Names are an important part of our identity and culture. While some names are incredibly common, others are extremely rare. In fact, the rarest names are often used less than a few times per year in the United States! These unique and uncommon names can make for interesting baby name options for parents looking for something truly distinctive for their child.
How Name Popularity is Determined
The popularity of names is measured through name frequency data collected by government agencies. In the United States, the Social Security Administration (SSA) compiles data on the frequency of baby names each year. The SSA releases annual data on the top 1,000 most popular boys and girls baby names. However, names that are used less than 5 times in a year are not included in the published rankings.
To determine the rarest names, additional data sources need to be examined. The full SSA baby name dataset contains over 60,000 different names. While still not a comprehensive list of every name used, this dataset provides helpful insights into the names given just a handful of times each year.
Sites like BabyCenter also compile name data from their users which can reveal rare names not included in the SSA data. However, government data ultimately provides the most authoritative look at name popularity across the whole population.
Factors That Influence Name Rarity
There are a few key factors that make a name rare:
- Completely unique name creations – An invented name with an unusual spelling will naturally be very uncommon.
- Foreign names – Names from other cultures and languages are often used infrequently in the United States if few people have ties to those origins.
- Old-fashioned names – Names that were popular decades ago but are no longer stylish tend to be rare today.
- Spelling variations – Unconventional or creative spellings give common names a rare twist.
Names derived from nature words, places, surnames, and word names can also be quite rare depending on the specific name. Whatever the origin, names given to fewer than 5 babies per year in the U.S. can be considered very rare.
The Top 10 Rarest Names for Girls
After combing through name data, these 10 names emerge as some of the rarest for girls in recent years:
| Name | Approximate Number of Uses Per Year |
|---|---|
| Tansy | 5 or fewer |
| Pippi | 5 or fewer |
| Saoirse | 5 or fewer |
| Indigo | 6 |
| Felicity | 9 |
| Aviva | 11 |
| Katniss | 12 |
| Zelda | 16 |
| Lorraine | 24 |
| Mavis | 25 |
Tansy is an extremely rare flower name that conjures a natural, peaceful image. Pippi is a spunky literary name known from the Pippi Longstocking books, but few real-life girls are given this bold and quirky name. Saoirse is an unconventional Irish name that intrigues American parents but remains unfamiliar.
Indigo is a pretty color name rapidly gaining interest but still rarely used. Felicity is a virtuous old-fashioned name with history and charm. Aviva is a Hebrew name meaning “springtime” that stands out as fresh and lively.
The Hunger Games heroine gave the name Katniss a boost, but it remains a rarely used nature name. Zelda is a vintage video game name gaining popularity as a baby name but still in the bottom ranks of usage. Finally, Lorraine and Mavis are lovely and mature vintage names only given to a handful of babies each year.
The Top 10 Rarest Names for Boys
These 10 names rank as some of the most rarely used for boys in recent years:
| Name | Approximate Number of Uses Per Year |
|---|---|
| Roscoe | 9 |
| Cassius | 13 |
| Bodhi | 17 |
| Alistair | 21 |
| Kieran | 25 |
| Pierce | 30 |
| Reign | 59 |
| Cillian | 64 |
| Milan | 87 |
| Saleem | 89 |
Roscoe is an adorable old-timey name that conjures up images of the Wild West. Cassius is a strong, ancient Roman family name made famous by boxer Muhammad Ali. Bodhi is a peaceful Sanskrit name meaning “enlightenment” that lots of parents admire but few end up using.
Alistair is a distinguished Scottish name with great character. Kieran is an Irish Saint’s name more commonly used overseas. Pierce is a sophisticated English surname name related to the name Peter.
Reign is daring word name rising in popularity but still rarely chosen. Cillian is the intriguing Irish spelling of popular Killian. Milan is a worldly Slavic place name that makes a unique alternative to the overused Miles. And Saleem is an underused Arabic name meaning “peace” with a cool, exotic flair.
Naming Considerations with Rare Names
Choosing a rare name takes some special considerations:
- Spelling and pronunciation may need frequent clarification
- The child may be the only one with their name in school or activities
- More teasing potential exists with unusual names
- Resume standing out can be a pro or con later in life
However, the uniqueness can also be exciting and allow the child to craft their own identity. Moderately rare vs. ultra-rare names strike a nice balance. Names in the top 500 ranked solidly but not too popularly, like Saoirse or Alistair, retain uniqueness while feeling accessible.
Conclusion
Rare names give parents the chance to pick a truly one-of-a-kind name for their child. Names like Tansy, Pippi, Roscoe and Aviva intrigued parents last year while still fitting fewer than 30 babies. Combing through naming data unearths many overlooked gems along with their intriguing meanings and origins.
Choosing a rare find needs care, but ultimately gives the child a distinctive identity to carry through life. The top 10 rarest names reveal the spellings and styles that rank exceedingly low in usage but have so much potential to stand out.
