Very rare boy names with 5 to 99 published births
Every name in this table had between 5 and 99 published U.S. boy births in 2025. The historical peak is the year with the highest published count for that exact spelling in the 1880-2025 national archive.
| Name | 2025 births | 2025 rank | Peak year | Peak births |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvan | 99 | #1,674 | 1918 | 103 |
| Caelum | 97 | #1,690 | 2025 | 97 |
| Viggo | 97 | #1,697 | 2025 | 97 |
| Judd | 96 | #1,704 | 1970 | 158 |
| Calder | 94 | #1,731 | 2016 | 120 |
| Augustin | 93 | #1,743 | 2025 | 93 |
| Ender | 93 | #1,745 | 2022 | 153 |
| Rain | 93 | #1,751 | 2024 | 101 |
| Roderick | 93 | #1,752 | 1971 | 1,057 |
| Irving | 90 | #1,783 | 1918 | 1,533 |
| Rune | 90 | #1,789 | 2025 | 90 |
| Wolf | 83 | #1,902 | 2021 | 107 |
| Cornelius | 82 | #1,908 | 1974 | 486 |
| Huck | 82 | #1,909 | 2018 | 139 |
| Linus | 82 | #1,913 | 2017 | 166 |
| Cosmo | 80 | #1,934 | 2022 | 99 |
| Journey | 79 | #1,951 | 2019 | 125 |
| Rook | 78 | #1,972 | 2025 | 78 |
| Arrow | 77 | #1,976 | 2018 | 172 |
| Jed | 76 | #1,999 | 1978 | 282 |
| Basil | 74 | #2,022 | 1924 | 281 |
| Alfie | 72 | #2,056 | 2024 | 75 |
| Lake | 72 | #2,068 | 2024 | 105 |
| Nigel | 71 | #2,088 | 1994 | 448 |
| Cai | 69 | #2,113 | 2022 | 108 |
| Storm | 69 | #2,124 | 1995 | 165 |
| Oswald | 67 | #2,161 | 1916 | 107 |
| Kipp | 66 | #2,173 | 1964 | 84 |
| Floyd | 63 | #2,237 | 1926 | 3,623 |
| Roscoe | 63 | #2,248 | 1920 | 604 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby-name files through 2025. Counts refer to the exact spelling shown. Names with fewer than five occurrences are omitted from the national public files.
Fewer than 100 is a clear threshold
We use a simple published-count rule on this page. It avoids vague claims and makes every included name comparable on the same 2025 scale.
The public file starts at five births
SSA does not publish national name entries with fewer than five births for a sex in a year. A missing name therefore cannot be separated into zero versus one to four births using this dataset.
Very rare can mean more explaining
A truly unusual name may require more spelling or pronunciation help. Decide whether that tradeoff feels worthwhile for the name you love.
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
Bram
Bram is genuinely rare in 2025 while still having a familiar spelling and literary history.
More names to explore
Questions parents ask
Are these very rare boy names with fewer than 100 u.s. births 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.