Names to add to your shortlist
Alfie
Alfie recorded 72 U.S. births in 2025 at #2,056, keeping this exact spelling well beyond the most-used 1,000 boy names.
2025 U.S.: 72 births · #2,056Peak: 2024 · 75 births
Archie
Archie reached its highest published U.S. count in 2025 with 1,129 births, so this uncommon spelling is currently at a historical high.
2025 U.S.: 1,129 births · #301Peak: 2025 · 1,129 births
Arlo
Arlo recorded 2,443 U.S. births in 2025 at #148; it is distinctive, although not among the statistically rarest choices on the site.
2025 U.S.: 2,443 births · #148Peak: 2024 · 2,490 births
Asa
Asa recorded 622 U.S. births in 2025 at #483; it is distinctive, although not among the statistically rarest choices on the site.
2025 U.S.: 622 births · #483Peak: 2022 · 685 births
Bowie
Bowie recorded 164 U.S. births in 2025 at #1,228, keeping this exact spelling well beyond the most-used 1,000 boy names.
2025 U.S.: 164 births · #1,228Peak: 2021 · 237 births
Cosmo
Cosmo recorded 80 U.S. births in 2025 at #1,934, keeping this exact spelling well beyond the most-used 1,000 boy names.
2025 U.S.: 80 births · #1,934Peak: 2022 · 99 births
Elio
Soft-edged and cheerful, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 818 births · #388Peak: 2025 · 818 births
Finn
Finn recorded 1,702 U.S. births in 2025 at #206; it is distinctive, although not among the statistically rarest choices on the site.
2025 U.S.: 1,702 births · #206Peak: 2017 · 2,382 births
Hugo
Hugo reached its highest published U.S. count in 2025 with 837 births, so this uncommon spelling is currently at a historical high.
2025 U.S.: 837 births · #378Peak: 2025 · 837 births
Kit
Kit reached its highest published U.S. count in 2025 with 195 births, so this uncommon spelling is currently at a historical high.
2025 U.S.: 195 births · #1,103Peak: 2025 · 195 births
Lenny
Soft-edged and cheerful, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 128 births · #1,419Peak: 1961 · 199 births
Louie
Louie recorded 481 U.S. births in 2025 at #596; it is distinctive, although not among the statistically rarest choices on the site.
2025 U.S.: 481 births · #596Peak: 2024 · 500 births
Milo
Warm and friendly, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 2,974 births · #119Peak: 2022 · 3,115 births
Monty
Monty recorded 112 U.S. births in 2025 at #1,543, keeping this exact spelling well beyond the most-used 1,000 boy names.
2025 U.S.: 112 births · #1,543Peak: 1961 · 539 births
Nico
Nico reached its highest published U.S. count in 2025 with 2,066 births, so this uncommon spelling is currently at a historical high.
2025 U.S.: 2,066 births · #174Peak: 2025 · 2,066 births
Odie
Odie has a much stronger historical footprint than its current use: 62 births at its 1918 peak versus 17 in 2025.
2025 U.S.: 17 births · #5,547Peak: 1918 · 62 births
Ollie
Ollie recorded 207 U.S. births in 2025 at #1,058, keeping this exact spelling well beyond the most-used 1,000 boy names.
2025 U.S.: 207 births · #1,058Peak: 1919 · 369 births
Otis
Bright without feeling childish, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 422 births · #652Peak: 1920 · 1,031 births
Otto
Otto recorded 1,241 U.S. births in 2025 at #277; it is distinctive, although not among the statistically rarest choices on the site.
2025 U.S.: 1,241 births · #277Peak: 2024 · 1,244 births
Percy
Playful but still easy to imagine on an adult, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 154 births · #1,279Peak: 1921 · 603 births
Perry
Warm and friendly, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 135 births · #1,373Peak: 1959 · 2,751 births
Remy
Remy recorded 781 U.S. births in 2025 at #408; it is distinctive, although not among the statistically rarest choices on the site.
2025 U.S.: 781 births · #408Peak: 2022 · 924 births
Rory
Rory reached its highest published U.S. count in 2025 with 1,768 births, so this uncommon spelling is currently at a historical high.
2025 U.S.: 1,768 births · #199Peak: 2025 · 1,768 births
Roscoe
Roscoe has a much stronger historical footprint than its current use: 604 births at its 1920 peak versus 63 in 2025.
2025 U.S.: 63 births · #2,248Peak: 1920 · 604 births
Rufus
Rufus has a much stronger historical footprint than its current use: 737 births at its 1922 peak versus 27 in 2025.
2025 U.S.: 27 births · #4,019Peak: 1922 · 737 births
Sonny
Sonny reached its highest published U.S. count in 2025 with 1,137 births, so this uncommon spelling is currently at a historical high.
2025 U.S.: 1,137 births · #298Peak: 2025 · 1,137 births
Teddy
Teddy has a much stronger historical footprint than its current use: 613 births at its 1949 peak versus 301 in 2025.
2025 U.S.: 301 births · #823Peak: 1949 · 613 births
Toby
Toby recorded 234 U.S. births in 2025 at #979; it is distinctive, although not among the statistically rarest choices on the site.
2025 U.S.: 234 births · #979Peak: 1975 · 1,191 births
Wells
Wells reached its highest published U.S. count in 2025 with 944 births, so this uncommon spelling is currently at a historical high.
2025 U.S.: 944 births · #347Peak: 2025 · 944 births
Ziggy
Bright without feeling childish, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 119 births · #1,491Peak: 2022 · 168 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.
Cute should still grow well
A name can sound warm and playful without locking a child into a babyish image. We favored choices that can work on a birth announcement and still look comfortable on an adult.
Nicknames change the feel
Some names arrive with obvious short forms while others already feel nickname-like. Decide whether you prefer a formal name with options or a compact name that stands on its own.
Popularity can move quickly in this style
Soft, friendly names often rise together. Current counts help show which choices are still unusual and which have already become much more familiar.
Roscoe's pick
Otis
Otis feels warm and cheerful, with vintage roots and an easy two-syllable rhythm.
More names to explore
Questions parents ask
Are cute unique boy names always statistically rare?
Not necessarily. Style and measurable popularity are different. Each name card shows the exact-spelling 2025 U.S. count when the Social Security Administration published one.
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. Sound, family meaning, cultural fit and how the full name works matter more than chasing the lowest possible rank.
Will the same name be equally rare outside the United States?
No. Popularity varies by country, region, language and community. The figures on this site describe U.S. national data unless a page says otherwise.