These ‘Rare’ Boy Names Are Probably Not as Rare as You Think

Finding a rare name for your baby boy might not be as easy as you hope. My 5-year-old loves telling me how many other Liams are in his class, and it’s no surprise. It was the top baby boy name of 2023, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA) baby name data (and his middle name is also in the top 10). So, if you want your son to stand out among his schoolmates, how do you ensure their name is actually unique?

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One way to help lower the odds of your kids sharing a name with others in the neighborhood is to look at name trends. Luckily, we did it for you! We combed through the SSA’s baby name lists and noticed that many names we thought were rare — but were actually given to more than 1,000 babies in 2023 alone.

If you are looking for something ultra-exclusive to name your baby boy, you should read this list first just in case. You might be surprised to see something you thought was original is actually pretty popular!

Sebastian – 8,865 babies born in 2023

Sebastian has Greek and Latin roots and it means “venerable” or “revered.” It’s also the name of the crab from Disney’s The Little Mermaid! Although you might not hear of a Sebastian on every playground, this name was given to almost 9,000 babies last year, so it’s about to become much more commonplace.

Luca – 7,770 babies born in 2023

Luca is an Italian name and has risen in popularity after Disney’s Luca was released in 2021. It means “bringer of light.” Many celebrities have used this name, like Hilary Duff.

Julian – 7,078 babies born in 2023

Julian means “youthful” (or more accurately, “downy-bearded,” which is a signifier of youth) and is a name used by multiple Roman emperors through history.

Kai – 4,946 babies born in 2023

Kai means “the sea” in Hawaiian and “fire” in Scottish. It’s a beautiful name perfect for a summer baby, but since nearly 5,000 babies were given this name last year, it may not be as rare as you think.

Thiago – 4,505 babies born in 2023

Thiago is of Brazilian origin and means “supplanter” — it’s derived from the name Santiago, which is the Spanish version of the name James! The Portuguese Tiago is another variant.

Weston – 4,356 babies born in 2023

Weston is of English origin, and it strictly translates to “West town.” However, parents are probably loving its unique sound and nickname potential (Westie?!).

Gael – 3,616 babies born in 2023

Gael is an Irish name that means “stranger” or “a Gaelic person”. With nearly 4,000 babies born with Gael in 2023, this name is not as strange or unique as it might have once been.

Atlas – 3,197 babies born in 2023

Atlas is a strong Greek name that means “a Titan,” and we bet it’s going to become even more popular thanks to it being the main character in Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us , with Blake Lively starring in the film adaption this year.

Adriel – 3,185 babies born in 2023

Adriel is a Biblical name that means “the flock of God.”

Legend – 2,492 babies born in 2023

Legend is a literal word name that means “hero or fable.” It might be rising in popularity thanks to famous singer John Legend, or just the fact that people are increasingly gravitating toward ego-boosting names like King, Epic, and Saint.

Stetson – 1,987 babies born in 2023

Stetson means “boxer” or “fighter,” and it’s also the name of a popular brand of Western wear .

Barrett – 1,780 babies born in 2023

Recently chosen by Shawn Johnson for her youngest baby, Barrett means “bear.” It could be strong as a wild bear or cuddly as a teddy bear, and it’s oh so cute. No wonder it’s rising in popularity!

Kyrie – 1,474 babies born in 2023

Although this name feels one-of-a-kind, it’s not. Kyrie is probably going to blow up soon, thanks to beloved Dallas Mavericks basketball player Kyrie Irving. The name is derived from the Greek word kyrious and means “lord.”

Crew – 1,316 babies born in 2023

Crew is from English origin and it means “a band or force or armed men.” The Young and the Restless star Joshua Morrow named his son Crew, as did Chip and Joanna Gaines.

Tobias – 1,213 babies born in 2023

Tobias means “God is good.” The rise in popularity could be spiritual, or it could be because Divergent fans have grown up and are having babies now!

Onyx – 1,069 babies born in 2023

Onyx name means “black gemstone,” with its original Greek meaning “nail” or “claw.” Celebrities have used this name for their kids, including Alanis Morrissette and Iggy Azalea.

Kyler – 1,031 babies born in 2023

Kyler is of Irish and Gaelic origin. It’s a place-name that refers to “the narrows.” It could also mean “a wood” or “a church.” It feels new because it’s a blend of two other formerly popular names: Kyle and Tyler. But with over 1,000 babies given this name last year, it’s becoming popular in its own right.

Just because these names aren’t as rare as you might have hoped doesn’t mean you can’t still use them! But if you are looking for something totally different, check out this list of rare baby names only used five times last year!

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