22 unique boy names for one-of-a-kind kids

Nontraditional boy names are a smart way for kids to set themselves apart from a pack of Noahs and Liams. But what is considered an extraordinary or unique baby name?

According to Pamela Redmond, co-founder of the website Nameberry, unique boy names are nearly one-of-a-kind, which means the chances of your child sharing a name with three other classmates are slim to none.

“Unique baby names are those that move beyond the traditional, like William, Robert or Henry, which have been used for centuries,” Redmond tells TODAY Parents.

Redmond says unique boy names might be derived from words (Drummer or Royal), nature (Hawk or Branch) or locations (Everest and Rome). You can also create new names based on personal meaning. For example, hikers might go with the name of their favorite national park.

22 Unique Boy Names With Meanings

If choosing a unique name for your baby boy is a priority, here are some distinct boy names to consider.

Branson

In 2021, there were only 242 boys that were given the name Branson according to the Social Security Administration's list of most popular baby names. Branson, a name of English origin meaning "son of the raven," could be a good option because it "fits the trend of more popular cousins Mason, Grayson, Hudson and Carson," Redmond wrote on Nameberry.com.

Lysander

This name comes from Greek origin and is a “creative cousin” of Alexander, per Nameberry. You’ll find a Lysander character in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Harry Potter” films.

Koa

The Hawaiian name for “Warrior,” Koa is a common tree that’s “considered the wood of Hawaiian royalty,” according to Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Ziggy

You’ll hear Ziggy in music culture from David Bowie’s alter ego Ziggy Stardust to Jamaican musician Ziggy Marley, the son of reggae legend Bob Marley, notes Nameberry.

Onyx

Alanis Morissette and Iggy Azalea both named their sons Onyx, a gemstone that some believe protect from negative energy.

Cassian

“An ancient saints’ name that’s very unusual,” Remond said of the moniker. “It means ‘hollow,’ not the most attractive meaning, but the 'Cas' sound is very on-trend for boys and girls.”

Bear

“Animal names are trending for boys, and this is one of the best,” Redmond explained. In fact, both Alicia Silverstone and Kate Winslet named their sons Bear.

Mercer

"A last name used as a first name that means 'merchant,'" Redmond said.

Zephyr

“A gender-neutral name from mythology that means ‘west wind,’” she said.

What is the rarest name for a boy?

Several great names are given to zero or, at most a handful, of baby boys in the U.S.

“The names Bart, Kermit, Geoff, Dick, Gale weren’t given to any baby boys at the last official U.S. count,” notes Redmond.

Others rare names for boys include:

Oberon

A Shakespearean name meaning “bear-like”

Finlo

A Manx name from the Isle of Man that means “fair Lugh.” Lugh is that island’s sun god.

Tarian

A Welsh name meaning “shield.”

Pim

A short form of William that's very popular in the Netherlands.

Unique names for a boy

Redmond anticipates three trends:

Gender-neutral names, like Hollis, Kit or Sage, which are currently trending more for boys than girls.

Chic European choices such as Cosmo (we see you, Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost!), Magnus and Enzo.

Soulful spins on Biblical names, like Bohdi, Creed or Jericho.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com