40 Rare Baby Names You'll Completely Fall In Love With

Traditional baby names aren't for everyone. Maybe you're a free spirit, or maybe you just don't want your kid to have to share a name with several people in their class when they start school. Whatever the reason, you don't want to give your baby just any name. If you're trying to veer away from more commonly used names, check out this list. These are some lovely, but rare, baby names that you will absolutely love.

The origin of this gorgeous name is a bit uncertain, but one sweet explanation is that it comes from the Greek "meli," which means "honey." The name hit its peak in 2009, but even then it only managed to reach number 456 on the list of top baby names for girls. It's safe to say that Melina is a hidden gem that won't be overused anytime soon. Nearly identical, and also rare, is the French version of the name, Mélina.

In Greek mythology, Cassandra is remembered as a Trojan princess. The daughter of Priam and Hecuba, Cassandra had the gift of prophecy and even prophesied the fall of Troy, but no one believed her. This elegant and noble name became very popular during the Middle Ages before falling out of favor. It saw a brief revival at the end of the 20th century, but is not used very much these days, making it the perfect rare baby name for your own little princess.

A popular name in Mexico, Chile, and some European countries, Renata is rarely used in the United States. Its international flair makes it an intriguing choice for a baby girl. The name comes from the Latin male name Renatus, which means "born again." Unlike its female counterpart, Renatus has all but died out as a given name. Renata has the same root as Renee, which is another rarely used name, although it was popular for a few decades in the 20th century.

Not only is the name Viviana more elaborate than the name Vivian, but it is also a lot less commonly used. Both names have a long and ancient history, coming from the Latin root "vivus," which means "life." Variations of the name have been around for centuries, but the use of the name Viviana is still quite rare. This is a chance to pass on a beautiful piece of history to your little girl.

This incredibly beautiful name means "lark" in Spanish. While Alondra is trending in Chile and Mexico, it is a rare moniker in the United States. It almost broke into the top 100 names for baby girls in the 1990s, but has since been virtually forgotten outside of the Spanish-speaking world. Just like the song of the lark, this name sounds quite musical and could be a good choice if you love to sing or want your little girl to grow up musical.

This Scottish name deserves to have a chance across the pond! Once popular in the United Kingdom, Callum is very rarely used in the United States. It's related to the much more widely recognized name of Colin, but is rare enough to be a unique name choice for your baby boy. The uncommon name traces its roots back to the Latin name Columba, which means "dove."

Most likely a variation of the name Darren, Darian has become a name in its own right (albeit a rarely used one). Not only does it have a distinctive and distinguished sound, but the name also works for both boys and girls. Currently, the name is more popular for boys than it is for girls, but it is rarely used for either gender.

Originally a last name of English origin, Arden was best known to mid-20th century TV viewers as the stage name of the star of the hit series "Our Miss Brooks." Eunice Quedens adopted the name Eve Arden, but Arden is also used as a first name. While it has been used as a masculine name for more than a century, it's used more as a feminine name these days — that is, when it's used at all.  

This rare name has slowly been climbing the ranks since the late 1990s, but is still far from widely used. Maeve has a long history, coming from the Gaelic name Medb, which means "intoxicating." Maeve was the name of a legendary warrior queen in Irish mythology whose adventures are immortalized in the Irish epic "The Cattle-Raid of Cooley." What better name could there be for your own little princess? 

Unlike its male counterpart, Antonio, Antonia is rarely used in the United States. The lovely name is popular in other countries, however, especially in Chile, Romania, and Croatia, where it has ranked in the top 100 names for baby girls. The name has ancient roots and can be traced back to the Roman family name of Antonius. Variations of the name have been used for centuries, dating back to at least the 1st century B.C. Antonia may not be used often, but it does have a lot of staying power.

Short, sweet, and far too rare, Zola has an unknown origin. Behind the Name noted that it might be an invented name, although it is an Italian surname, perhaps most famously borne by the French-Italian author Émile Zola.

The name Zola gained some traction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, although it never quite became popular. From 1942 on, it wasn't seen at all on the baby name charts, although it crept into the top 1,000 names for baby girls in 2018. Still, this name has a long way to go before it becomes mainstream.

While the name Ingrid isn't completely underappreciated — Behind the Name noted that it's been in the top 1,000 names for baby girls since 1940 — it's still pretty rarely used and has barely remained on the charts. In spite of its relative unpopularity, Ingrid evokes timeless beauty — literally. The name comes from Ingríðr, an Old Norse name meaning "Ing is beautiful," Ing being the name of a Germanic god.

One of the most famous bearers of the name Ingrid was quite beautiful herself. The late Ingrid Bergman was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, and she starred in the classic film "Casablanca."

This nature-inspired name comes from the Roman goddess of fertility, women, and healing. The Latin meaning of the name translates to "young deer." As for the popularity of the name Fauna, it reached its peak back in 1978 and steadily declined each year until around 2015, when it began to make a comeback. Despite the fact that more people are using it these days, this pretty, earthy name is a relatively rare one.

The name Gable is of German descent and means "God is bright," according to Baby Names. Another interpretation of the name's meaning is that it comes from the Ashkenazi name for a fork merchant, called a "Gabel." Additionally, people who hear the name Gable will likely think of Clark Gable, the old Hollywood actor, so this name has an old-fashioned feel, similar to names like Brando and Chaplin.

The name Zosia is of Polish descent and is a diminutive of another Polish name, Zofia. The meaning of Zosia is "wisdom," and though it is a rare baby name, it has gained a little popularity since around 2012. You may have heard the name Zosia if you watched HBO's "Girls," since actress Zosia Mamet played one of the main characters in the show.

Baby names ending in '-lynn' are increasingly popular, with names like Raelynn and Evelyn being common choices. Ezlynn is in a similar vein, but certainly more unique; as of 2021, only 21 out of a million babies were given the name. Though some may think of Ezlynn as a more contemporary-sounding name, it is actually a Sri Lankan moniker coming from Ezlynn Deraniyagala, who was known for her feminist activism in the 1960s, per Nameberry.

Odessa is an elegant girl's name that has Greek roots. Though Odessa technically means "wrathful," or "one who receives pain," it's derived from the name of the Greek hero Odysseus, who showed immense strength as he went through many trials and tribulations — and looking at the name in that context definitely makes it a more of a powerful name than a wrathful one. Odessa was somewhat popular in the early 1900s, but steadily decreased until around 2016, when it became slightly more popular.

If you want to give your baby a name that means "fame" and "power," Merrick may be a good option. This name, commonly used for boys, is of Welsh descent. Despite its grand meaning, the moniker has stayed pretty rare over time. Merrick is another version of the more common name, Maurice, which shares the same meaning.

Penn is a boy's name with English roots that means "lives by the hill" or "enclosure." While the name's meaning isn't necessarily impressive, the name itself is simple and distinctive. Plus, many impressive people hold the name, including actors Penn Badgley and Sean Penn, who has the name as his surname. This moniker is a good option for those who want a memorable yet elegant name.

Yuri is a unique boy's name that means "farmer." It has Russian roots, but is found in Japanese, Hebrew, and Korean cultures as well. If you want your baby to have an out-of-this-world legacy, Yuri could be a good option: The first human to ever travel to outer space was Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet pilot who went to space in 1961.