Many parents want to give their child an unusual baby name to make sure their baby stands out from the rest. No one wants to give their child the confusion of having four other children in their kindergarten class with the same name. The best way to ensure uniqueness is to choose an uncommon baby name. Plus, unusual baby names allow parents to share their own personality and preferences with their child.
Some of the best places to find uncommon baby names are the Social Security list of popular names from decades past and and lists of celebrity baby names. Here's some data to get started.
Unusual Baby Names From the Past
Some things never change. William was the second-most popular boy's name in the 1880s, and it was #8 in 2008. Emma made the top three names for baby girls in the 1880s, and was the second-most popular name in 2008. Elizabeth was fourth in 1880, and eighth in 2008. These are classic names.
However, many of the top names of the 1880s have since fallen out of favor, and would make uncommon baby names in 2010. Here are some examples.
Popular Boys' Names in the 1880s
Included in this list are popular names from the 1880s, listed with their popularity ranking in the 1880s and 2008, in that order.
- Frank (#6, #278)
- Henry (#8, #78)
- Walter (#13, #393)
- Arthur (#14, #363)
- Clarence (#18, N/A)
- Louis (#19, #351)
- Joe (#21, #411)
Popular Girls' Names in the 1880s
Here are some popular girls names from the 1880s, listed with their rankings in the 1880s and 2008, in that order.
- Mary (#1, #97)
- Minnie (#6, N/A)
- Ida (#7, N/A)
- Clara (#9, #206)
- Alice (#10, #326)
- Nellie (#19, N/A)
- Mabel (#20, N/A)
Celebrity Baby Names
The rich and famous are known for their creative sides in acting, singing, and writing, and this creativity often leads to unusual baby names, too. Some of these names may seem too weird for some parents, but they can also act as inspiration to think of the perfect name.
- Bluebell Madonna, daughter of Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice)
- Carys Zeta, daughter of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas
- Coco Riley, daughter of Courtney Cox and David Arquette
- Dashtu Samuel, son of Heidi Klum and Seal
- India Ann Sushil, daughter of Sarah McLachaln and Ashwin Sood
- Jaden Christopher Syre Trey, son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett
- Jasper Warren, son of Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley
- Knox Leon, son of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
- Poppy Honey Rosie, daughter of Jaime and Jules Oliver
- Sage Moonblood, son of Sylvester Stallone
- Sparrow James Midnight, son of Nicole Richie and Joel Madden
- Zuma Nesta Rock, son of Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale
Celebrities seem to often choose elements of nature (such as Poppy, Bluebell and Sparrow) for baby names. While these might be too-unusual baby names for many parents, nature can serve as great inspiration.
Unusual baby names can be original, like many of the names chosen by celebrities, or uncommon, based on classic names that have fallen out of style.
Sources:
Social Security Administration. Popular Baby Names (accessed March 22, 2010).
Today's Parent. Sweet and (Outrageous) Celebrity Baby Names (accessed March 22, 2010).
Jennifer Thorimbert - Jennifer grew up in small-town British Columbia, Canada, and moved to Victoria, BC, to attend university. She majored in English ...
Join the Conversation