Names to add to your shortlist
Bram
Playfully eerie, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 56 births · #2,422Peak: 2016 · 72 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
A darker choice for an autumn-loving family, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 617 births · #486Peak: 2005 · 2,454 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
Lazarus
Playfully eerie, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 185 births · #1,143Peak: 2025 · 185 births
Lucian
Lucian reached its highest published U.S. count in 2025 with 670 births, so this uncommon spelling is currently at a historical high.
2025 U.S.: 670 births · #462Peak: 2025 · 670 births
Mortimer
SSA published no 2025 count for Mortimer; this exact spelling had either zero to four U.S. male births nationally.
2025 U.S.: no published countPeak: 1916 · 91 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
Atmospheric and uncommon, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 78 births · #1,972Peak: 2025 · 78 births
Salem
Salem recorded 400 U.S. births in 2025 at #679; it is distinctive, although not among the statistically rarest choices on the site.
2025 U.S.: 400 births · #679Peak: 2024 · 442 births
Severin
Memorable with a supernatural edge, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 15 births · #6,089Peak: 2014 · 28 births
Storm
Storm recorded 69 U.S. births in 2025 at #2,124, keeping this exact spelling well beyond the most-used 1,000 boy names.
2025 U.S.: 69 births · #2,124Peak: 1995 · 165 births
Vesper
Vesper had just 8 published U.S. births in 2025 at #9,644, putting this exact spelling deep into rare-name territory.
2025 U.S.: 8 births · #9,644Peak: 2024 · 12 births
Wolf
Wolf recorded 83 U.S. births in 2025 at #1,902, keeping this exact spelling well beyond the most-used 1,000 boy names.
2025 U.S.: 83 births · #1,902Peak: 2021 · 107 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
Blaise
Playfully eerie, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 213 births · #1,038Peak: 2015 · 283 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
Ebon
A darker choice for an autumn-loving family, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: no published countPeak: 1977 · 16 births
Ghost
SSA published no 2025 count for Ghost; this exact spelling had either zero to four U.S. male births nationally.
2025 U.S.: no published countPeak: 2020 · 5 births
Hawthorne
Playfully eerie, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 24 births · #4,305Peak: 2016 · 36 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
Rune
Rune reached its highest published U.S. count in 2025 with 90 births, so this uncommon spelling is currently at a historical high.
2025 U.S.: 90 births · #1,789Peak: 2025 · 90 births
Thorne
Memorable with a supernatural edge, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 8 births · #9,614Peak: 2001 · 21 births
Victor
Victor recorded 1,664 U.S. births in 2025 at #211; it is distinctive, although not among the statistically rarest choices on the site.
2025 U.S.: 1,664 births · #211Peak: 1990 · 4,445 births
Zephyr
Zephyr recorded 169 U.S. births in 2025 at #1,203, keeping this exact spelling well beyond the most-used 1,000 boy names.
2025 U.S.: 169 births · #1,203Peak: 2022 · 195 births
Basil
Basil has a much stronger historical footprint than its current use: 281 births at its 1924 peak versus 74 in 2025.
2025 U.S.: 74 births · #2,022Peak: 1924 · 281 births
Crispin
Memorable with a supernatural edge, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
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
Osric
Osric had just 10 published U.S. births in 2025 at #8,069, putting this exact spelling deep into rare-name territory.
2025 U.S.: 10 births · #8,069Peak: 2015 · 10 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.
Spooky can be playful instead of severe
Not every name here is meant to sound frightening. Some simply have an autumn, literary or supernatural association that gives them more atmosphere than a standard list.
Association strength varies
Poe or Ghost makes a very direct statement. Orson or Dorian is subtler. Decide how obvious you want the theme to be before narrowing the list.
A themed middle name is another option
If you love a dramatic choice but hesitate to use it every day, it may work beautifully in the middle position beside a more familiar first name.
Roscoe's pick
Orson
Orson feels mysterious and vintage without making the spooky theme too literal.
More names to explore
Questions parents ask
Are rare spooky 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.