200+ Forgotten Baby Boy Names That Deserve a Comeback

Baby name trends move in cycles, and somewhere along the way a whole generation of boy names got quietly shelved. You know the type — the names your grandfather or great-uncle carried, sturdy and a little old-fashioned, distinguished on a birth certificate and even better on a grown man. This list goes digging through that shelved generation, dusts off the best of them, and makes the case for bringing a few home.

Popularity below is calculated from Social Security Administration data through 2024, the most recent year on record.

Here’s what’s in store – 

This list is for the names still in the attic. The ones your great-great-grandfather might have answered to, the ones that filled Sunday school rosters in 1885 and then quietly disappeared by 1950. Some are buttoned-up and dignified, some are softly Welsh or impishly Old English, some sound like they belong on a sea captain’s logbook. All of them have weight — real meanings, real history, real syllables that haven’t been worn smooth by overuse.

I expanded this list from the original 49 because moms in my Pinterest comments kept asking for more — more pre-1900 finds, more European imports that never quite landed in the U.S., more names with stories behind them. So here are 200+, organized by mood and era rather than alphabetized, because the right name usually announces itself by feel before it does by spelling.

A note on usage: a “forgotten” name today is often just a name waiting for its decade. Many of these sat in the bottom 1,000 of the SSA charts a generation ago and are now climbing fast. If you want something that feels heritage-rich but not trendy, you’re in the right place.

Stately Victorian Names With Backbone

These are the names of bank presidents, country doctors, and the men who built the libraries you still read in. Full-bodied, three-syllable, no apologies.

Cornelius

• Origin: Latin (Roman gens name)
• Pronunciation: kor-NEEL-yus · kɔːrˈniːljəs
• Meaning: horn
• Popularity: #2,150 and falling (#1,898 → #2,150, 2024)

Sturdy old Roman name softened by the easy nickname Neil.

Thaddeus

• Origin: uncertain (Aramaic or Ancient Greek, disputed)
• Pronunciation: THAD-ee-us · ˈθædiəs
• Meaning: Heart, courageous
• Popularity: #850 and rising (#898 → #850, 2024)

Has the gravitas of a name from a 19th-century novel without feeling fussy.

Bartholomew

• Origin: Aramaic (via Greek Bartholomaios, Latin Bartholomaeus)
• Pronunciation: bar-THOL-uh-myoo · bɑːrˈθɑːləmjuː
• Meaning: son of Talmai (Talmai being a personal name, possibly the biblical king of Geshur or a rendering of ‘Ptolemy’)
• Popularity: #3,323 and rising (#3,477 → #3,323, 2024)

A long name with a wink — Bart, Bram, or Bartie all work.

Ebenezer

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: eb-en-EE-zer · ˌɛbɪˈniːzər
• Meaning: memorial stone marking God’s help
• Popularity: #2,598 and falling (#2,513 → #2,598, 2024)

Past Scrooge now, this one is genuinely sweet with the nickname Eben.

Mortimer

• Origin: Anglo-Norman/Old French (place name)
• Pronunciation: MOR-tih-mer · ˈmɔːrtɪmər
• Meaning: dead pond / still water
• Popularity: #13,519 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

British and self-assured; Morty if you want it softer.

Reginald

• Origin: Germanic (via Latin)
• Pronunciation: REJ-i-nuhld · ˈrɛdʒɪnəld
• Meaning: counsel combined with rule or power, from Germanic elements
• Popularity: #1,178 and falling (#1,107 → #1,178, 2024)

Regal at full length, instantly approachable as Reggie.

Percival

• Origin: Old French (Arthurian, probably from Welsh/Celtic)
• Pronunciation: PUR-si-vul · ˈpɜːrsɪvəl
• Meaning: probably from the Welsh Arthurian name Peredur, reshaped in Old French to resemble ‘pierce’ + ‘valley’
• Popularity: #1,768 and rising (#2,265 → #1,768, 2024)

Arthurian and unexpectedly cool in 2026.

Algernon

• Origin: Old French (nickname/surname)
• Pronunciation: AL-jer-nun · ˈældʒərnən
• Meaning: having a mustache
• Popularity: #12,275 as of 2016 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Quirky and literary, made for a sensitive bookworm.

Horatio

• Origin: Latin (via Italian, from the Roman gens name Horatius)
• Pronunciation: huh-RAY-shee-oh · həˈreɪʃioʊ
• Meaning: uncertain; possibly connected to ‘hour’ (a proposed ‘timekeeper’ sense)
• Popularity: #9,296 and rising (#9,304 → #9,296, 2024)

Strong, oceanic, faintly Shakespearean.

Ignatius

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: ig-NAY-shus · ɪgˈneɪʃəs
• Meaning: popularly read as ‘fiery, ardent’ by resemblance to Latin ignis; actually a respelling of the older Roman name Egnatius, whose real root is uncertain
• Popularity: #1,734 and rising (#1,804 → #1,734, 2024)

Has been quietly climbing — Iggy is a charmer of a nickname.

Phineas

• Origin: disputed (Ancient Greek / Hebrew / Egyptian)
• Pronunciation: FIN-ee-us · ˈfɪniəs
• Meaning: Oracle
• Popularity: #1,538 and rising (#1,715 → #1,538, 2024)

Bright and slightly mischievous, a P.T. Barnum name.

Ambrose

• Origin: Greek (via Latin)
• Pronunciation: AM-brohz · ˈæmbroʊz
• Meaning: immortal, divine (belonging to the immortals)
• Popularity: #741 and rising (#788 → #741, 2024)

Velvety and saintly without being heavy.

Cyrus

• Origin: Old Persian (via Greek Kŷros)
• Pronunciation: SY-rus · ˈsaɪrəs
• Meaning: Sun
• Popularity: #254 and rising (#296 → #254, 2024)

Old Testament king’s name with crisp modern energy.

Leopold

• Origin: Germanic
• Pronunciation: LEE-uh-pold · ˈliːəpoʊld
• Meaning: bold/brave people
• Popularity: #2,082 and falling (#1,856 → #2,082, 2024)

Royal, intellectual, ages from baby to professor seamlessly.

Alistair

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic (form of Alexander)
• Pronunciation: AL-ih-stair · ˈælɪstɛr
• Meaning: protector of men
• Popularity: #905 and rising (#919 → #905, 2024)

Tweedy in the best way.

Augustus

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: aw-GUS-tus · ɔːˈɡʌstəs
• Meaning: majestic and venerable
• Popularity: #408 and rising (#486 → #408, 2024)

Imperial but warmed up by Gus or Auggie.

Barnaby

• Origin: Aramaic (medieval English vernacular form of Barnabas)
• Pronunciation: BAR-nuh-bee · ˈbɑːrnəbi
• Meaning: son of the prophet
• Popularity: #9,996 and rising (#12,463 → #9,996, 2024)

Bouncy and bright — feels like a kid in a striped shirt.

Clarence

• Origin: English (place name/title, from Clare, Suffolk)
• Pronunciation: KLAIR-uns · ˈklærəns
• Meaning: Bright, clear
• Popularity: #1,558, holding steady (2024)

Quietly back on the rise; has a kindly grandpa softness.

Ulysses

• Origin: Latin (form of Greek Odysseus)
• Pronunciation: yoo-LISS-eez · juːˈlɪsiːz
• Meaning: Wrathful, wounded in the thigh
• Popularity: #1,291 and falling (#1,195 → #1,291, 2024)

Big literary name; one U.S. president and one James Joyce.

Wendell

• Origin: Germanic (Old German)
• Pronunciation: WEN-duhl · ˈwɛndəl
• Meaning: a Wend (member of a Slavic people)
• Popularity: #2,068 and falling (#1,692 → #2,068, 2024)

Underused and intellectual — Wendell Berry energy.

Archibald

• Origin: Germanic (via Anglo-Norman/Old French)
• Pronunciation: AHR-chuh-bawld · ˈɑːrtʃɪbɔːld
• Meaning: genuine and bold
• Popularity: #1,174 and rising (#1,291 → #1,174, 2024)

The full name has spine; Archie is a soft-landing nickname.

Rutherford

• Origin: Old English (place name / surname)
• Pronunciation: RUHTH-er-ferd · ˈrʌðərfərd
• Meaning: Old English for ‘ford used by cattle’ — a river crossing for driving cattle
• Popularity: #7,642 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Statesman name, big and architectural.

Sylvester

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: sil-VES-ter · sɪlˈvɛstər
• Meaning: of the woods or forest
• Popularity: #2,108 and rising (#2,172 → #2,108, 2024)

Velvet-y, witchy in a good way, woods-and-fireplace.

Theophilus

• Origin: Greek (via Latin and Middle English)
• Pronunciation: thee-OF-ih-luhs · θiˈɒfɪləs
• Meaning: Greek for ‘friend of God’ or ‘one who loves God’ (theos ‘god’ + philos ‘loving, dear’)
• Popularity: #2,225 and rising (#2,270 → #2,225, 2024)

Lush and unusual — Theo without the queue line.

Octavius

• Origin: Latin (Roman gens name)
• Pronunciation: ok-TAY-vee-us · ɒkˈteɪviəs
• Meaning: eighth (from Latin Octavus)
• Popularity: #2,020 and falling (#1,827 → #2,020, 2024)

Roman and rare; works beautifully as a middle name too.

Montgomery

• Origin: Norman French (place name, from a personal name)
• Pronunciation: munt-GUM-er-ee · mɒntˈɡʌməri
• Meaning: Gomeric’s hill
• Popularity: #1,090 and falling (#1,042 → #1,090, 2024)

Preppy-vintage, Monty is the gift.

Lysander

• Origin: Greek
• Pronunciation: ly-SAN-der · laɪˈsændər
• Meaning: liberator of men
• Popularity: #2,198 and rising (#3,760 → #2,198, 2024)

Romantic, Shakespearean, sounds like a thunderstorm at sunset.

Soft Old English Names That Sound Like a Field at Dawn

Names from old parish registers — short, vowel-rich, with a quiet woodsmoke quality. Many of these sat dormant for a century and feel weirdly modern now.

Alden

• Origin: Old English
• Pronunciation: AWL-den · ˈɔːldən
• Meaning: old friend (from Ealdwine: eald ‘old’ + wine ‘friend’)
• Popularity: #576 and rising (#639 → #576, 2024)

Has the easy two-syllable rhythm of Aiden without the saturation.

Edmund

• Origin: Old English
• Pronunciation: ED-mund · ˈɛdmənd
• Meaning: wealthy protector
• Popularity: #1,182 and falling (#1,098 → #1,182, 2024)

Steady, kind, Narnia-coded.

Edgar

• Origin: Old English
• Pronunciation: ED-gur · ˈɛdgər
• Meaning: wealthy spear
• Popularity: #457 and falling (#436 → #457, 2024)

Cuthbert

• Origin: Old English
• Pronunciation: KUTH-bert · ˈkʌθbərt
• Meaning: renowned and bright
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Deeply old; nicknames Bertie or Cubby are pure cottage-core.

Wilfred

• Origin: Old English/Germanic
• Pronunciation: WIL-frid · ˈwɪlfrɪd
• Meaning: will + peace — roughly ‘one who desires peace’
• Popularity: #5,038 and falling (#3,869 → #5,038, 2024)

Soft and bookish; the Owen Wilson of vintage names.

Hollis

• Origin: English (topographic surname)
• Pronunciation: HOL-is · ˈhɑːlɪs
• Meaning: one who lived near holly trees
• Popularity: #1,053 and falling (#1,000 → #1,053, 2024)

Used to be unisex-leaning male; comeback is happening quietly.

Linton

• Origin: Old English (place name); unisex given name
• Pronunciation: LIN-tən · ˈlɪntən
• Meaning: An Old English place name meaning ‘settlement by the flax’ or, alternatively, ‘settlement by the lime/linden trees’ — Wiktionary gives both as possible first elements.
• Popularity: #11,683 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Wuthering Heights energy with a soft landing.

Crispin

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: KRIS-pin · ˈkrɪspɪn
• Meaning: curly-haired
• Popularity: #6,893 and rising (#7,371 → #6,893, 2024)

Festive (St. Crispin’s Day) and rare in the U.S.

Ellis

• Origin: Welsh and English (dual-origin surname)
• Pronunciation: EL-is · ˈɛlɪs
• Meaning: benevolent, kind (Welsh); alt. English form of Elias/Elijah
• Popularity: #273 and rising (#274 → #273, 2024)

The kind of name that sounds 8 and 80 equally well.

Wallace

• Origin: Scottish/English (surname, from Anglo-Norman/Old English)
• Pronunciation: WAH-liss · ˈwɑːlɪs
• Meaning: foreigner, Welshman
• Popularity: #981 and rising (#1,016 → #981, 2024)

Tender and a little goofy in the loveliest way.

Bramwell

• Origin: English (surname, no confirmed etymology)
• Pronunciation: BRAM-wel · ˈbræmwɛl
• Meaning: Bramble spring
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Outdoorsy and Brontë-adjacent.

Royston

• Origin: Old English (place name / surname)
• Pronunciation: ROY-stuhn · ˈrɔɪstən
• Meaning: an English place name meaning ‘settlement of a person called Royce’ (Royce being a medieval given name)
• Popularity: #10,582 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Underused English place-name, would wear well.

Halsey

• Origin: Old English (place name / surname)
• Pronunciation: HAWL-zee · ˈhɔːlzi
• Meaning: an Old English place name combining ‘neck of land’ and ‘island’ — describing a headland or spit near water, not related to hazel trees
• Popularity: #12,913 and falling (#9,165 → #12,913, 2024)

Now female-coded in pop culture, but historically a boy’s name with deep roots.

Garrick

• Origin: Old English (from Germanic)
• Pronunciation: GAIR-ik · ˈɡærɪk
• Meaning: spear ruler
• Popularity: #6,256 and rising (#9,186 → #6,256, 2024)

Sharp and theatrical without being precious.

Thurston

• Origin: Old Norse
• Pronunciation: THUR-stun · ˈθɜːr.stən
• Meaning: Thor’s stone
• Popularity: #8,234 and rising (#9,646 → #8,234, 2024)

Granite and rolling hills.

Aldred

• Origin: Old English
• Pronunciation: AWL-drid · ˈɔːldrɪd
• Meaning: wise counsel (linked to Æthelred, ‘well-advised’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Lo-fi medieval, a hidden-gem alternative to Alfred.

Wystan

• Origin: Old English
• Pronunciation: WISS-tuhn · ˈwɪstən
• Meaning: battle stone (Old English wig ‘battle’ + stan ‘stone’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Poet W.H. Auden’s first name; a writer’s pick.

Caedmon

• Origin: Old English (name of the historical Northumbrian poet, ultimate root disputed, possibly Brittonic/Celtic)
• Pronunciation: KAD-muhn · ˈkæd.mən
• Meaning: Wise warrior
• Popularity: #9,089 and falling (#5,693 → #9,089, 2024)

The earliest known English-language poet.

Branwell

• Origin: English (surname, Cornish/Welsh-linked)
• Pronunciation: BRAN-wel · ˈbrænwɛl
• Meaning: raven well
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The forgotten Brontë brother’s name; melancholy and beautiful.

Edwy

• Origin: Old English (variant of Eadwig)
• Pronunciation: ED-wee · ˈɛdwi
• Meaning: Wealthy war
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Tiny, soft, almost no one is using it.

Hawkin

• Origin: Middle English
• Pronunciation: HAW-kin · ˈhɔːkɪn
• Meaning: Little hawk
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Hawk for short — masculine and woodsy.

Lyle

• Origin: Old French (English/Scottish surname)
• Pronunciation: LY-uhl · ˈlaɪəl
• Meaning: island
• Popularity: #1,018 and rising (#1,106 → #1,018, 2024)

One syllable, totally unbothered, vintage-cool.

Wynn

• Origin: Welsh (surname)
• Pronunciation: WIN · ˈwɪn
• Meaning: fair, white, blessed, from the Welsh surname Wynn, related to Gwyn
• Popularity: #1,927 and falling (#1,867 → #1,927, 2024)

Brief and bright as a struck bell.

Dunstan

• Origin: Old English
• Pronunciation: DUN-stuhn · ˈdʌnstən
• Meaning: hill stone
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Saint’s name with a satisfying weight.

Egerton

• Origin: Old English (place name / surname)
• Pronunciation: EDJ-er-tuhn · ˈɛdʒərtən
• Meaning: an English place name meaning roughly ‘settlement of a man called Ecgheard or Ecghere’, later used as a surname and then a given name
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Posh-British and basically extinct.

Names From the 1890s Census That Vanished

Pull up a U.S. census from 1890 and you’ll see these names everywhere — then watch them vaporize by 1940. They’re the working-man and the schoolmaster names of that era, and they’re due.

Floyd

• Origin: Welsh (Anglicized)
• Pronunciation: FLOYD · flɔɪd
• Meaning: gray, gray-haired
• Popularity: #2,169 and rising (#2,515 → #2,169, 2024)

Bluesy and warm, the name of jazzmen and corner-store owners.

Clyde

• Origin: Scottish (from the River Clyde)
• Pronunciation: KLYDE · ˈklaɪd
• Meaning: named for the River Clyde in Scotland
• Popularity: #728 and falling (#721 → #728, 2024)

Smooth, brief, a little outlaw-romantic.

Wilbur

• Origin: Old English (surname, from the female name Wilburg)
• Pronunciation: WIL-ber · ˈwɪlbər
• Meaning: will joined with fortress
• Popularity: #2,986 and rising (#3,553 → #2,986, 2024)

Charlotte’s Web cleared the way for this one to return.

Roscoe

• Origin: English (place name of Old Norse origin)
• Pronunciation: ROS-koh · ˈrɑːskoʊ
• Meaning: deer forest / roebuck wood
• Popularity: #2,180 and rising (#2,267 → #2,180, 2024)

Has a saxophone in its pocket.

Otis

• Origin: English (patronymic surname, from a Germanic given name)
• Pronunciation: OH-tis · ˈoʊtɪs
• Meaning: a patronymic meaning ‘son of Ote/Ode’, a name cognate with Otto
• Popularity: #730 and falling (#654 → #730, 2024)

Already creeping back — soulful and tender.

Virgil

• Origin: Latin (Roman clan name)
• Pronunciation: VUR-jil · ˈvɜːrdʒɪl
• Meaning: Staff bearer
• Popularity: #1,542 and falling (#1,471 → #1,542, 2024)

The poet’s name, plus a quiet Americana feel.

Elmer

• Origin: Old English (via the medieval name Aylmer)
• Pronunciation: EL-mer · ˈɛl.mər
• Meaning: noble and famous (from Old English æðel ‘noble’ + mær ‘famous’)
• Popularity: #1,166 and rising (#1,351 → #1,166, 2024)

Painter Elmer Bischoff energy — gentle, artistic.

Mervin

• Origin: Welsh
• Pronunciation: MUR-vin · ˈmɜːrvɪn
• Meaning: great lord
• Popularity: #2,408 and falling (#2,306 → #2,408, 2024)

Brontosaurus-quiet, oddly endearing.

Vernon

• Origin: Old French/Norman (surname and place name, root ultimately Gaulish)
• Pronunciation: VER-nun · ˈvɜːrnən
• Meaning: place of the alder trees
• Popularity: #1,557 and rising (#1,630 → #1,557, 2024)

Like a green field in late summer.

Lester

• Origin: English (surname/place name, from Leicester)
• Pronunciation: LES-ter · ˈlɛstər
• Meaning: Roman fort
• Popularity: #1,580 and rising (#1,921 → #1,580, 2024)

Wilford

• Origin: Old English (place name)
• Pronunciation: WIL-ferd · ˈwɪlfərd
• Meaning: willow ford — a river crossing lined with willow trees
• Popularity: #14,116 and falling (#8,219 → #14,116, 2024)

Brisk and grandfatherly in the best sense.

Harvey

• Origin: Breton (via Old French/English surname)
• Pronunciation: HAR-vee · ˈhɑːrvi
• Meaning: roughly ‘iron’ and ‘blazing’ or ‘vigorous’, from the name of a Breton saint
• Popularity: #244 and rising (#326 → #244, 2024)

Already nudging back; warm-toned and friendly.

Russell

• Origin: Anglo-Norman/Old French (surname)
• Pronunciation: RUSS-el · ˈrʌsəl
• Meaning: little red-haired one
• Popularity: #367 and rising (#393 → #367, 2024)

Earthy and dependable; Russ is a great nickname.

Howard

• Origin: Old Norse (via English surname)
• Pronunciation: HOW-erd · ˈhaʊərd
• Meaning: high guardian
• Popularity: #1,056 and falling (#1,004 → #1,056, 2024)

Slightly nerdy in the most loving way.

Earl

• Origin: English (from the noble title ‘earl’)
• Pronunciation: URL · ɜːrl
• Meaning: nobleman (from the title ‘earl’, originally also ‘warrior’)
• Popularity: #2,152 and rising (#2,250 → #2,152, 2024)

A name that wears overalls and means it.

Chester

• Origin: English (from Latin, via Old English)
• Pronunciation: CHES-ter · ˈʧɛstər
• Meaning: from Latin castrum (‘fort/camp’), via Old English, referring to a fortified Roman town
• Popularity: #1,650 and rising (#1,729 → #1,650, 2024)

Already coming back fast — Chet is gold.

Homer

• Origin: Ancient Greek (poet’s name, disputed origin); unrelated English surname sense
• Pronunciation: HOH-mer · ˈhoʊmər
• Meaning: uncertain — possibly Greek for ‘hostage, pledge’ (disputed); the unrelated English surname sense means ‘helmet-maker’ or a form of ‘Holme’
• Popularity: #4,105 and falling (#3,139 → #4,105, 2024)

Classical and folksy at once.

Roy

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic
• Pronunciation: ROY · ˈrɔɪ
• Meaning: red, red-haired
• Popularity: #541 and rising (#556 → #541, 2024)

Three letters, total confidence.

Glenn

• Origin: Scottish/Irish (Gaelic place name/surname)
• Pronunciation: GLEN · ɡlɛn
• Meaning: valley
• Popularity: #1,362 and rising (#1,582 → #1,362, 2024)

Soft, midwestern, secretly cool.

Norris

• Origin: Old French / Anglo-Norman (surname)
• Pronunciation: NOR-iss · ˈnɔːrɪs
• Meaning: from an Anglo-Norman/Old French word for ‘a northerner’ — someone from the north
• Popularity: #6,360 and falling (#5,598 → #6,360, 2024)

Tidy and underused.

Marvin

• Origin: Welsh
• Pronunciation: MAR-vin · ˈmɑːrvɪn
• Meaning: probably ’eminent/great marrow’ (marrow used figuratively for vigor or essence)
• Popularity: #671 and falling (#638 → #671, 2024)

On the verge of return — Marvin Gaye gave it forever-cool.

Orville

• Origin: Literary coinage (English, possibly Welsh-influenced)
• Pronunciation: OR-vil · ˈɔːrvɪl
• Meaning: A name invented by novelist Frances Burney for a character in her 1778 novel ‘Evelina’; often read as ‘golden town,’ though it may instead draw on the Welsh name Eurfyl (‘gold’).
• Popularity: #7,117 and rising (#7,177 → #7,117, 2024)

Aviator, gentle and odd.

Delbert

• Origin: English/American (modern coinage, formation unclear)
• Pronunciation: DEL-burt · ˈdɛlbərt
• Meaning: Bright as day
• Popularity: #6,224 and falling (#5,504 → #6,224, 2024)

Country music tender.

Murray

• Origin: Scottish (place name)
• Pronunciation: MUR-ee · ˈmɝːi
• Meaning: settlement by the sea (from the place name Moray)
• Popularity: #2,726 and falling (#2,285 → #2,726, 2024)

Easygoing, warm, dad-friend energy.

Leland

• Origin: Irish Gaelic (surname)
• Pronunciation: LEE-land · ˈliːlənd
• Meaning: son of a servant of Saint Faolán (a name meaning ‘little wolf’)
• Popularity: #547 and falling (#520 → #547, 2024)

Stanford founder; quietly elegant.

Ezra

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: EZ-rah · ˈɛzrə
• Meaning: help
• Popularity: #13 and rising (#15 → #13, 2024)

The proof that any forgotten name can come back roaring.

Eustace

• Origin: Greek (via Latin/Old French)
• Pronunciation: YOO-stiss · ˈjuːstɪs
• Meaning: steadfast (or, by an alternate root, ‘fruitful’)
• Popularity: #10,174 and rising (#11,244 → #10,174, 2024)

Eccentric in the most loveable way.

Welsh and Cornish Names Americans Forgot to Borrow

These crossed the Atlantic, made a quick impression, and then got drowned out by the bigger English names. Time to revisit.

Rhys

• Origin: Welsh
• Pronunciation: REES · ˈriːs
• Meaning: enthusiasm, ardor
• Popularity: #354 and falling (#353 → #354, 2024)

Crisp and modern-sounding despite being ancient.

Bran

• Origin: English (surname)
• Pronunciation: BRAN · bræn
• Meaning: raven
• Popularity: #11,099 and falling (#9,880 → #11,099, 2024)

One-syllable, mythic, dark-feathered.

Idris

• Origin: Welsh / Arabic (dual origin)
• Pronunciation: ID-ris · ˈɪdrɪs
• Meaning: Welsh: traditionally glossed ‘ardent/fiery lord’; Arabic: tied to a root meaning ‘to study’, associated with the prophet Idris (identified with Enoch)
• Popularity: #739 and rising (#790 → #739, 2024)

Now associated with Elba — handsome and rising.

Emrys

• Origin: Welsh (from Latin Ambrosius, ultimately Ancient Greek)
• Pronunciation: EM-riss · ˈɛmrɪs
• Meaning: immortal, divine one
• Popularity: #1,138 and rising (#1,623 → #1,138, 2024)

Velvety and very Welsh-poet.

Iorwerth

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: handsome lord
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pronounced “YOR-werth”; rare and ringing.

Cadell

• Origin: Welsh
• Pronunciation: KAD-el · ˈkædɛl
• Meaning: battle (Welsh cad ‘battle’ + diminutive -ell)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Brisk and underused, sturdy nickname Cade.

Padrig

• Origin: Welsh (from Latin)
• Pronunciation: PAH-drig · ˈpadrɪɡ
• Meaning: of noble birth
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A fresh angle on a familiar name.

Madoc

• Origin: Welsh
• Pronunciation: MAD-ok · ˈmædək
• Meaning: fortunate, good (from Welsh ‘mad’)
• Popularity: #10,492 and falling (#7,076 → #10,492, 2024)

Mythic Welsh prince said to have reached America.

Owain

• Origin: Welsh (Brittonic)
• Pronunciation: OH-wine · ˈoʊaɪn
• Meaning: traditionally glossed ‘well-born,’ via a historical link to the Greek-derived name Eugene; a ‘warrior’ sense isn’t well attested
• Popularity: #13,536 as of 2020 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Older, lusher cousin of Owen.

Hywel

• Origin: Welsh
• Pronunciation: HOW-el · ˈhaʊəl
• Meaning: prominent, eminent
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pronounced “HOO-el”; soft and noble.

Caradoc

• Origin: Welsh (traditional, possibly related to Caratacus/Caradog)
• Pronunciation: kuh-RAD-ok · kəˈræd.ɒk
• Meaning: Beloved
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bright, kingly, and almost completely unused in the U.S.

Bryn

• Origin: Welsh
• Pronunciation: BRIN · ˈbrɪn
• Meaning: hill or mound
• Popularity: #6,497 and rising (#6,591 → #6,497, 2024)

Brief, masculine, lovely.

Tristan

• Origin: Celtic (Pictish/Brythonic, via Arthurian legend)
• Pronunciation: TRIS-tun · ˈtrɪstən
• Meaning: tumult, riot
• Popularity: #267 and falling (#253 → #267, 2024)

Already back, but earns its keep here.

Petroc

• Origin: Cornish/Brittonic (saint’s name, likely a diminutive of Peter)
• Pronunciation: PET-rok · ˈpɛtrɒk
• Meaning: Of the rock
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Truly rare and full of cliffside drama.

Jago

• Origin: Cornish (form of James)
• Pronunciation: JAY-goh · ˈdʒeɪɡoʊ
• Meaning: supplanter, heel-grasper
• Popularity: #9,252 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sharp and sea-glassy.

Kynan

• Origin: Welsh (variant of Cynan)
• Pronunciation: KUN-an
• Meaning: Chief
• Popularity: #13,227 as of 2020 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Confident, brisk, easy to spell.

Llewellyn

• Origin: Welsh
• Pronunciation: loo-EL-in · luːˈɛlɪn
• Meaning: Lion-like
• Popularity: #6,663 and rising (#8,035 → #6,663, 2024)

Long and rolling; Lew or Lyn for short.

Mabon

• Origin: Welsh (mythological, ultimately Brittonic)
• Pronunciation: MAB-on · ˈmæbɒn
• Meaning: son / divine son (from Brittonic Maponos)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Mythic and tender.

Tegan

• Origin: Welsh (20th-century coinage); also Irish (surname/Tadhg-diminutive)
• Pronunciation: TEE-gan · ˈtiːgən
• Meaning: darling, pet
• Popularity: #2,513 and falling (#2,383 → #2,513, 2024)

Soft and lyric.

Goronwy

• Origin: Welsh (mythological, root uncertain)
• Pronunciation: gor-ON-wee · ɡɔˈrɒnwi
• Meaning: Hero
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Buried treasure; bards used it for centuries.

Anwar

• Origin: Arabic
• Pronunciation: AHN-wahr · ˈɑːnwɑːr
• Meaning: brighter, more radiant (comparative of Arabic nur, ‘light’)
• Popularity: #2,870 and rising (#3,179 → #2,870, 2024)

Crossover name with warmth.

Carwyn

• Origin: Welsh
• Pronunciation: KAR-win · ˈkɑːrwɪn
• Meaning: love paired with ‘fair/blessed’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Tender and contemporary-feeling.

Heddwyn

• Origin: Welsh
• Pronunciation: HETH-win · ˈhɛðwɪn
• Meaning: peace joined with ‘fair/blessed’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Wins on meaning alone.

Iolo

• Origin: Welsh
• Pronunciation: YOL-oh · ˈjɔlɔ
• Meaning: a pet form of Iorwerth (traditionally rendered ‘worthy/handsome lord’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Compact and folkloric.

Wynfor

• Origin: Welsh (uncertain formation, likely from gwyn ‘white/fair/blessed’)
• Pronunciation: WIN-vor · ˈwɪnvɔːr
• Meaning: Fair lord
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Old, Welsh, and not on anyone’s radar.

German and Scandinavian Imports That Got Left Behind

These came over with German farmers in Pennsylvania and Swedish carpenters in Minnesota, and then their grandkids quietly switched to Bob.

Anselm

• Origin: Germanic (Proto-Germanic ansuz + Old High German helm)
• Pronunciation: AN-selm · ˈænsɛlm
• Meaning: divine protection, literally ‘god-helmet’
• Popularity: #9,939 and falling (#8,972 → #9,939, 2024)

Monastic and warm; a philosopher’s name.

Conrad

• Origin: German
• Pronunciation: KAHN-rad · ˈkɑːnræd
• Meaning: bold counsel
• Popularity: #469 and rising (#538 → #469, 2024)

Big shoulders, soft heart.

Dietrich

• Origin: German (Germanic)
• Pronunciation: DEE-trik · ˈdiːtrɪk
• Meaning: ruler of the people
• Popularity: #3,335 and rising (#4,030 → #3,335, 2024)

Striking and serious without being severe.

Otto

• Origin: Germanic
• Pronunciation: AH-toh · ˈɑːtoʊ
• Meaning: wealth, fortune (short form of Old Germanic compound names built on the ‘wealth’ element)
• Popularity: #274 and rising (#282 → #274, 2024)

Already nudging back — palindromic and crisp.

Klaus

• Origin: German
• Pronunciation: KLOWSS · ˈklaʊs
• Meaning: form of Nicholas (via Claus): victory of the people
• Popularity: #2,405 and falling (#2,207 → #2,405, 2024)

Chunky and excellent.

Friedrich

• Origin: German
• Pronunciation: FREE-drik · ˈfriːdrɪk
• Meaning: peaceful ruler
• Popularity: #4,921 and rising (#5,524 → #4,921, 2024)

Lovely full-name option for a Fritz or Fred.

Gerhardt

• Origin: Germanic (via German Gerhardt/Gerhard)
• Pronunciation: GAIR-hart · ˈɡɛərhɑːrt
• Meaning: from Germanic elements for ‘spear’ and ‘hardy/brave’ — traditionally read as ‘brave with the spear’ or ‘strong spear’
• Popularity: #10,481 as of 1999 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Old-world muscle.

Hans

• Origin: German (short form of Johannes)
• Pronunciation: HAHNS · hɑːns
• Meaning: short form of Johannes/John, ultimately Hebrew for ‘Yahweh is gracious’
• Popularity: #1,324 and rising (#1,560 → #1,324, 2024)

Storybook-ready and warm.

Heinrich

• Origin: German
• Pronunciation: HYN-rik · ˈhaɪnrɪk
• Meaning: home ruler
• Popularity: #4,104 and rising (#6,312 → #4,104, 2024)

Henry’s older, more interesting cousin.

Jurgen

• Origin: Germanic (Frisian/Low German form of George)
• Pronunciation: YOOR-gen · ˈjʊərɡən
• Meaning: Farmer
• Popularity: #10,332 and falling (#5,118 → #10,332, 2024)

Sleek and Scandinavian-sounding.

Ludwig

• Origin: German (Old High German Hludwīg)
• Pronunciation: LUD-wig · ˈlʌdwɪɡ
• Meaning: famous in battle
• Popularity: #8,064 and rising (#8,653 → #8,064, 2024)

Composer-coded, big-syllable beauty.

Wilhelm

• Origin: Germanic (Old High German)
• Pronunciation: VIL-helm · ˈvɪlhɛlm
• Meaning: will/desire + protection (helmet) — i.e., ‘resolute protector’
• Popularity: #4,300 and rising (#5,449 → #4,300, 2024)

The full form of William — uncommon and grand.

Soren

• Origin: Danish (Scandinavian), ultimately Latin
• Pronunciation: SOR-en · ˈsɔːrən
• Meaning: stern, severe
• Popularity: #571 and falling (#542 → #571, 2024)

Sharp two-syllable smartie; rising in the Nordic boom.

Magnus

• Origin: Latin (adopted via Scandinavian/Scottish royal usage)
• Pronunciation: MAG-nus · ˈmæɡnəs
• Meaning: great (Latin ‘magnus’), adopted as a name via Charlemagne’s title
• Popularity: #749 and rising (#764 → #749, 2024)

Already climbing; deeply solid.

Bjorn

• Origin: Old Norse (via Swedish/Danish/Norwegian/Icelandic Björn/Bjørn)
• Pronunciation: BYORN · ˈbjɔːrn
• Meaning: bear
• Popularity: #767 and rising (#798 → #767, 2024)

One syllable of pure quiet strength.

Asger

• Origin: Old Norse (Scandinavian)
• Pronunciation: AHS-ger · ˈɑsˌkɛɐ̯
• Meaning: god + spear
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rare, sky-toned, beautiful.

Torsten

• Origin: Old Norse (Swedish/Danish)
• Pronunciation: TOR-sten · ˈtɔːrstən
• Meaning: Thor’s stone
• Popularity: #5,408 and falling (#4,870 → #5,408, 2024)

Massive name energy in two syllables.

Halvard

• Origin: Old Norse
• Pronunciation: HAHL-vard · ˈhɑːlvɑːrd
• Meaning: rock + guardian — i.e., ‘guardian of the rock’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Underused Scandinavian gold.

Olaf

• Origin: Old Norse
• Pronunciation: OH-lahf · ˈoʊlɑːf
• Meaning: ancestor’s heir
• Popularity: #13,645 and falling (#13,605 → #13,645, 2024)

Per

• Origin: Scandinavian
• Pronunciation: PAIR · pɛər
• Meaning: form of Peter, meaning ‘rock’
• Popularity: #13,551 as of 2020 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Spartan and elegant.

Lennart

• Origin: Swedish/Danish (from German Leonhard)
• Pronunciation: LEN-art · ˈlɛnɑːrt
• Meaning: brave as a lion
• Popularity: #13,290 as of 2021 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Friendly and unusual.

Tobias

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: toh-BY-us · toʊˈbaɪəs
• Meaning: ‘God is good’ (Hebrew Toviyah: ‘good’ + short form of Yahweh)
• Popularity: #280 and falling (#279 → #280, 2024)

The full elegant version of Toby.

Werner

• Origin: German
• Pronunciation: VER-ner · ˈvɛrnər
• Meaning: defending army
• Popularity: #8,251 and rising (#14,067 → #8,251, 2024)

Filmmaker-cool and rare.

Albrecht

• Origin: German (Old High German)
• Pronunciation: AHL-brekht · ˈalbʁɛçt
• Meaning: noble and bright
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Artist Dürer’s name; the full Albert.

Karsten

• Origin: North German/Scandinavian
• Pronunciation: KAR-stin · ˈkɑrstən
• Meaning: follower of Christ (via Christian/Christianus)
• Popularity: #3,921 and rising (#4,060 → #3,921, 2024)

Fresh-sounding and very European.

Names From the Frontier and the American Farm

Names that filled wagons heading west and barns out in Iowa. Plainspoken, weather-tested, and ready to be heard again.

Silas

• Origin: Aramaic (biblical, Hellenized as Greek Σίλας, Latinized as Sīlās)
• Pronunciation: SY-lus · ˈsaɪləs
• Meaning: Wood, forest
• Popularity: #81, holding steady (2024)

Already a comeback star — gentle and steady.

Amos

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: AY-mus · ˈeɪməs
• Meaning: carried, a burden
• Popularity: #697 and falling (#647 → #697, 2024)

Bold and brief; folk-music warm.

Hiram

• Origin: Hebrew (Phoenician royal name)
• Pronunciation: HY-rum · ˈhaɪrəm
• Meaning: high-born (alt. theory: a shortened form of Ahiram, ‘brother of the exalted’)
• Popularity: #1,763 and falling (#1,553 → #1,763, 2024)

Statesmanlike and quiet.

Eli

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: EE-ly · ˈiːlaɪ
• Meaning: ascended, one who rises high
• Popularity: #92 and falling (#79 → #92, 2024)

Yes, popular now — included as proof of concept.

Solomon

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: SOL-uh-mun · ˈsɑːləmən
• Meaning: peace
• Popularity: #417 and rising (#438 → #417, 2024)

Wise-kingly, rich nickname Sol.

Jebediah

• Origin: English (alteration of Jedediah/Jedidiah)
• Pronunciation: jeb-uh-DY-uh · ˌdʒɛbəˈdaɪə
• Meaning: beloved of God (via Jedidiah)
• Popularity: #4,352 and rising (#4,962 → #4,352, 2024)

Frontier-formal; Jeb is sturdy.

Zebedee

• Origin: Hebrew (via Greek Ζεβεδαῖος)
• Pronunciation: ZEB-ə-dee · ˈzɛbədiː
• Meaning: gift of God
• Popularity: #3,261 and rising (#3,470 → #3,261, 2024)

Bouncy, biblical, basically unused.

Asa

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: AY-suh · ˈeɪsə
• Meaning: healer
• Popularity: #474 and rising (#509 → #474, 2024)

Two-syllables, soft and crisp.

Mose

• Origin: Hebrew (variant of Moses); Egyptian origin debated
• Pronunciation: MOHZ · moʊz
• Meaning: drawn out (traditional); possibly Egyptian ‘born of’
• Popularity: #6,683 and falling (#4,691 → #6,683, 2024)

Has a banjo in its hand.

Obadiah

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: oh-buh-DY-uh · ˌoʊbəˈdaɪə
• Meaning: servant of the Lord/God
• Popularity: #1,412 and rising (#1,554 → #1,412, 2024)

Rich and full, Obie for short.

Levi

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: LEE-vy · ˈliːvaɪ
• Meaning: traditionally ‘joined, attached’ per the Genesis naming story; true root uncertain
• Popularity: #12, holding steady (2024)

Listed as proof that pre-1900 names can dominate again.

Caleb

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: KAY-leb · ˈkeɪləb
• Meaning: faithful, devoted
• Popularity: #49 and rising (#51 → #49, 2024)

Same as above — already mainstream.

Boaz

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: BOH-az · ˈboʊæz
• Meaning: strength (traditionally expanded as ‘in him is strength, ‘ though the name’s precise root is debated by scholars)
• Popularity: #1,015 and falling (#952 → #1,015, 2024)

this fuller phrase is a traditional folk breakdown rather than settled etymology; ‘strength’ is the most commonly cited root but not certain.

Gideon

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: GID-ee-un · ˈɡɪdiən
• Meaning: hewer, feller (one who cuts down trees)
• Popularity: #331 and falling (#318 → #331, 2024)

Warm and biblical, ages beautifully.

Malachi

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: MAL-uh-ky · ˈmæləkaɪ
• Meaning: my messenger
• Popularity: #149 and falling (#146 → #149, 2024)

Already trending; lyrical and bright.

Wyatt

• Origin: Old English or Norman French (disputed)
• Pronunciation: WY-ut · ˈwaɪət
• Meaning: brave in war (Old English), though possibly instead ‘wood’ via a Norman name
• Popularity: #38 and rising (#46 → #38, 2024)

Cowboy clean.

Jasper

• Origin: Old Persian
• Pronunciation: JAS-per · ˈdʒæspər
• Meaning: treasurer
• Popularity: #133 and falling (#122 → #133, 2024)

Already climbing; gem-bright.

Abner

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: AB-nur · ˈæbnər
• Meaning: father of light
• Popularity: #837 and rising (#997 → #837, 2024)

Lincoln-era Americana, deeply underused.

Ezekiel

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: ih-ZEE-kee-ul · ɪˈziːkiəl
• Meaning: God strengthens / God will strengthen
• Popularity: #54 and falling (#50 → #54, 2024)

Long and rich; Zeke is the prize.

Theron

• Origin: Greek
• Pronunciation: THAIR-on · ˈθɛrɑːn
• Meaning: hunter
• Popularity: #2,857 and rising (#2,996 → #2,857, 2024)

Old farmhand-vibe with surprising rhythm.

Festus

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: FES-təs · ˈfɛstəs
• Meaning: cheerful, joyous
• Popularity: #12,824 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Wholly forgotten; would be a sleeper hit.

Lemuel

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: LEM-yoo-uhl · ˈlɛmjuəl
• Meaning: devoted to God (from Hebrew elements meaning “belonging to” + “El”, God)
• Popularity: #2,142 and rising (#2,164 → #2,142, 2024)

Gulliver’s first name; deeply rare.

Zephaniah

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: zef-ə-NYE-ə · ˌzɛfəˈnaɪə
• Meaning: the Lord has hidden / protected
• Popularity: #1,339 and rising (#1,456 → #1,339, 2024)

Big name, big music — Zeph for short.

Ichabod

• Origin: Hebrew (biblical)
• Pronunciation: IK-uh-bod · ˈɪkəbɒd
• Meaning: Hebrew for ‘no glory’ / ‘without honor’, tied to the biblical account in 1 Samuel where the phrase ‘the glory has departed from Israel’ is given as the reason for the name
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sleepy Hollow-coded — bold revival pick.

Saint Names and Quiet Catholic Classics

Names from the church calendar that filled European naming registers for a thousand years and then went quiet — at least in English-speaking countries.

Aloysius

• Origin: Germanic (via Occitan Aloys, a form of Louis)
• Pronunciation: al-oh-WISH-us · æloʊˈɪʃəs
• Meaning: famous warrior (inherited from Louis: ‘renowned’ + ‘warrior’)
• Popularity: #4,699 and rising (#5,472 → #4,699, 2024)

Old, gentle, and a knockout middle name.

Casimir

• Origin: Polish (Slavic)
• Pronunciation: KAZ-uh-meer · ˈkæzəmɪr
• Meaning: proclaims/announces peace
• Popularity: #2,393 and falling (#2,363 → #2,393, 2024)

Saint and king; pronounced softly.

Linus

• Origin: Ancient Greek (via Latin)
• Pronunciation: LY-nus · ˈlaɪnəs
• Meaning: Flax-haired
• Popularity: #1,425 and rising (#1,541 → #1,425, 2024)

Charles Schulz blessed it; deeply sweet.

Tarquin

• Origin: Etruscan
• Pronunciation: TAR-kwin · ˈtɑːrkwɪn
• Meaning: Wild, unbroken
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Roman, dramatic, unusual in the best way.

Bartolomeo

• Origin: Italian (from Aramaic via Greek)
• Pronunciation: bar-toh-loh-MAY-oh · ˌbar.to.loˈmɛː.o
• Meaning: son of Talmai
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Italian opera-warm.

Damian

• Origin: Greek
• Pronunciation: DAY-mee-un · ˈdeɪmiən
• Meaning: to tame or subdue
• Popularity: #110 and falling (#108 → #110, 2024)

Already used; classical and crisp.

Severin

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: SEV-er-in · ˈsɛv.ər.ɪn
• Meaning: severe, strict, stern (from Latin severus)
• Popularity: #6,111 and rising (#7,649 → #6,111, 2024)

Strong and saintly.

Maximilian

• Origin: Latin (name coined in German)
• Pronunciation: mak-suh-MIL-ee-un · ˌmæksəˈmɪliən
• Meaning: greatest
• Popularity: #587 and falling (#562 → #587, 2024)

Already known but the full form is rare.

Pascal

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: pass-KAL · pæˈskæl
• Meaning: Relating to Easter, from Late Latin paschalis
• Popularity: #2,773 and rising (#2,879 → #2,773, 2024)

Bright and philosophical.

Lucius

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: LOO-shəs · ˈluːʃəs
• Meaning: light
• Popularity: #1,385 and falling (#1,254 → #1,385, 2024)

Three letters of glow.

Boniface

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: BAHN-ih-fiss · ˈbɑːnɪfɪs
• Meaning: good fate
• Popularity: #12,550 and falling (#8,342 → #12,550, 2024)

Sweet, missionary-saintly.

Augustine

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: AW-guh-steen · ˈɔːɡəstiːn
• Meaning: venerable, majestic (from Augustus)
• Popularity: #551 and rising (#622 → #551, 2024)

Long, rich, and quietly devout.

Anatole

• Origin: Greek, via French
• Pronunciation: AN-uh-tohl · ˈænətoʊl
• Meaning: sunrise, dawn (the east)
• Popularity: #10,951 as of 2022 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

French and elegant.

Dominic

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: DOM-ih-nik · ˈdɑːmɪnɪk
• Meaning: belonging to the Lord
• Popularity: #108 and falling (#106 → #108, 2024)

Already climbing — listed as proof.

Fabian

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: FAY-bee-un · ˈfeɪbiən
• Meaning: belonging to the Fabius family; Fabius itself is traditionally linked to Latin faba, bean
• Popularity: #442 and rising (#465 → #442, 2024)

Soft and rhythmic.

Felix

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: FEE-liks · ˈfiːlɪks
• Meaning: happy, fortunate, lucky
• Popularity: #177 and rising (#192 → #177, 2024)

Already climbing fast — gorgeous on a baby.

Hugh

• Origin: Germanic (via Old French)
• Pronunciation: HYOO · ˈhjuː
• Meaning: heart, mind
• Popularity: #763 and rising (#784 → #763, 2024)

One-syllable thinker’s name.

Sebastian

• Origin: Greek (via Latin)
• Pronunciation: sih-BAS-chun · səˈbæstʃən
• Meaning: venerable or revered one, from the place name Sebaste
• Popularity: #14 and falling (#13 → #14, 2024)

Listed as the model for what these names can become.

Methuselah

• Origin: Hebrew (Biblical)
• Pronunciation: muh-THOO-zuh-luh · məˈθuːzələ
• Meaning: Man of the spear
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

For the truly bold; Methos for short.

Cyprian

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: SIP-ree-un · ˈsɪpriən
• Meaning: of/from Cyprus
• Popularity: #5,083 and rising (#5,285 → #5,083, 2024)

Vine-soft and saint-grounded.

Anselmo

• Origin: Italian (from Germanic)
• Pronunciation: ahn-SEL-moh · ænˈsɛlmoʊ
• Meaning: divine protection
• Popularity: #5,057 and rising (#8,973 → #5,057, 2024)

Romance-language lushness.

Raphael

• Origin: Hebrew (via Greek and Latin)
• Pronunciation: RAF-ay-el · ˈræfeɪəl
• Meaning: healed by God
• Popularity: #420 and rising (#453 → #420, 2024)

Archangel and Renaissance; getting unfair little use.

Quirky Outliers That Stand Alone

These don’t fit cleanly into any one bucket. They’re the wildcards — the names that make you blink and then keep thinking about them all afternoon.

Barnabus

• Origin: Aramaic (via Greek)
• Pronunciation: BAR-nuh-buhs · ˈbɑːr.nə.bəs
• Meaning: son of encouragement
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Storybook-bright.

Octavian

• Origin: Latin (Octāvianus, from Octāvius)
• Pronunciation: ok-TAY-vee-un · ɑːkˈteɪviən
• Meaning: eighth
• Popularity: #2,270 and rising (#2,380 → #2,270, 2024)

The young Augustus; powerful and rare.

Cassian

• Origin: Latin (Roman family name)
• Pronunciation: KAS-ee-an · ˈkæsiən
• Meaning: Hollow, vain
• Popularity: #616 and falling (#531 → #616, 2024)

Soft-sounding but spiky; already gaining steam.

Peregrin

• Origin: Latin (variant of Peregrine)
• Pronunciation: PEHR-uh-grin · ˈpɛrəɡrɪn
• Meaning: Traveler, pilgrim
• Popularity: #4,986 and rising (#8,103 → #4,986, 2024)

Tolkien-blessed; Perry for short.

Caspian

• Origin: English (from Latin ‘Caspius’)
• Pronunciation: KAS-pee-an · ˈkæspiən
• Meaning: of/from the Caspian Sea
• Popularity: #578 and rising (#664 → #578, 2024)

Romantic, oceanic, already rising.

Lucian

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: LOO-shan · ˈluːʃən
• Meaning: light
• Popularity: #485 and rising (#488 → #485, 2024)

Cooler-sounding cousin of Lucas.

Roman

• Origin: Latin (via Old French)
• Pronunciation: ROH-mun · ˈroʊmən
• Meaning: belonging to or hailing from the city of Rome
• Popularity: #52 and rising (#66 → #52, 2024)

Crisp comeback potential.

Florian

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: FLOR-ee-an · ˈflɔːriən
• Meaning: Blooming or flourishing; from the Latin name Florianus, related to florere “to bloom.”
• Popularity: #3,230 and rising (#3,240 → #3,230, 2024)

Soft, European, rare in the U.S.

Atticus

• Origin: Latin (from Greek)
• Pronunciation: AT-ih-kus · ˈætɪkəs
• Meaning: person from Attica
• Popularity: #277 and rising (#284 → #277, 2024)

Already a known quantity, but its underused brothers are here.

Calloway

• Origin: English/Irish (surname)
• Pronunciation: KAL-oh-way · ˈkæloʊweɪ
• Meaning: Pebbly place
• Popularity: #1,849 and rising (#2,101 → #1,849, 2024)

Jazz-cool and unexpected.

Endeavor

• Origin: English (word name)
• Pronunciation: en-DEV-er · ɛnˈdɛvər
• Meaning: a sustained, purposeful effort to achieve something — taken directly from the English word ‘endeavor/endeavour’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The detective Morse’s first name; bold.

Truman

• Origin: Old English
• Pronunciation: TROO-muhn · ˈtruːmən
• Meaning: Faithful or trustworthy man, from a compound of ‘true’ and ‘man.’
• Popularity: #1,811 and falling (#1,546 → #1,811, 2024)

Earnest and a little folksy.

Bowman

• Origin: English (occupational surname)
• Pronunciation: BOH-man · ˈboʊmən
• Meaning: archer, one who uses a bow
• Popularity: #2,523 and rising (#3,008 → #2,523, 2024)

Outdoorsy occupational name; Bowie nickname.

Whittaker

• Origin: Old English (surname)
• Pronunciation: WIT-uh-ker · ˈwɪtəkər
• Meaning: surname meaning ‘white field’ — a field with pale or chalky soil
• Popularity: #4,298 and falling (#4,208 → #4,298, 2024)

Long, English-prep, secretly excellent.

Inigo

• Origin: Basque
• Pronunciation: IN-ih-go · ˈɪnɪɡoʊ
• Meaning: Fiery
• Popularity: #9,308 and falling (#6,317 → #9,308, 2024)

Princess Bride-blessed; truly unforgettable.

Sterling

• Origin: English (surname)
• Pronunciation: STUR-ling · ˈstɜːrlɪŋ
• Meaning: originally a surname referring to the starling bird, or a variant of the Scottish surname/place name Stirling
• Popularity: #372 and rising (#403 → #372, 2024)

Silver-toned and confident.

Lazarus

• Origin: Hebrew (via Greek and Latin)
• Pronunciation: LAZ-er-uhs · ˈlæzərəs
• Meaning: from the Hebrew name Eleazar, meaning roughly ‘God has helped’
• Popularity: #1,336 and rising (#1,387 → #1,336, 2024)

Resurrection-coded; deeply unusual.

Ptolemy

• Origin: Ancient Greek
• Pronunciation: TOL-uh-mee · ˈtɒləmi
• Meaning: often linked to Greek ‘polemos’ (war), giving a sense of ‘warlike’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Astronomer name; silent P, full nerd glory.

Hieronymus

• Origin: Greek (via Latin)
• Pronunciation: hy-er-ON-ih-mus · ˌhaɪəˈrɒnɪməs
• Meaning: holy name
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bosch the painter; for the truly bold.

Erasmus

• Origin: Ancient Greek
• Pronunciation: ih-RAZ-muhs · ɪˈræzməs
• Meaning: beloved, desired
• Popularity: #11,160 as of 2021 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Philosopher’s name with a gentle ring.

Algie

• Origin: English (pet form of Algernon, from Anglo-Norman French)
• Pronunciation: AL-jee · ˈældʒi
• Meaning: moustached (pet form of Algernon)
• Popularity: #8,264 as of 1991 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sweet on its own as a nickname.

Foster

• Origin: English
• Pronunciation: FOS-ter · ˈfɔːstər
• Meaning: Forester — one who worked in or managed woodland; the surname is a reduced form of Forster. An alternate theory derives it from Old French forcetier, “scissor-maker.”
• Popularity: #1,075 and falling (#966 → #1,075, 2024)

Steady and increasingly chosen.

Halcyon

• Origin: Greek (via Latin)
• Pronunciation: HAL-see-uhn · ˈhælsiən
• Meaning: the mythical kingfisher of Greek legend, whose story gave rise to the figurative sense ‘calm and peaceful’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Word-name with mythic peace inside it.

Pemberton

• Origin: English/Brittonic (place name)
• Pronunciation: PEM-ber-tun · ˈpɛmbərtən
• Meaning: barley farmstead by the hill (place name)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pernell

• Origin: Old French / Medieval English (form of Petronella, from the Roman name Petronius)
• Pronunciation: pur-NEL · pərˈnɛl
• Meaning: Little rock
• Popularity: #11,893 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pernell Roberts of Bonanza; very rare today.

Quincy

• Origin: Norman French (place name Quincy/Quincey, ultimately from Latin Quintus)
• Pronunciation: KWIN-see · ˈkwɪnzi
• Meaning: fifth (via a French place name, roughly ‘estate of Quintus/the fifth-born’)
• Popularity: #689 and falling (#672 → #689, 2024)

Already familiar but extremely underused.

Ramsey

• Origin: Old English (place name/surname)
• Pronunciation: RAM-zee · ˈræmzi
• Meaning: wild garlic island
• Popularity: #1,757 and falling (#1,721 → #1,757, 2024)

How These Names Are Trending

87 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 62 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

87 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 62 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

87 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 62 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

87 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 62 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

91 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 66 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

Sharp and well-built.

How to Choose a Name From This List

Read your favorites out loud with your last name. A lot of these names have unusual rhythms, and a name that sings on paper can clunk in conversation. Try it three ways: full name, first plus last, first only.

Think about the nickname before you commit to the full name. Half the joy of these old names is in the diminutive — Algy for Algernon, Auggie for Augustus, Chet for Chester. If you don’t love the short form, you may not actually love the name, because you’ll use it ten times more than the long version.

Test it against three life moments: a kindergarten teacher calling roll, a job interview at age 28, and an introduction at a dinner party at 65. A great vintage name carries all three with grace. If it only works in one of those moments, it’s a costume, not a name.

Talk to your partner about the feeling, not the name itself. Do you want him to sound steady? Soft? Witty? Sturdy? When you know the feeling, the right name on this list will basically wave at you.

And finally — give yourself permission to choose something most people haven’t heard of. The mainstreaming of “weird” names like Ezra and Atticus happened because brave parents picked them when no one else was. The next Ezra is somewhere on this list.

Name Art for Your Favorite

Love a name from this list? MinimalistMama offers custom Name Art prints — personalized, minimalist nursery art with the name you choose, designed to match your aesthetic. A perfect gift for baby showers or to hang above the crib.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a baby name “forgotten” rather than just old?

A forgotten name is one that was genuinely common at some point — usually pre-1920 in the U.S. — and then fell out of the top 1,000 for at least several decades. Old names like John never really left, so they don’t qualify. Forgotten names like Cornelius, Mortimer, and Wilbur held real ground in the 1890s and then disappeared. They have history and heritage, but they’re fresh to a modern ear.

Are forgotten names hard for kids to live with?

Not as much as you’d think. Today’s classrooms are full of unusual names, so a Cornelius or Thaddeus doesn’t stand out the way he would have in 1985. The bigger consideration is the nickname: kids usually find a short form they like quickly, so pick a long name whose diminutive you also love.

Which forgotten boy names are actually coming back fastest in 2026?

Ezra, Silas, Felix, Cassian, Caspian, Otis, and Magnus are all rising sharply year-over-year on the U.S. SSA charts. Slightly further behind but clearly climbing: Wilfred, Alden, Hollis, Chester, and Theron. Names like Cornelius and Algernon are still genuinely rare but appearing more often in birth announcements.

How do I know if a forgotten name is too unusual?

Check the SSA Popular Baby Names tool. Names that have appeared at least 5 times in any recent year are within range — that means several other families have already committed to it and it won’t read as invented. If a name has zero appearances in modern records, it’s not necessarily bad, but you should be ready to spell it your whole life.

Do forgotten European names work in the United States?

Most do. Names like Magnus, Soren, Otto, and Rhys travel beautifully because they’re short and pronounceable. Longer or less phonetic names like Iorwerth or Hieronymus may require more spelling and pronunciation help, but they reward the effort with real distinctiveness. The Welsh names in particular are gaining U.S. traction.

What about pairing a forgotten first name with a common middle name?

This is a great softening move. Cornelius James, Thaddeus Henry, or Wilfred Charles all give the child the option to lean either way. If the forgotten name ever feels too much in a given context, the classic middle name is right there as a backup. It also tends to please grandparents.

Are there forgotten boy names that work as middle names instead?

Absolutely — and this is the lowest-risk way to honor a vintage name you love. Edmund, Ambrose, Pascal, Wendell, Linus, and Foster all sit gracefully in the middle slot. They give a name family heritage and rhythm without committing the child to spelling it out every day.

📊 Curious how popular a name actually is? Look it up in our Baby Name Popularity Checker — pulls live SSA data to show ranking trends.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a forgotten name is a small act of curation — you’re picking up a piece of history, dusting it off, and handing it to a person who’ll wear it for the next ninety years. Don’t rush. Sit with three or four favorites for a week and see which one keeps surfacing when you picture your baby’s face. The right one almost always announces itself by being the one you can’t stop saying out loud.

Read next;

👦 55+ *Best* Boy Names That Start With M

👦 22 *Best* Boy Names That Start with I

👦 43+ *Cute* Baby Boy Names That Start with J

✨ Love these names? Create free printable nursery art for any name →