10 Rarest Baby Names In The World

Trying to find a baby name that’s unique is pretty difficult these days – it seems that every moniker (with every possible spelling!) has been used before.

But if you’re looking for a rare gem of a baby name, this list could be the answer to your prayers.

The name experts at Nameberry have revealed the 10 rarest names that have been used less than 25 times in the US.

Here’s a look at the rarest names in the world right now:

Hester

According to Nameberry’s research, there are fewer than five girls with this name in the US. The name hails from the romance novel The Scarlet Letter, first published in 1850.

Romilly

Again, just five girls have this unique name – which was used by actor Emma Thompson as her daughter Gaia’s middle name in 1999.

Bee

While Beatrice remains popular, there are just eight girls with this shortened version.

Lilac

Botanical baby names continue to rise in popularity, but Lilac is far rarer, with just 25 girls carrying this name.

Ottilie

This name is actually on the rise for boys and girls. It has a French origin, meaning ‘prosperous in battle’.

Zebedee

Nameberry CEO Pamela Redmond told the Daily Mail: ‘Z names are cool for Gen-Z, and this variation of the New Testament Zebediah is zippy.’

Lorcan

Just 13 boys have this rare Irish name, which means little or fierce and was the name of several ancient kings.

Rafferty

Just 18 boys currently have this name, which Jude Law and Sadie Frost gave to their son in 1996.

Grover

Slightly more popular, with 23 boys named Grover, it was the name Lena Dunham’s character used for her baby in Girls.

Ajax

A strong, heroic Greek name, just 23 boys have been given this moniker.

More Rare Baby Names

We asked our Mouths of Mums community to share their own rare baby names, and they came up with a huge list of unique names.

Head to our post below to add your suggestion, and take a look through some of the names our community came up with below.

Alora
Amira
Balin
Blossom
Cordelia
Echo
Emjay
Everleigh
Grae
Halo
Hemi
Kairo
Karinja
Kes
Killian
Kylara
Ledger
Lilith
Madae
Mariska
Matais
Matise
Maude
Posy
Sahara
Sapphire
Shayde
Temily
Tennessee
Tovey
Verite
Zae

Check out the 500 names suggested by our community in the post below.

Baby Name Lists

We’ve put together a whole host of baby name lists to help you discover the perfect moniker for your bub:

100 Beautiful Gender Neutral Baby Names
110+ Special Twin Girl Names
Australia’s Top Baby Names 2022

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43 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 01 Nov 2024
    12:01 pm
I am guessing that the name Grover is rare because people look at it as being a name from a sesame street character.
My kids names never show up on lists and my youngests name is never even in baby name books although just after she was born an old lady passed away and her death notice showed she had the same name including the same middle name

- - Ellen said
  - 14 May 2024
    4:19 am
Coming from the Netherlands Hester is not such a rare name at all
- Ellen replied
  
  25 Aug 2024 , 7:47 am
  My kids names are not on the rarest names list or any other list, maybe they are too rare
- - Nicky2707 said
  - 02 Nov 2023
    11:22 pm
I have a couple of rare names and love them Furia and Matias ????

- - mum300445 said
  - 31 Oct 2023
    2:24 am
Those are all quite unique! I’m a teacher and have never taught a kid with any of these names.

- - mom496109 said
  - 30 Oct 2023
    8:45 pm
My childrens names arnt very common
Kolokesa
Donna-Marie
Hopoate
- Ellen replied
  
  18 Jul 2024 , 4:04 am
  They aren’t very common indeed, they should have make this list
- - mom494690 said
  - 02 Jul 2023
    10:38 am
This is too funny, I actually currently work with a young man named Rafferty!

- - mom490681 said
  - 24 Jun 2023
    11:22 am
Oh no! They are certainly strange names

- - mom476458 said
  - 23 Jun 2023
    10:16 pm
My niece wants to name her future sister Lilac which is really cute!!

- - AdysMum said
  - 22 Jun 2023
    12:44 pm
Grover! No no no

- - charmanda29 said
  - 25 May 2023
    8:01 pm
No not grover ! We love sesame Street

- - Love and Light said
  - 05 Jan 2023
    6:17 pm
Some interesting names on the list some ok and some well ?

- - mom101628 said
  - 19 Dec 2022
    4:41 pm
Very interesting names and there will probably be more of them used now that this list has been published.

- - Lividanke said
  - 22 Nov 2022
    4:02 pm
Some strange names on that list, although I think my son goes knows someone with one of the names!

- - mom485263 said
  - 19 Nov 2022
    8:52 pm
Certainly some rare names on that list.

- - mom93821 said
  - 19 Nov 2022
    11:31 am
All names are unique and special to parents.

- - mom462038 said
  - 17 Nov 2022
    11:39 am
Oh gawd, reading through them, I can see why they’re rare. They’re quite unusual.

- - tessie said
  - 16 Nov 2022
    2:14 pm
Not sure about Zebedee but the others aren’t too bad.

- - CrystalG said
  - 16 Nov 2022
    9:37 am
Love the names Romilly and lilac.

- - MrsJReilly said
  - 15 Nov 2022
    11:18 pm
Romilly is such a pretty name.
Grover makes me think of the Muppet from Sesame Street!

- - Andrea said
  - 15 Nov 2022
    10:52 pm
I was actually surprised Hester made the list, it’s such a lovely name. I can see the association with the Scarlet Letter, but I’m this day and age I wouldn’t think that would be as relevant. Maybe it will make a come back.