13 Rarest Baby Names For U.S Parents Today

Rosemary May 04, 2023 | 14:11

Have you considered giving your child a unique name? Your child will be given a unique name. That sounds fascinating. Check out our list of the top 13 most uncommon baby names in the United States that parents should consider.

The Most Popular And Rarest Baby Names of 2023

The Least Popular Baby Names in the UK That Have Become

Top 13 Rarest Baby Names In The US That Parents Should Try. Photo KnowInsiders

Contents
Top 13 Rarest Baby Names In The US That Parents Should Try 1. Rome 2. Hester 3. Aayan 4. Romilly 5. Lilac Why do parents love choosing unique/rare names for babies? 6. Ottilie Is it crucial to come up with unique baby names? 7. Dhruv 8. Lorcan 9. Rafferty 10. Grover 11. Stone 12. Dixie 13. Hadleigh

A name signals your feelings about your family, your cultural heritage, your style, your desire to fit in or stand out in society.

A name is a one-time decision that lasts for your child's entire life - at least unless they decide to change it!

That’s why picking a name is important to a baby’s life. Check out top 13 rarest baby names in the US. The rare names might make your baby outstanding.

Top 13 Rarest Baby Names In The US That Parents Should Try

1. Rome

Both girls and boys can be given the name Rome. Rome has remarkably little history as a first name, despite being arguably the most significant city in European history.

In the US in 2021, there were more than 300 baby boys with the name Rome—roughly ten times as many as baby girls.

Meaning: Unknown for sure, possibly rock or hill; name of Italy’s capital city

Rome was given to just 208 infants in 2019, making it the least common baby name in the country. The unusual moniker comes from the Italian nation's capital. The dominant theory suggests that the name Rome derives from the Etruscan word ruma, which was their name for the Tiber River, though no one is certain of the name's precise origins. The Latin word ruma, which means "mom's breast," is another option. Rome's original location along the Tiber River has a curve that resembles a woman's breast.

2. Hester

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Meaning: Star

Hester has lost favor in recent years despite appearing in one of the most well-known books in American literature.

Following in the footsteps of her sister-name Esther, the disgraced protagonist of The Scarlet Letter may finally have a chance at redemption after years of neglect. She has previously been described as an eccentric aristocrat who is much more well-liked in the U.K. than she is here.

Hester has appeared in books and plays other than Hawthorne's, such as Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy, Oscar Wilde's play A Woman of No Importance, John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meaney, and Frasier, where she played the mother of Niles and Frasier Crane.

Hester's preferred moniker, Hetty, is also sometimes used alone.

In a study, the names of more than 300 million American babies born between 1880 and 2007 were examined. Twenge's study revealed a decline in the use of common baby names since the 1950s. In 1950, parents named their sons using one of the top ten most popular names. This represented more than 30% of all baby boys. The percentage dropped to just under 10% by the year 2007.

Twenge claims that parents are giving their children unusual baby names. If they cannot come up with anything original, they settle for modified forms of common names. Jaxon thus replaces Jackson. Other parents choose names for their children that have two barrels. Scott Joy or Marie Rose are now excellent options. Traditional Japanese characters are now being used by Japanese parents with unusual pronunciations.

Another small study was carried out by some researchers in a German town. They looked at baby names going back to 1894. They discovered that only 32% of babies in 1894 had original names. However, the statistics have increased to 77% by the time the timeline reaches 1994.

3. Aayan

Meaning: Gift of God

The name Aayan is incredibly uncommon in the West and has Arabic roots. The name, which is typically given to boys, is "Gift of God" or "God's Gift." This lovely name is also an alteration of the name Ayan, which is well-liked among Muslim people and frequently used in the Quran.

Aayan was never a top-ranking baby name in the United States prior to 2019. The name might become more well-known in the future.

Aayan, which means "soaked in the divine" (like Satyanarayan) in Sanskrit, is also a well-liked name in India.

4. Romilly

Meaning: Citizen of Rome

This charming name, originally a surname derived from the Roman twin Romulus, was popularized in the English-speaking world when painter Augustus John gave it to his son. Romilly John was appointed Fleet Admiral in England.

From the twelfth century on, it was a French surname; more recently, it has been used as a girls' name. For instance, Emma Thompson gave her daughter Gaia the middle name Romilly. Additionally, 12 baby girls in the US were given Romilly last year.

Romy or Milly, both of which are very fashionable, would be the logical nicknames.

How common is the name Romilly for a baby born in 2021? Romilly was the 15165th most popular girls name. In 2021 there were only 5 baby girls named Romilly. 1 out of every 355,897 baby girls born in 2021 are named Romilly.

5. Lilac

Meaning: bluish or lilac

Could Lilac be the next Lila or Lily or Violet? It certainly has a lot going for it--those lilting double 'l's, the fabulous fragrance it exudes, and the fact that it's a color name as well, providing a ready made nursery theme. In addition, the lilac is symbolic of first love.

Actor Stephen Moyer was ahead of the curve when he named his daughter Lilac in 2002.

Why do parents love choosing unique/rare names for babies?

People who are wealthy tend to adhere to uniqueness.

People who are wealthy tend to adhere to uniqueness.An investigation by Michael Varnum, an assistant professor of psychology at Arizona State University, revealed a tendency for people in the more advanced, secure, and constantly improving segments of society to choose unusual baby names. These developed areas of any given society place a strong emphasis on expressing individuality, which accounts for the distinctive names. But how do wealth, uniqueness, and individuality relate to one another?

Professor Varnum asserts that those who are wealthy enjoy both financial and social security. So they have the freedom to reject conformity and stick to their own individual expression of uniqueness. Furthermore, Professor Varmun claims that because being alone presents numerous opportunities for innovation, wealthy people are better off when they are alone.

Varnum also pointed out that, in an effort to play it safe, people in less developed economies tend to stick with common baby names. People who are unable to advance in life due to a lack of money or connections tend to conform, and this is evident in the names they give their children.

6. Ottilie

Since 2010, Otis has climbed 285 places in the Office of National Statistic's rankings - and its influence is reflected in the female version too.

Meaning: It has French origin meaning 'prosperous in battle'.

The names Ottilie and its diminutive Ottiline are popular among the upper class of Britain, but have been uncommonly used here since the 1880s. There are a few cultural allusions in Ottilie: Ottilie appears prominently in Goethe's Elective Affinities, Robert Louis Stevenson wrote a poem titled To Ottilie, Franz Kafka had a sister by the same name, and the title character of John Wyndom's science fiction novella Random Quest bears the same name.

The German journalist, abolitionist, and feminist Ottilie Assing, who had a long relationship with fellow abolitionist Frederic Douglass, is likely the most well-known Ottilie.

Ottoline, Ottilia, and Odile are three pretty Ottilie relatives. Additionally, Ottilie goes by the sweet nicknames Lottie and Tillie.

Is it crucial to come up with unique baby names?

Choosing unusual baby names would seem to be a good place to start if parents wanted to give their child a unique identity. However, it is crucial to realize that uniqueness is not always discernible. Future advantages for the child from having unusual names are limited. But to succeed in life and stand out from the crowd, one must work hard, have talent, and be determined. One can choose unusual names in an effort to avoid commonality, establish a presence, or avoid conformity. However, one should be aware of the thin line and make an effort not to cross it, just like with everything else in this world.

7. Dhruv

Meaning: Faithful, Immovable, Fixed

While Dhruv is a rare name in the United States, it is a very popular baby name in India. It is derived from Dhruva, who was a notable devotee of Lord Vishnu. Dhruva or Dhruv is mentioned in the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata Purana. The name is impotant in the Hindu community.

Dhruv or Dhruva is the name that Hindus use for the North Star (Pole Star), which is also known as Polaris.

8. Lorcan

Meaning: little, fierce

Lorcan is a name rich in Irish history as belonging to several kings, including the grandfather of the most famous high king of Ireland, Brian Boru. Lorcan O'Toole, known in English as Laurence O'Toole, is the patron saint of Dublin, so it's not too surprising that Irish-born actor Peter O'Toole named his son Lorcan.

In the Harry Potter epic, Lorcan is the twin son of Luna Lovegood Scamander.

Strong, easy to pronounce and spell, Lorcan is an Irish name that would stand out from the more common crop of Connors and Liams.

9. Rafferty

Meaning: floodtide, abundance, prosperity

Jaunty and raffish, Rafferty is one of the most engaging of the Irish surnames, used by Jude Law and Sadie Frost for their son. Fortunately, it doesn't still go by its original form: O'Raighbheartaigh.

Raff and Rafe are two equally great nicknames.

10. Grover

Meaning: lives near a grove of trees

Grover Cleveland, the 22nd President of the United States, is most frequently linked to it.

But a mention in Lena Dunham's Girls gave this old name a fresh makeover for today's youth.

'When Lena Dunham's character used Grover for her baby at the end of Girls, it gave a cool modern image to this old school presidential name,' said Nameberry's CEO Pamela Redmond in reference to how it was given to 23 boys in 2021.

11. Stone

Meaning: Dweller by the Stone or Rocks

Although Stone is typically a surname, boys have long used it as their first name. It is derived from the Old English word stn, which is short for "the stone." When a person or family resided close to a notable stone, boundary marker, monument, or landmark, the name Stone was typically used. For instance, John, who resides near the stone, later changed his name to John Stone.

Given that some of the strongest natural minerals are found in stones and rocks, the name Stone connotes strength. Stone was ranked No. 694 on the Top 1000 Baby Names list in 2001, despite being one of the least popular names in 2019.

12. Dixie

Meaning: Nickname for the Southern U.S.

There is a reason why Dixie has fallen out of favor as a baby name in the United States. Any names connected to the Southern United States and its problematic history have become somewhat taboo as America attempts to come to terms with its racist past. Although the origin of the name Dixie is unknown, it has been used to refer to the Southern United States, particularly the states that broke away to form the Confederate States of America, long before the American Civil War. Parents probably chose the name Dixie to honor their Southern roots, despite the fact that it is a contentious one.

The name Dixie is believed to have originated from Jeremiah Dixon, a surveyor of the Mason-Dixon line, according to one of the more compelling theories about its meaning. Dixon's creations served as the basis for a kid's game played in New York that gave him the new name Dixie.

13. Hadleigh

Meaning: Heather Meadow

Hadleigh is an English variant of the more widely used name Hadley. Despite being a typically gender-neutral first name, Hadleigh is more frequently used for girls. Although Hadleigh is not a common first name in England, it is a fairly widespread surname. The name's Saxon roots translate to "heather meadow."