Names to add to your shortlist
Alaric
Alaric recorded 205 U.S. births in 2025 at #1,063, keeping this exact spelling well beyond the most-used 1,000 boy names.
2025 U.S.: 205 births · #1,063Peak: 2020 · 279 births
Bram
Literary and atmospheric, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 56 births · #2,422Peak: 2016 · 72 births
Byron
Byron recorded 233 U.S. births in 2025 at #981; it is distinctive, although not among the statistically rarest choices on the site.
2025 U.S.: 233 births · #981Peak: 1964 · 1,284 births
Caspian
Caspian reached its highest published U.S. count in 2025 with 614 births, so this uncommon spelling is currently at a historical high.
2025 U.S.: 614 births · #491Peak: 2025 · 614 births
Dorian
Dorian recorded 557 U.S. births in 2025 at #539; it is distinctive, although not among the statistically rarest choices on the site.
2025 U.S.: 557 births · #539Peak: 2008 · 641 births
Draven
Draven recorded 166 U.S. births in 2025 at #1,217, keeping this exact spelling well beyond the most-used 1,000 boy names.
2025 U.S.: 166 births · #1,217Peak: 2009 · 382 births
Edgar
Edgar recorded 617 U.S. births in 2025 at #486; it is distinctive, although not among the statistically rarest choices on the site.
2025 U.S.: 617 births · #486Peak: 2005 · 2,454 births
Evander
Evander reached its highest published U.S. count in 2025 with 389 births, so this uncommon spelling is currently at a historical high.
2025 U.S.: 389 births · #698Peak: 2025 · 389 births
Lucian
Darkly elegant, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 670 births · #462Peak: 2025 · 670 births
Marius
Marius recorded 52 U.S. births in 2025 at #2,555, keeping this exact spelling well beyond the most-used 1,000 boy names.
2025 U.S.: 52 births · #2,555Peak: 2004 · 80 births
Orson
Orson recorded 126 U.S. births in 2025 at #1,433, keeping this exact spelling well beyond the most-used 1,000 boy names.
2025 U.S.: 126 births · #1,433Peak: 2023 · 132 births
Poe
Poe had just 7 published U.S. births in 2025 at #10,423, putting this exact spelling deep into rare-name territory.
2025 U.S.: 7 births · #10,423Peak: 2017 · 11 births
Rook
Rook reached its highest published U.S. count in 2025 with 78 births, so this uncommon spelling is currently at a historical high.
2025 U.S.: 78 births · #1,972Peak: 2025 · 78 births
Salem
Literary and atmospheric, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 400 births · #679Peak: 2024 · 442 births
Severin
Severin had just 15 published U.S. births in 2025 at #6,089, putting this exact spelling deep into rare-name territory.
2025 U.S.: 15 births · #6,089Peak: 2014 · 28 births
Stellan
Stellan reached its highest published U.S. count in 2025 with 186 births, so this uncommon spelling is currently at a historical high.
2025 U.S.: 186 births · #1,140Peak: 2025 · 186 births
Vesper
Darkly elegant, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 8 births · #9,644Peak: 2024 · 12 births
Wolfgang
Wolfgang recorded 115 U.S. births in 2025 at #1,519, keeping this exact spelling well beyond the most-used 1,000 boy names.
2025 U.S.: 115 births · #1,519Peak: 2021 · 148 births
Ambrose
Ambrose recorded 358 U.S. births in 2025 at #735; it is distinctive, although not among the statistically rarest choices on the site.
2025 U.S.: 358 births · #735Peak: 2021 · 402 births
Blaise
Blaise recorded 213 U.S. births in 2025 at #1,038, keeping this exact spelling well beyond the most-used 1,000 boy names.
2025 U.S.: 213 births · #1,038Peak: 2015 · 283 births
Crispin
Crispin had just 17 published U.S. births in 2025 at #5,432, putting this exact spelling deep into rare-name territory.
2025 U.S.: 17 births · #5,432Peak: 2007 · 39 births
Dante
Dante recorded 1,104 U.S. births in 2025 at #308; it is distinctive, although not among the statistically rarest choices on the site.
2025 U.S.: 1,104 births · #308Peak: 1998 · 1,670 births
Gideon
Moody without becoming hard to wear, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 993 births · #337Peak: 2017 · 1,161 births
Grimm
Grimm had just 11 published U.S. births in 2025 at #7,346, putting this exact spelling deep into rare-name territory.
2025 U.S.: 11 births · #7,346Peak: 2019 · 13 births
Hadrian
Hadrian reached its highest published U.S. count in 2025 with 50 births, so this uncommon spelling is currently at a historical high.
2025 U.S.: 50 births · #2,617Peak: 2025 · 50 births
Lazarus
Lazarus reached its highest published U.S. count in 2025 with 185 births, so this uncommon spelling is currently at a historical high.
2025 U.S.: 185 births · #1,143Peak: 2025 · 185 births
Silvan
Moody without becoming hard to wear, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 10 births · #8,157Peak: 2024 · 12 births
Theron
Theron recorded 55 U.S. births in 2025 at #2,474, keeping this exact spelling well beyond the most-used 1,000 boy names.
2025 U.S.: 55 births · #2,474Peak: 1966 · 180 births
Valerian
Darkly elegant, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 23 births · #4,526Peak: 2018 · 24 births
Onyx
Onyx recorded 881 U.S. births in 2025 at #365; it is distinctive, although not among the statistically rarest choices on the site.
2025 U.S.: 881 births · #365Peak: 2023 · 1,079 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.
Gothic style is broader than horror
The strongest gothic names often come from literature, old European naming traditions or dark, elegant sounds. A name can feel atmospheric without being tied to anything frightening.
Literary associations can be part of the appeal
Bram, Dorian and Edgar carry recognizable literary echoes. Decide whether that association adds meaning for you or feels too strong for everyday use.
Dark style still needs everyday wear
Try the name in plain settings, not only in a dramatic list. If it sounds comfortable at breakfast, school and work, it is more likely to last beyond the initial mood.
Roscoe's pick
Bram
Bram is short, literary and unmistakably atmospheric while remaining easy to spell and say.
More names to explore
Questions parents ask
Are rare Gothic 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.