Names to add to your shortlist
Alaric
Rare with a polished sound, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 205 births · #1,063Peak: 2020 · 279 births
Alistair
Distinctive and composed, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 265 births · #897Peak: 2025 · 265 births
Ambrose
Uncommon without feeling eccentric, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 358 births · #735Peak: 2021 · 402 births
Ansel
Refined enough to stand out quietly, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 186 births · #1,138Peak: 2025 · 186 births
Augustin
Rare with a polished sound, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 93 births · #1,743Peak: 2025 · 93 births
Bastian
Distinctive and composed, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 219 births · #1,021Peak: 2024 · 224 births
Benedict
Uncommon without feeling eccentric, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 305 births · #814Peak: 2025 · 305 births
Caspian
Refined enough to stand out quietly, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 614 births · #491Peak: 2025 · 614 births
Cassian
Rare with a polished sound, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 633 births · #479Peak: 2025 · 633 births
Cillian
Distinctive and composed, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 595 births · #507Peak: 2024 · 668 births
Cormac
Uncommon without feeling eccentric, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 150 births · #1,298Peak: 2014 · 196 births
Dashiell
Refined enough to stand out quietly, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 61 births · #2,291Peak: 2015 · 174 births
Dorian
Rare with a polished sound, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 557 births · #539Peak: 2008 · 641 births
Edmund
Distinctive and composed, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 199 births · #1,082Peak: 1923 · 1,145 births
Evander
Uncommon without feeling eccentric, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 389 births · #698Peak: 2025 · 389 births
Florian
Refined enough to stand out quietly, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 54 births · #2,495Peak: 1921 · 125 births
Hadrian
Rare with a polished sound, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 50 births · #2,617Peak: 2025 · 50 births
Idris
Distinctive and composed, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 391 births · #694Peak: 2025 · 391 births
Leander
Uncommon without feeling eccentric, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 122 births · #1,463Peak: 2025 · 122 births
Lucian
Refined enough to stand out quietly, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 670 births · #462Peak: 2025 · 670 births
Magnus
Rare with a polished sound, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 337 births · #765Peak: 2021 · 354 births
Marcel
Distinctive and composed, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 364 births · #731Peak: 2022 · 417 births
Nikolai
Uncommon without feeling eccentric, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 469 births · #605Peak: 2016 · 639 births
Octavian
Refined enough to stand out quietly, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 51 births · #2,592Peak: 2021 · 66 births
Orson
Rare with a polished sound, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 126 births · #1,433Peak: 2023 · 132 births
Rafferty
Distinctive and composed, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 14 births · #6,360Peak: 2024 · 19 births
Rhodes
Uncommon without feeling eccentric, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 511 births · #575Peak: 2025 · 511 births
Soren
Refined enough to stand out quietly, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 665 births · #464Peak: 2025 · 665 births
Stellan
Rare with a polished sound, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 186 births · #1,140Peak: 2025 · 186 births
Vaughn
Distinctive and composed, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 183 births · #1,153Peak: 1949 · 374 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.
Refined sound does not require popularity
Many polished boys’ names live well below the most common charts. Longer vowel patterns, traditional endings and historical use can give a name a refined feel even when it is rarely heard.
Balance distinction with pronunciation
A rare name is easier to live with when most people can make a reasonable first attempt at saying it. If pronunciation is not obvious, decide whether the name matters enough to you to correct people occasionally.
Compare rare choices on the same scale
The 2025 data makes it easier to see that “rare” covers a large range. A name with 500 births and a name with 20 births will feel very different in practice.
Build a shortlist before you rank it
Save the names that make you stop for a second. After you have five to ten, compare sound, initials, likely nicknames and current popularity. A smaller shortlist makes the differences much easier to hear.
Remember that national data is only one lens
A U.S. rank cannot measure family meaning, cultural fit or how common a name feels in your own community. Use the numbers for context, then give your personal reasons more weight.
Roscoe's pick
Orson
Orson has a strong, tailored sound and a long history of use while remaining well outside the mainstream.
More names to explore
Questions parents ask
Are these rare handsome boy names feel refined actually rare?
The style pages are editorial, but every name card also shows its exact-spelling 2025 U.S. count when SSA published one. Data-led pages use explicit thresholds or rank movement.
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. If you love the sound, meaning or family connection, a rising rank may not change your decision.
Will the same name be equally rare outside the United States?
No. Popularity varies by country, region, language and community. The numbers on this site describe U.S. national data unless a page says otherwise.