There’s something so satisfying about finding a baby name that nobody else seems to be using. Not because you’re trying to be weird for the sake of being weird — but because it feels like a secret. Like you’ve uncovered a hidden gem buried deep in a pile of Liams and Noahs and Jameses.
Each year, the U.S. Social Security Administration releases a massive list of every baby name given to five or more newborns in the United States — and let me tell you, it’s long. (Like, thousands and thousands of names long.) But the real magic isn’t in the top of the list. It’s way, way down at the bottom, in the names that barely squeaked in. Names that were given to just five baby boys or fewer the entire year.
And that, friends, is where this list comes from.
We dug around at the bottom of the list to find rare boy names that are cool, handsome, and unusual without being un-usable. Some are old-school and unexpected, others are brand new or invented-sounding, but they all have one thing in common: they’re barely out there. Which, in a world of copy-paste names on every playground, honestly feels kinda refreshing.
(One quick note: although this list was released in 2025, it’s actually based on babies born in 2024. So while these names are new-ish, they’re not predictions — they’re real, actual names that real, actual parents used … just barely.)
Let’s dive into the rarest boy names in the country — the ones that most people missed, but you won’t.
Spence
Image Credit: SheKnows Where Spencer sounds more former, its short form — Spence — has a cool and casual vibe. They both come from the Middle English word spense, meaning “larder” or “pantry” — the surname Spencer would have indicated someone who dispenses provisions.
Tyro
Image Credit: SheKnows Tyro sounds a bit like a made-up name — maybe inspired by other Ty- names such as Tyrone or Tyson or Tyler. However, some sources say it may come from the Greek word tyrôs, meaning … well, “cheese.” But even the most beautiful names can have less-than-desirable meanings, and it doesn’t make them any less perfect!
Willoughby
Image Credit: SheKnows Willoughby is the perfect option if you love the nickname Will, but William is a little too popular for your liking (it is the #10 most popular boy name in the U.S., after all, and its nickname Liam is #1). It’s an Old English place name meaning “willow town.”
Loden
Image Credit: SheKnows As a name, Loden is invented, perhaps as an alternative to the more popular Logan. But in Dutch, loden means “lead” — as in the metal element, which is kind of a neat meaning.
Saviel
Image Credit: SheKnows The origin of this unique boy name is unknown, but it may be a variation of the Spanish name Xaviel — which itself is likely a form of Xavier, meaning “new house.”
Schaefer
Image Credit: SheKnows There are lots of different ways to spell this German surname-turned-first-name (which means “shepherd”): Schafer, Shaffer, Shaefer, etc — but we like this rare version, Schaefer. Shae could be a cute nickname!
Geordie
Image Credit: SheKnows Stemming from the name George, which comes from the Greek word georgos and means “farmer,” Geordie (pronounced jor-dee) is a less-stuffy — and more rare — alternative.
Lorien
Image Credit: SheKnows Whether you’re a Tolkien fan or just like the magical medieval feeling of the name, Lorien is a rarely-used winner. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, Lorien is a short form of the name Lothlórien, meaning “land of gold.”
Rilo
Image Credit: SheKnows With the name Milo quickly rising in popularity, you hear it more and more often — but the very similar Rilo is so unique that it was only given to five baby boys in the U.S. last year! It’s likely a fresh spin on the name Riley, meaning “rye woodland.”
Woodsen
Image Credit: SheKnows Woodsen is a surname that probably comes from the place name Woodsome, meaning “from the houses in the woods.” It’s a good way to get to the quirky-vintage sounding nickname Woody while still having a longer, more distinguished form to lean on in professional situations.
Levitt
Image Credit: SheKnows This is a surname originating from the place name Livet, which is in Normandy, France. It’s also the perfect way to get to the nickname Lev (which means “heart” in Hebrew).
Gabrien
Image Credit: SheKnows Gabrien is a unique and rarely-used variation of Gabriel, which comes from the Hebrew name Ḡavriʾel, meaning “God is my strength.”
Sable
Image Credit: SheKnows This sleek-sounding pick means “black” — it’s derived from the animal of the same name, the sable marten, which has a luxurious thick, dark coat.
Brig
Image Credit: SheKnows Considering the popularity of names like Trigg and Trip, Brig is a logical choice — you could say it’s from the word “brigadier,” meaning a military officer in charge of a brigade.
Marsden
Image Credit: SheKnows Another surname-turned-first-name, Marsden is a distinguished-sounding and rarely used choice. It comes from an Old English place name meaning “valley boundary” — and comes with the cute nickname option Mars!
Piers
Image Credit: SheKnows Peter (meaning “stone”) has been one of the most popular boy names for literal decades. As of last count, it stands at #192 of the top 1000 most popular names for boys, but has reached as high as #35 (back in 1955). So what does that have to do with Piers? Well, Piers is the medieval form of Peter! And for a modern baby boy, it’s a fresh alternative to a classic name.
Cobalt
Image Credit: SheKnows Color names have been on the rise, and Cobalt is — dare we say — “blue”-tiful?! Cobalt is a deep blue color made by mixing cobalt oxide with aluminum oxide. And it’s the perfect way to get to the nickname Coby!
Mavi
Image Credit: SheKnows Speaking of blue hues, that brings us to Mavi, another rare boy name given to only five babies last year! You might not expect this name to mean “blue” — unless you’re familiar with Turkish! Mavi, which means “blue” in Turkish, also works as a unique name with a cool blue vibe.
Kaelo
Image Credit: SheKnows This is an invented name, so it has no discernible meaning, though you could base it on the names it’s likely inspired by. There’s Kai, which is Hawaiian for “sea.” Or it could have pop culture roots, inspired by Kylo Ren from the Star Wars franchise. You could pronounce it KY-lo, or KAY-lo. Either way, it’s a versatile and unique pick!
Park
Image Credit: SheKnows There are lots of Parkers out there, but substantially fewer Parks — which puts this name firmly in the sweet spot of underused, but not strange or unfamiliar!
Anden
Image Credit: SheKnows This is another invented name with no meaning — so that indicates it can mean whatever you want, right?! If you must attach a meaning to it, you could say it’s a fresh alternative to Andrew (unlike Andy or Drew, which are both frequently used), meaning “masculine.”
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