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Looking for unique masculine names? Check out these unique names for boys, with a focus on masculine strong sounding names.
Too often you’ll come across unique baby name lists where the names are so out there that they don’t sound wearable. I made this list with a focus on names that are fresh, wearable, and will grow into adulthood with a baby.
I’m a researcher who has spent over five years analyzing name trends and collecting hidden gems. Now, I’m here to help you on your name search with this guide to rare names for boys.
Each name below also include their meaning and origins to help give you all the pertinent information about the name in one place, sourced from my personal database of names.
Now, let’s check out the names!
What makes a unique name?
Before diving in, here are the criteria I used for selecting unique names. These are names you likely won’t hear in your kids class in the future.
Each name on this list had to be truly rare. I used the Social Security Administration name data as my source for determining unique baby boy names.
Every name is outside of the top 1000, and many of them have never cracked the list in the last century.
Unique names for boys
Now let’s check out these rare masculine names. There are so many cool names on this list.
I personally like the rhythmic sound of Emeric. And, Fitzwilliam is a unique full name if you love the classic nickname Will (its one of my favorites on my list of 50 formal names for Will).
Finally, with the rarity of Z names, names like Zeno are doubly unique. Don’t worry, I have more Z names for boys too if you love unique Z names.
1. Angus
- Meaning: choice
- Origin: Scottish
2. Barnaby
- Meaning: son of consolation
- Origin: English
3. Baxter
- Meaning: baker
- Origin: English
4. Bram
- Meaning: father of many
- Origin: Hebrew
5. Buzz
- Meaning: low humming
- Origin: English
6. Ciro
- Meaning: sun
- Origin: Italian; Spanish
7. Darragh
- Meaning: oak tree
- Origin: Irish
8. Dimas
- Meaning: sunset
- Origin: Greek
9. Emeric
- Meaning: home ruler
- Origin: German
10. Fitzwilliam
- Meaning: son of William
- Origin: French
11. Forrester
- Meaning: woodsman
- Origin: French
12. Hawk
- Meaning: bird of prey
- Origin: English
13. Hayward
- Meaning: guardian of the hedges
- Origin: English
14. Holt
- Meaning: small woods
- Origin: English
15. Mars
- Meaning: God of War
- Origin: Latin
16. Oisin
- Meaning: deer
- Origin: Irish
17. Olar
- Meaning: green beast
- Origin: Norwegian
18. Olympio
- Meaning: from Mount Olympus
- Origin: Greek
19. Orazio
- Meaning: prayer
- Origin: Italian
20. Orfeo
- Meaning: darkness of night
- Origin: Greek
21. Ortego
- Meaning: nettle
- Origin: Latin; Spanish
22. Peregrine
- Meaning: traveller
- Origin: English
23. Phelan
- Meaning: wolf
- Origin: Irish
24. Phineas
- Meaning: Nubian, mouth of a snake
- Origin: Hebrew
25. Pierson
- Meaning: son of Peter, rock
- Origin: Greek
26. Rafferty
- Meaning: prosperous
- Origin: Irish
27. Robinson
- Meaning: son of Robin
- Origin: English
28. Rook
- Meaning: passerine bird
- Origin: English
29. Silvanus
- Meaning: of the woods
- Origin: Latin
30. Tolbert
- Meaning: bright valley
- Origin: German
31. Zebadiah
- Meaning: God’s gift
- Origin: Hebrew
32. Zeno
- Meaning: Gift of Zeus
- Origin: Greek
33. Zoran
- Meaning: dawn
- Origin: Slavic
Unique names with masculine meanings
Next up are unique boy names with masculine meanings. The names below are not only unique but also have meanings like “manly” and “bold.”
Of these names, I personally love Emrys for the juxtaposition of a softer sounding name but a strong meaning. Ivor is also a cool, unique alternative to popular Ivan.
34. Argus
- Meaning: vigilant guardian
- Origin: Greek
35. Arsenio
- Meaning: manly
- Origin: Greek
36. Baldwin
- Meaning: bold and brave
- Origin: German
37. Baltazar
- Meaning: protects the king
- Origin: Hebrew
38. Boaz
- Meaning: swift, strong
- Origin: Hebrew
39. Emrys
- Meaning: immortal
- Origin: Welsh
40. Farrell
- Meaning: man of valor
- Origin: Irish
41. Faulkner
- Meaning: falcon trainer
- Origin: French
42. Fergus
- Meaning: strong, masculine
- Origin: Scottish
43. Ivor
- Meaning: bow man
- Origin: Norse
44. Leopold
- Meaning: brave
- Origin: German
45. Montgomery
- Meaning: man power
- Origin: French
46. Orso
- Meaning: bear
- Origin: Latin
47. Ragnar
- Meaning: warrior
- Origin: Norse
48. Steele
- Meaning: like steel
- Origin: English
49. Viggo
- Meaning: battle
- Origin: Scandinavian, Norse
50. Wolf
- Meaning: wild dog
- Origin: English
Conclusion
Remember that when it comes to unique names, baby name trends are often surprising. Today’s unique name may become tomorrow’s new fad.
For example, names like Finley and Atlas weren’t on the radar until they spiked in popularity in the last decace (source: Social Security Administration data).
At the end of the day, pick that name that feels right and timeless to you since there is ultimately no guarantee that a unique name stays that way.
Read more:
Looking for more boy name ideas? Here are handpicked first and middle names for boys that flow well together.
Want even more unique names? Then heaed to my list of truly rare unisex names.
