Parents’ desire to use uncommon boy names is relatively recent. Historically, sons were given family names passed down through generations, but over time, the emphasis has shifted from tradition to distinction. Many modern parents are seeking out boy names that make their sons stand out not only within the family, but among their peers.

　　It’s more than okay to go ahead and use a Top 100, even Top 10 name if that’s the one you love. (You do you!) But if you can’t bear the thought of your son going by Benjamin L. or Maverick P., you might want to search for an uncommon alternative.

　　We’ve taken the popular boy names of 2021 and matched them with their rarer counterparts. They’re paired based on style, sound, or origin — sometimes all three.

　　All of the uncommon boy names are below the official US Top 300 and given to fewer than 1000 baby boys in 2021, the last year on record.

Top Boy Names → Uncommon Boy Names

　　Noah → Joah

　　Oliver → Gulliver

　　Elijah → Uriah

　　James → Ames

　　William → Winston

　　Benjamin → Benedict

　　Lucas → Lucan

　　Henry → Harvey

　　Theodore → Isidore

　　Jack → Mack

　　Levi → Zevi

　　Alexander → Alistair

　　Jackson → Jenson

　　Mateo → Tadeo

　　Daniel → Dashiell

　　Michael → Makai

　　Mason → Miller

　　Sebastian → Augustus

　　Ethan → Eben

Top Boy Names → Uncommon Boy Names

　　Owen → Lowen

　　Samuel → Samson

　　Jacob → Jaco

　　Asher → Asa

　　Aiden → Alden

　　John → Jones

　　Joseph → Philip

　　Wyatt → Wilder

　　David → Desmond

　　Leo → Otto

　　Luke → Zuko

　　Julian → Julius

　　Hudson → Halston

　　Grayson → Wilson

　　Matthew → Matthias

　　Ezra → Ira

　　Gabriel → Abdiel

　　Carter → Carver

　　Isaac → Zaccai

Top Boy Names → Uncommon Boy Names

　　Luca → Rafa

　　Anthony → Anton

　　Dylan → Damon

　　Lincoln → Ford

　　Thomas → Thaddeus

　　Maverick → Titan

　　Elias → Amias

　　Josiah → Jonas

　　Charles → Charleston

　　Caleb → Calder

　　Christopher → Crispin

　　Ezekiel → Azriel

　　Miles → Wells

　　Jaxon → Maxon

　　Isaiah → Isaias

　　Andrew → Ambrose

　　Joshua → Elisha

　　Nathan → Lathan

　　Nolan → Flynn

Top Boy Names → Uncommon Boy Names

　　Cameron → Kiernan

　　Santiago → Santino

　　Eli → Ari

　　Aaron → Efron

　　Ryan → Ryland

　　Angel → Noel

　　Cooper → Kiefer

　　Waylon → Warren

　　Easton → Edison

　　Kai → Koa

　　Christian → Shepherd

　　Landon → Langston

　　Colton → Coleson

　　Roman → Milan

　　Axel → Onyx

　　Brooks → Briggs

　　Jonathan → Jotham

　　Robert → Albert

　　Jameson → Denison

Top Boy Names → Uncommon Boy Names

　　Everett → Everest

　　Greyson → Greyden

　　Wesley → Wiley

　　Jeremiah → Jericho

　　Hunter → Fletcher

　　Leonardo → Leandro

　　Jordan → Riordan

　　Jose → Rey

　　Bennett → Hewitt

　　Silas → Cyrus

　　Nicholas → Nikolai

　　Parker → Parson

　　Beau → Rowe

　　Weston → Dutton

　　Austin → Autry

　　Connor → Conrad

　　Carson → Callahan

　　Dominic → Monico

　　Xavier → Zahavi

　　See our transformations of top girl names here.

About the Author

Sophie Kihm

　　Sophie Kihm has been writing for Nameberry since 2015. She has contributed stories on the top 2020s names, Gen Z names, and cottagecore baby names. Sophie is Nameberry’s resident Name Guru to the Stars, where she suggests names for celebrity babies. She also manages the Nameberry Instagram and Pinterest.

　　Sophie Kihm's articles on names have run on People, Today, The Huffington Post, and more. She has been quoted as a name expert by The Washington Post, People, The Huffington Post, and more. You can follow her personally on Instagram or Pinterest, or contact her at [email protected]. Sophie lives in Chicago.

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