular, classic names that feel instantly recognisable, while others prefer rare or unique baby names that help their child stand out a little. You might find a balance in the “rare but familiar-sounding” category, where the name feels distinctive but not too different.

What should I think about before choosing a rare name?

You might want to think about spelling and pronunciation, how the name sounds with your surname, and whether it fits with any siblings’ names. It can also help to imagine your baby at different ages – from toddler to adult – to check the name still feels like it would fit them at every stage.

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Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.