The rarest names

1,046 names that almost nobody else is using — sorted from least common upward.

Rarity here is the inverse of how often a name is given today. A score of 99 means the name is close to unheard of; 50 means it is uncommon but recognisable. Alongside the score we estimate how many people per million carry the name, so “rare” means something concrete rather than a vibe.

Ultra rare

Fewer than 1 in 10,000 people carry this name. You will almost never meet another.

Ultra Rare

Anandbhai

uh-NUND-bye

Brother of bliss, joyful kinsman

Gujarati98% rare
Ultra Rare

Ashwatthama

ush-wut-THAH-maa

One with the voice of a horse, the immortal son of Drona in the Mahabharata

Sanskrit98% rare
Ultra Rare

Durvasa

dur-VAA-suh

Difficult to live with, the short-tempered Puranic sage

Sanskrit98% rare
Ultra Rare

Galileo

ga-li-LAY-oh

From Galilee

Italian98% rare
Ultra Rare

Jamadagni

juh-mud-UG-nee

One whose fire is devouring, a Saptarishi and father of Parashurama

Sanskrit98% rare
Ultra Rare

Jinvi

JIN-vee

One who enlivens and invigorates

Sanskrit98% rare
Ultra Rare

Kanthaka

KUN-tah-kah

Name of the white horse that carried Siddhartha from the palace

Pali98% rare
Ultra Rare

Marudevi

mah-roo-DAY-vee

Mother of Rishabhanatha, the first liberated soul of this cycle

Prakrit98% rare
Ultra Rare

Milarepa

mee-lah-RAY-pah

Mila the cotton-clad one, Tibet's poet-yogi

Tibetan98% rare
Ultra Rare

Nimila

nih-MEE-laa

Serene of gaze, quietly composed

Sanskrit98% rare
Ultra Rare

Pinakin

pih-NAH-kin

Wielder of the divine bow, an epithet of Shiva

Sanskrit98% rare
Ultra Rare

Sthulabhadra

stoo-lah-BUH-drah

The greatly auspicious one, a revered Jain acharya

Prakrit98% rare
Ultra Rare

Taxika

TAK-see-kaa

Sharp and swift, quick as a blade

Sanskrit98% rare
Ultra Rare

Zankhana

ZUNK-hah-nah

Deep longing, a yearning of the heart

Gujarati98% rare
Ultra Rare

Zebedee

ZEB-uh-dee

Gift of God, my endowment

Hebrew98% rare
Ultra Rare

Zephyrine

ZEF-uh-reen

West wind

Greek98% rare
Ultra Rare

Aranyani

ah-run-YAH-nee

Vedic goddess of the forest and its creatures

Sanskrit97% rare
Ultra Rare

Axika

AK-see-kaa

Imperishable, one who does not fade

Sanskrit97% rare
Ultra Rare

Bageshri

bah-gesh-REE

A night raga of longing, literally the goddess of the garden

Sanskrit97% rare
Ultra Rare

Bansi

BAN-see

The bamboo flute Krishna plays

Gujarati97% rare
Ultra Rare

Bhavatarini

bhah-vah-TAH-ree-nee

She who ferries souls across the ocean of existence, the Kali of Dakshineswar

Bengali97% rare
Ultra Rare

Bijal

bee-JAL

Lightning, a sudden flash across the sky

Gujarati97% rare
Ultra Rare

Brihaspati

bri-hus-PUH-tee

Lord of prayer, preceptor of the gods and deity of the planet Jupiter

Sanskrit97% rare
Ultra Rare

Chandraprabh

chun-druh-PRUBH

Moon-radiance, from Chandraprabha, the eighth Tirthankara

Sanskrit97% rare
Ultra Rare

Charmika

chur-MEE-kaa

Graceful of form, pleasing to see

Sanskrit97% rare
Ultra Rare

Chatak

chuh-TUCK

The pied cuckoo that waits for the first rain

Sanskrit97% rare
Ultra Rare

Chodron

CHUR-drun

Torch of the Dharma, lamp of the teaching

Tibetan97% rare
Ultra Rare

Foram

FO-ram

Fragrance of blossoming flowers

Gujarati97% rare
Ultra Rare

Ghosha

GHOH-shah

Rigvedic woman rishi, a sound or proclamation

Sanskrit97% rare
Ultra Rare

Gungun

GOON-goon

A soft humming, the sound of bees

Hindi97% rare
Ultra Rare

Hetanshi

hay-TAAN-shee

A portion of purpose, part of an intention

Gujarati97% rare
Ultra Rare

Hetvika

hayt-VEE-kaa

Little one with an aim

Gujarati97% rare
Ultra Rare

Ludmila

lood-MEE-lah

Dear to the people

Slavic97% rare
Ultra Rare

Lysander

ly-SAN-der

Liberator, freer of men

Greek97% rare
Ultra Rare

Malav

MAH-luv

Of the Malwa region, a classical raga

Gujarati97% rare
Ultra Rare

Nabh

NUBH

The heavens, the vault above

Sanskrit97% rare
Ultra Rare

Nivritti

nih-VRIT-tee

Turning inward, the path of renunciation in Vedantic thought

Sanskrit97% rare
Ultra Rare

Perpetua

per-PET-yoo-ah

Continuous, everlasting

Latin97% rare
Ultra Rare

Pranshi

PRAAN-shee

A portion of the life breath

Sanskrit97% rare
Ultra Rare

Romasha

roh-MAH-shah

Rigvedic woman seer, daughter of Brihaspati

Sanskrit97% rare
Ultra Rare

Sariputta

sah-ree-POOT-tah

Son of Sari, the Buddha's foremost disciple in wisdom

Pali97% rare
Ultra Rare

Shukra

SHOOK-ruh

Bright or clear, guru of the asuras and deity of the planet Venus

Sanskrit97% rare
Ultra Rare

Sugriva

soo-GREE-vuh

One with a beautiful neck, the vanara king who allied with Rama

Sanskrit97% rare
Ultra Rare

Sunniva

SOON-ee-vah

Sun gift

Norse97% rare
Ultra Rare

Tarquin

TAR-kwin

Of Tarquinia, an Etruscan town

Latin97% rare
Ultra Rare

Todi

TOH-dee

A late-morning raga said to charm deer, used as a given name

Hindi97% rare
Ultra Rare

Vishwamitra

vish-waa-MIT-ruh

Friend of the world, the king who became a brahmarishi

Sanskrit97% rare
Ultra Rare

Yanisha

yuh-NEE-shaa

One always moving forward on her journey

Sanskrit97% rare

365 more ultra rare names

YatriYudhishthirAlaknandaAntarikshApalaAtriBhupaliChahnaChamundaCharmiChezhianEkalavyaFitzgeraldHiranshiHonoraIlseJagrutiJayanshKokilKokilaKuntiLudovicMalhariMandodariMireilleMitalMordecaiNaradaPeregrinePriyadarshanaRahulaRatnavaliRatriRipalSaanjhSanghamitraShantinathSolveigSunyaThomasinaThubtenUlupiVamanaVasishthaViralYatinZealAashkaAchyutAnuruddhaBhagirathiBhanumatiBhimaCasimirCharulataDiptiDrashtiEklavyaEulaliaGaurangGroverGurbakshHemchandraHetanshIlangoIndraneelJenishaJethroKalliopeKalpeshKaustubhLhamoLieselMadriMandaMinalMokshitaMuruganNitalPrabhavatiRinkuRomillyRupalSnehalTarangTrilochanTripuraTrivikramUpekshaUrjaUrviUshasVidyasagarVishalaVyasYagneshYagnikYasodharaZeelZephyrZipporahAchuthanAlpeshAnbuAnselmBalachandranBharadwajChintanChitrangadaDamayantiDarshanaDarshitDhammaDhanishaDorjeEkanshFalgunFenwickGirdharGodavariGrishmaHariharHaritHarkiratHemalHemangHoneyIgnatiusInikaJiaJigneshJishnuKanviKaumudiKrupaLakshmikantLopamudraManikMarcellusMontgomeryMrinalNetraNilkanthNimeshNiralOjasviParashuramParthivQueenieRanganathRasilaSahajSamyakSanjamSasmitaSewaSharmishthaSharvaniShatrughnaShitalShreyansiSuryakantTejalThangamThidaTvishaVatsalVidurWilhelminaYatharthYesheYogitaYvesZarnaBasavarajBrahmiCharanjitCosimaCrispinDevangDhruvinDishitaDraupadiEknathGangadharGunjanHansHermioneHiralHoraceIshwarJanardanKadambariKamakshiKashyapKatyayaniKaviKavishaKeziahKirpalKirtanKshitijLasyaLeopoldMadhusudanMangalMaulikNatarajNayanaNeevNemiNiharNikunjNishkaNorbuOttolinePercivalPinkyPurushottamRachitRachnaRaginiRushabhRutikaSadashivSamadhiSanatanSanvikaSarbjitSatyavatiSnehSomchaiSudhanshuSulochanaTrilokTruptiUmangUnniVasudevVasudhaVesperVrundaAhalyaAmbarAmiasAnoukBaljeetBhagatBhanuBhargavBhaveshBhavnaBishnuBrijeshChandrikaChandruDamodarDevanshiDhairyaDhavalDipeshFairfaxHarjeetHiyaHridayInderjeetIndrajitJerichoJigmeJineshJiyanKarnaKeyurKinjalKonstantinKusumaLuckyMalarMettaMittalMurariNarasimhaNarmadaNerissaNiveditaOjasOviyaPallavParthaParulPrabhatPurviRaffertyRajulRiddhimaSatyendraSharanSomnathVaishaliVanishaVasaviYamunaYashviYeshaAashikaAmarjeetAnayAnvikaBalramBartholomewBhairaviBhavaniBhavinBibekBryonyChandrashekharChhayaDhritiDolmaGuinevereHollisHrishikeshInduKanchanKaveriKeyaKirandeepKishanKlaraKrunalKrutiKshamaMadhaviMadhurMortimerNaishaNaitikNakulNanakNehalNivaanOmprakashOttilieParshvaPrabhaPrabhjotPrahladRudranshSarveshSelviShaileshSiddhiSumatiTejaTejinderTorinTwishaUpendraUtsavVamikaVandanaVithalVyomWolfgangYashoda

Very rare

A genuinely uncommon pick — most people have never met anyone with this name.

Very Rare

Ammu

UM-moo

Little mother, a term of endearment

Malayalam90% rare
Very Rare

Anmol

un-MOHL

Priceless, beyond valuation

Hindi90% rare
Very Rare

Bhavya

BHAAV-yaa

Grand, splendid, magnificent

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Charu

CHAA-roo

Beautiful, pleasing to look upon

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Clement

KLEM-unt

Merciful, gentle

Latin90% rare
Very Rare

Davina

dah-VEE-nah

Beloved

Scottish90% rare
Very Rare

Dhananjay

dhuh-nun-JAY

Conqueror of wealth, an epithet of Arjuna in the Mahabharata

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Dhara

DHAA-rah

A steady stream, continuous flow

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Eshani

eh-SHAH-nee

Consort of Isha, or Shiva; an epithet of Parvati

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Ganesan

guh-NAY-sun

Lord of the ganas, the elephant-headed remover of obstacles

Tamil90% rare
Very Rare

Harnoor

hur-NOOR

Divine light of God

Punjabi90% rare
Very Rare

Harshad

HUR-shud

Giver of joy, one who delights others

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Hetvi

HAYT-vee

One who has a purpose in mind

Gujarati90% rare
Very Rare

Hitesh

hih-TAYSH

Lord of goodwill, one who wishes well

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Jasbir

jus-BEER

Hero of glory

Punjabi90% rare
Very Rare

Jaskaran

jus-KUH-run

One who does deeds worthy of praise

Punjabi90% rare
Very Rare

Jaspal

JUS-paal

Protector of glory

Punjabi90% rare
Very Rare

Jatinder

juh-TIN-der

Lord of ascetics, master of the senses

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Khushbu

KHUSH-boo

Sweet perfume carried on the breeze

Gujarati90% rare
Very Rare

Kiyaan

kee-YAAN

Crown of kings, grace

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Laksh

LUCK-sh

Aim, target; that which is aspired to

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Lakshman

LUKSH-mahn

One with auspicious marks; Rama's devoted younger brother

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Mahika

MAA-hee-kaa

The earth, also dew or mist

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Mohini

moh-HEE-nee

Enchantress; the female avatar Vishnu takes to bewitch the demons

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Nirav

nih-RAHV

Silent, quiet, without noise

Gujarati90% rare
Very Rare

Nirvaan

nir-VAHN

Liberation, freedom from worldly bonds

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Nishtha

NISH-thaa

Steadfast devotion, unwavering faith

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Padmaja

pud-MAH-jah

Born of the lotus, an epithet of Lakshmi

Telugu90% rare
Very Rare

Parag

puh-RAAG

Pollen, the dust of a flower

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Pihu

PEE-hoo

The call of the peacock

Hindi90% rare
Very Rare

Prajna

PRUHG-nyah

Discerning wisdom, insight into the nature of things

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Rajeshwari

rah-JESH-wah-ree

Sovereign goddess, an epithet of the Devi as queen of the universe

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Rupinder

roo-PIN-der

Lord of beauty

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Sarayu

sah-rah-YOO

The river of Ayodhya, mentioned in the Rigveda

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Sejal

say-JAL

Pure flowing water

Gujarati90% rare
Very Rare

Shakuntala

shah-koon-TAH-lah

Sheltered by birds, heroine of Kalidasa's play and mother of Bharata

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Sumitra

soo-MEE-trah

Good friend; the mother of Lakshmana and Shatrughna in the Ramayana

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Swapnil

SWUP-nil

Dreamlike, belonging to dreams

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Sylvester

sil-VES-ter

Of the woods, wooded

Latin90% rare
Very Rare

Trishala

tri-SHAH-lah

Mother of Mahavira, one of triple auspiciousness

Prakrit90% rare
Very Rare

Urmila

oor-MEE-laa

One who stirs the waves, enchantress

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Valli

VUL-lee

Creeper vine, the hill-tribe consort of Murugan

Tamil90% rare
Very Rare

Vasant

VUH-sunt

Spring, the flowering season

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Vinit

vih-NEET

Humble, well trained in conduct

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Vishwa

VISH-wuh

The whole universe, everything that exists

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Yug

YOOG

An age or epoch of cosmic time

Sanskrit90% rare
Very Rare

Zinnia

ZIN-ee-ah

Zinnia flower

Latin90% rare
Very Rare

Aayansh

AH-yahnsh

A part of one's parents; a portion of the sun

Sanskrit89% rare

399 more very rare names

AbhimanyuAnanthaAnasuyaAnnapurnaArundhatiAshwiniAyushiBalwinderBarnabyBlytheChandanDarshFalguniFatehFiadhGurnoorGustavHemantKetanKwameLokeshMaitreyiMananManviNandaPalakPriyanshPunitRevathiSapnaSrinivasSukhdeepTamsinTanishTanishkaThurstonValentineVardhamanVasantiVipulAarnaAarviAnantAoifeAvyaanBhoomiCharviCosmoDevakiDevduttGovindHarjotHeenaJaydeepJeetKarunaKavinKirtiKrishaLalitLekhaMadhavMahadevMaliniMayurMiteshNamrataNayanNilamNileshPranayPrasadPrathamPrithviRishikaRithikaRupertSavitriShailajaShivaanSirishaSonalSukhbirSukhmaniSunandaSwaraTapanUjjwalUnaVanshikaVarshaVenkatWhitakerWinifredAmritAnaghaAngadAnviBhumiBorisChaitanyaChandanaDeepDhwaniDilpreetDinahGirijaGobindGopalHansikaHezekiahIndraniIshaniJagannathJagdeepJamilaJyotsnaKalpanaKasperLakshyaLinneaMuskanNareshNirmalOmkarPareshRenukaRiddhiRishaanSarthakSharmilaSujataSumanTarunTejasUriahVerityYogeshAbhinandanAdvikAdvikaAnshikaAshokaAtharvAtulAurelioBellamyDurgaGaganGodfreyHarshitaHetalHimanshuJayantKaushikKavitaMadhuMandeepMeenakshiMehulNarayanNidhiNirvanOonaPreetRiteshRitvikSamarthShardaShreeyaSohiniSonuSouravSubhadraTanmayVanshVaughnVedikaZoraAnshAparnaAradhyaChetanChithraDashiellGurmeetIngridKomalLalitaManishaMarisolMukeshNityaPariPriyanshiRajinderRajveerRavneetRishitaRonakSandipShashiShauryaSiddhantTallulahUdayVaidehiVaishnaviVernonVirajYaminiAmairaAraceliAvniBhavanaBookerDakshDivyanshGargiGauravGayatriJatinJinalJiyaKamalNavjotNitaPankajPemaRudraRukminiSeamusShivanshSiyaSumitSusannahSushmaUtkarshChandraChiragDeeptiDevanshDevikaDharmendraEamonEttaFerdinandGurdeepJanviJayeshJunoManojMohitNaliniNishantRanjeetSagarSamairaSonamSundariTusharUlyssesUrsulaUrvashiXiomaraYuvrajAarohiAmandeepAnkitArjanBaxterBelaCalliopeDivyanshiHarshHarshitHemaMahiMitaliOrsonPramodPremRedmondRinaRosalindRoshniSindhuTashiVedVimalaYuvanAmbikaAnandaDulceEugeneGauriGirishHalleHardikJarvisJoleneKiyaraLavanyaMihirRameshSaraswatiSeraphinaShanayaSureshWendellYolandaAaryaAshishBhaskarBlaiseDanicaJanhaviKartikKhushiKuldeepKunalParvatiPrakashRianSinclairSrideviThaddeusTheodoraAarushAhanaAmarAmbroseAmritaArnavBeatrixFarrahJaspreetKalyaniKirstenMaheshNandiniNigelRajeshRhiannonRohitSubhashVimalVishnuBharatBirdieCecilErnestEshaGaneshIlaImogenJasleenKavithaLataMahavirMahiraNellNiallOmRayanReyanshSunnyTanviTenzinDayaDellaEvanderGeetaHariHarrietInesMilanParminderParthPranavSnehaYvonneAhaanAkashAvaniCedricDemiFridaHarleenJasminJyotiLachlanMillicentPetraPratikRekhaRhysSamirSurya

Rare

Recognisable but seldom used. Distinctive without needing to be spelled out twice.

Rare

Dhruv

DHROOV

Fixed, immovable; the pole star and the boy sage of the Puranas

Sanskrit75% rare
Rare

Edmund

ED-mund

Fortunate protector

Old English75% rare
Rare

Estelle

es-TELL

Star

Latin75% rare
Rare

Madhuri

MAH-doo-ree

Sweetness, honeyed quality

Sanskrit75% rare
Rare

Rowena

roh-EE-nah

Fame and joy, or white spear

Germanic, possibly Welsh75% rare
Rare

Siddhartha

sid-DAR-tah

One who has accomplished his aim, the birth name of the Buddha

Sanskrit75% rare
Rare

Sita

SEE-tah

Furrow; the queen of the Ramayana, found in a ploughed field and daughter of the earth

Sanskrit75% rare
Rare

Yash

YAHSH

Fame, glory, renown

Sanskrit75% rare
Rare

Aditi

AH-dih-tee

Boundless, free; the Vedic mother goddess of the Adityas

Sanskrit74% rare
Rare

Amos

AY-mus

Carried by God

Hebrew74% rare
Rare

Ashwin

ASH-win

Horse tamer; the Ashvins, twin Vedic physician gods

Sanskrit74% rare
Rare

Darcy

DAR-see

From Arcy

Norman French74% rare
Rare

Gwendolyn

GWEN-duh-lin

Blessed ring, white brow

Welsh74% rare
Rare

Kavya

KAAV-yaa

Poetry, a literary composition

Sanskrit74% rare
Rare

Keshav

KAY-shuv

One with beautiful long hair, an epithet of Krishna and slayer of Keshi

Sanskrit74% rare
Rare

Kiaan

kee-AHN

Ray of light, grace of God

Sanskrit74% rare
Rare

Lorna

LOR-nah

Invented by R. D. Blackmore, probably from Lorn in Argyll

Scottish, literary74% rare
Rare

Mohan

MOH-hahn

Enchanting, bewitching; a name of Krishna

Sanskrit74% rare
Rare

Paloma

pah-LOH-mah

Dove

Spanish74% rare
Rare

Phineas

FIN-ee-us

Oracle, serpent's mouth

Hebrew74% rare
Rare

Prisha

PREE-shah

Beloved, God's gift

Gujarati74% rare
Rare

Ramya

RUM-yah

Beautiful, pleasing to behold

Telugu74% rare
Rare

Vinay

vih-NAY

Humility, reverent conduct, a pillar of Jain monastic discipline

Sanskrit74% rare
Rare

Yusuf

YOO-suf

God increases, He shall add

Arabic74% rare
Rare

Anand

AH-nahnd

Bliss, spiritual joy

Sanskrit73% rare
Rare

Bonnie

BON-ee

Pretty, fine

Scottish73% rare
Rare

Cormac

KOR-mak

Charioteer

Irish (Gaelic)73% rare
Rare

Jaya

JAH-yah

Victory; also a name of Durga in her triumphant aspect

Sanskrit73% rare
Rare

Johanna

yo-HAH-nuh

God is gracious

Hebrew (via Latin)73% rare
Rare

Manpreet

mun-PREET

Love in the heart and mind

Punjabi73% rare
Rare

Maude

MAWD

Mighty in battle — a medieval form of Matilda

Germanic73% rare
Rare

Raghav

RAA-ghuv

Descendant of Raghu, an epithet of Rama

Sanskrit73% rare
Rare

Saanvi

SAHN-vee

Follower of knowledge; a name of Lakshmi

Sanskrit73% rare
Rare

Saoirse

SEER-shah

Freedom

Irish (Gaelic)73% rare
Rare

Shreyas

SHRAY-us

The higher good, that which is truly better

Kannada73% rare
Rare

Veer

VEER

Brave, heroic; a warrior

Sanskrit73% rare
Rare

Vihaan

vih-HAHN

Dawn, the first light of morning

Sanskrit73% rare
Rare

Wilder

WYL-der

Untamed, of the wilderness

Old English73% rare
Rare

Dimitri

duh-MEE-tree

Follower of Demeter

Greek72% rare
Rare

Edith

EE-dith

Prosperous in war

Old English72% rare
Rare

Kapil

KUH-pil

Tawny or reddish-brown, and the sage who founded the Samkhya school

Sanskrit72% rare
Rare

Marguerite

mar-guh-REET

Pearl; also the French for daisy

French, from Greek72% rare
Rare

Navya

NUV-yah

New, young, worth praising

Hindi72% rare
Rare

Niamh

NEEV

Radiance, brightness

Irish (Gaelic)72% rare
Rare

Nikhil

nih-KHIL

Whole, entire, complete

Sanskrit72% rare
Rare

Soren

SOR-en

Stern, severe

Danish72% rare
Rare

Vidya

VID-yah

Knowledge, learning; an epithet of Saraswati

Sanskrit72% rare
Rare

Byron

BY-run

At the cattle sheds

Old English71% rare