The secret vault of truly unique baby names is real, but only the US government holds the key.

　　To protect privacy, the Social Security Administration doesn’t release names given to only one child, drawing the line at five or more. So the names given to five babies are the most unique we’re able to learn about.  Most of those on that rarefied level are tortured spellings of more familiar names: Mikeila and Scarlotte, Masun and Stanlee. And there are truly terrible names at the depths of the extended list too, as detailed in our recent blog.

　　But then there are those nearly unique baby names that are eminently usable, ripe for the picking for the parent who truly wants a distinctive choice.  These are not for everybody, but we found over 50 excellent choices that were used for just five children each in 2012.  Among them are names that are among our all-time favorites, such as Petal and Tiernan for girls, O’Brien and Poe for boys.

　　Our favorite nearly-unique (given to just five children) baby names:

　　UNIQUE GIRL NAMES

　　Abbott

　　Adelisa

　　Anthea

　　Atlanta

　　Axelle

　　Bette

　　Calloway

　　Cassiopeia

　　Clancy

　　Concetta

　　Daryn

　　Eilidh and Eilonwy

　　Elke

　　Frederica

　　Garland

　　Gertie

　　Jet

　　Kismet

　　Morrissey

　　Onora

　　Pascale

　　Petal

　　Sam

　　Season

　　Tiernan

　　Trinidad

　　Tully

　　Valentia

　　UNIQUE BOY NAMES

　　Booth

　　Bridges

　　Churchill

　　Clemens

　　Corrado

　　Costello

　　Draper

　　Fitzpatrick

　　Frazier

　　Garvey

　　Gregor

　　Ilario

　　Isidore

　　Mats

　　Mercury

　　Montague

　　Munro

　　O’Brien

　　Optimus

　　Osric

　　Pacer and Tracker

　　Poe

　　Taddeo

　　Williamson

　　Wyn