Mysterious names carry a little fog with them. The 100 picks below reach for Greek goddesses of mist, Norse wolves, Welsh words for secret, and stars borrowed straight out of the night sky.
Every entry lists gender, origin, meaning, pronunciation, and where the name actually stands in United States birth records, because rare and unheard of are not the same thing. A few of these are hiding in plain sight: Aurora ranked 15th among U.S. babies in 2025, Nova 46th, and Jade 95th.
Most of the rest are genuinely uncommon, and 19 of them never show up in the federal data at all, since a name is published only once at least five babies in a year receive it (1). Read on for the meanings, the myths, and an honest read on how many babies really get each one.
Popularity at a Glance
The most popular names on this list in the United States, 1965 to 2025: Aurora, Nova, Jade, Sage and Freya.
100 Cool Mysterious Names for Boys and Girls
Each name below comes with its origin, meaning, pronunciation, and where it really stands in U.S. birth records.
Achlys
Achlys belongs to the oldest layer of Greek myth, a primordial figure who personified sadness and the death-mist that clouds the eyes. Ancient sources are thin, and the idea that she was a daughter of Nyx, goddess of night, has never been confirmed. That haziness suits the name. It sounds like something whispered rather than announced, and your child is unlikely to ever share it.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Mist, darkness
- Pronunciation: AY-kleez, A-kliss
- Popularity: Achlys does not appear in published U.S. birth data, which lists a name only once at least five babies in a year receive it.
Adrienne
Adrienne is a French feminine form of Adrian that has not been as popular as its counterpart, Adriana, which leaves it feeling classic rather than common.
- Origin: Latin, French
- Meaning: Dark, from Adria
- Pronunciation: A-dree-en, AY-dree-en
- Namesakes: Princess Adrienne of Sweden, the Duchess of Blekinge. Adrienne Bailon, an actress, singer, and former member of the girl groups, 3 Little Women and The Cheetah Girls.
- Popularity: Only 123 U.S. babies were named Adrienne in 2025, ranking it No. 1,673. Its high point was No. 140 in 1983.
Ahma
Ahma is short, soft, and carries a heavy image: black rain. Nothing about the spelling is difficult, so it is easy to say and easier to write, and the meaning does all of the atmospheric work on its own. If you want the mood of a gothic name without the syllables to go with it, Ahma is a quiet way in.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Black rain, dark rain
- Pronunciation: Ah-maa
- Popularity: Ahma stays off the U.S. charts entirely, as names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published.
Antioch
Antioch reads like a place because it was one. This biblical name traces back to the Greek king Antiochus, whose name was attached to a string of cities, the best known being the Syrian capital mentioned in scripture. The meaning, resistant, sounds stubborn on paper, but set against that ancient backdrop it lands closer to steady. It is also a cool name for a boy who will never meet another one, and Harry Potter readers will recognize it from Antioch Peverell. Ant works as a short form if three syllables feel like a lot.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Resistant
- Pronunciation: AN-tee-ok
- Popularity: Published U.S. birth data has never listed Antioch, which takes at least five babies in a single year.
Aurora
Sleeping Beauty’s name is Princess Aurora. Need we say more? Straight out of a fairytale, Aurora has an ethereal feel. Sprinkle a bit of fairy dust over your special one with this fantasy name.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Dawn
- Pronunciation: uh-ROR-uh
- Namesakes: Aurora Antonia Quezon, the First Lady of the Philippines between 1935 to 1944.
- Popularity: U.S. parents put Aurora at No. 15 in 2025, good for 7,065 births. That is its best rank on record. Births over the last decade ran about 226% ahead of the decade before.
Azriel
In Islam and in some traditions of Judaism, Azriel is the angel of death, which is a lot of mystery for three syllables. The Hebrew meaning, God is my help, pulls in a gentler direction, so the name holds both at once. It has never ranked higher on the U.S. charts than it does right now.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God is my help
- Pronunciation: Az-REE-el
- Variations: Azrael
- Namesakes: Azriel, the father of Seraiah in the Bible. Azriel, the father of Jerimoth and a ruler of Naphtali.
- Popularity: Azriel came in at No. 529 on the U.S. charts in 2025, with 566 babies. That is its best rank on record.
Baelfire
Baelfire refers to a bonfire lit during the Celtic celebration of Beltane. Fantasy viewers hear it differently, since Baelfire is Rumplestiltskin’s son in ABC’s Once Upon a Time. Either way the name arrives with heat and a story already attached, and Bae is the obvious everyday short form. This is a bold pick rather than a subtle one.
- Origin: Celtic
- Meaning: Bonfire
- Pronunciation: BALE-fire
- Popularity: Baelfire last appeared in published U.S. birth data in 2023, at No. 12,458 with 5 babies. Its best showing was No. 12,285 in 2015.
Baldur
Taken from Norse legends, this son of Odin and his wife Frigg is associated with beauty and light and is known for being immune to harm. Baldur or any of its variants is a powerful choice for a boy.
- Origin: Norse, Scandinavian, Icelandic
- Meaning: Prince, brave
- Pronunciation: BALL-dur
- Variations: Balder, Baldr
- Namesakes: Baldur Ragnarsson, was an Icelandic poet and author.
- Popularity: The most recent U.S. record for Baldur is 2024, when 6 babies were given the name at No. 11,115.
Bellatrix
Bellatrix is the third brightest star in the Orion constellation, which is where most of its mystery comes from. The Latin meaning, female warrior, gives it teeth to go with the shimmer. The sound splits neatly into Bella for daily use. Harry Potter readers will think of one particular witch. Decide early whether that association is a feature or a problem. For parents drawn to star names with an edge, few options cut sharper.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Female warrior
- Pronunciation: BEHL-ah-tricks
- Popularity: Bellatrix logged 29 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 4,674. Its high point was No. 3,974 in 2024. Births over the last decade ran about 228% ahead of the decade before.
Blackburn
Blackburn makes an entrance. It began as an English place name meaning black brook, became a surname, and stays below the five-births publication line as a first name for a boy. The dark stream imagery gives it a moody, northern feel without tipping into costume gothic.
- Origin: Anglo-Saxon
- Meaning: Black brook, dark stream
- Pronunciation: BLACK-burn
- Popularity: There is no published U.S. record for Blackburn, since fewer than five babies a year are given the name.
Brunhilde
Brunhilde, better known in the older spelling Brunhild, was the shieldmaiden and valkyrie of Norse legend. The meaning, armed for battle, is not a metaphor, and the name has the weight to match it. Hilde makes a warm, wearable short form for the years before she grows into the rest of it. It is long and unapologetically old world, so it suits parents who want a heroine rather than a trend.
- Origin: Germanic, Norse
- Meaning: Armed for battle, protected by the shield
- Pronunciation: BROON-hilt, BROON-hild, BROON-hill-duh
- Variations: Brunhild, Brunilde
- Namesakes: Brunilde (Brunhilde) Bianchi, an Italian ice-dancing coach and choreographer, shows the competitive potential of this moniker.
- Popularity: Brunhilde stays off the U.S. charts entirely, as names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published.
Casper
Everyone meets the friendly ghost first, and that is not the worst introduction a name can have. Casper is two clean syllables, simple to spell and simple for a toddler to say. The Persian sense, treasure bearer, gives it substance well beyond the cartoon, and its long history in Scandinavian families keeps it feeling more storied than seasonal.
- Origin: Persian, Scandinavian
- Meaning: Treasure bearer
- Pronunciation: KASS-pur
- Variations: Kasper
- Namesakes: Casper ten Boom, a Dutch watchmaker who helped Jews escape Nazis during the Holocaust.
- Popularity: Casper came in at No. 924 on the U.S. charts in 2025, with 255 babies. Its high point was No. 535 in 1915.
Coraline
Coraline owes its current life to the dark fantasy novel and film about a girl who finds a door into a very wrong version of home. The name itself is gentler than its most famous bearer, built on coral and the idea of something precious kept close. Cora works as a shorter everyday version when the full name feels like a lot. Its use has more than doubled over the last decade. Sweet on the surface and unsettling underneath is exactly what a mysterious name should be.
- Origin: Greek, French
- Meaning: Coral, heart
- Pronunciation: KOR-uh-line
- Namesakes: Coraline Thomas Hugue, a retired French cross-country skier.
- Popularity: Coraline ranked 683rd in the U.S. in 2025, with 414 babies given the name. Its high point was No. 579 in 2015. Births over the last decade ran about 108% ahead of the decade before.
Crona
Crona sounds ominous before you learn a thing about it. The Japanese sense points to a dark one, drawn from kuronamaku, the black sea cucumber, which is not imagery most baby name lists can offer. Viewers of the Japanese anime Soul Eater will know Crona Gorgon, the character called the Demon Sword. Real world usage is close to nonexistent, so this is a genuine find rather than a rediscovery.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Dark one, short for “Kuronamaku” or a black sea cucumber
- Pronunciation: KRO-nah
- Variations: Kurona
- Popularity: There is no published U.S. record for Crona, since fewer than five babies a year are given the name.
Cullen
This moody moniker isn’t just the name of a sparkly vampire. Cullen’s Gaelic root, Cuileannain, means “son of the holy one.” Think your baby can live up to a role like that?
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: Handsome, good-looking lad, holly
- Pronunciation: KUH-lin
- Popularity: Cullen logged 194 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 1,108. Its high point was No. 413 in 2010.
Cyfrin
Cyfrin is Welsh for secret, so this one states its theme outright instead of hinting at it. The spelling looks harder than the name actually sounds, and once someone hears it they tend not to forget it, with Cy and Rin both waiting as easy short forms.
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: Secret
- Pronunciation: s-EYE-frin, SIH-frin, k-EYE-frin
- Popularity: Published U.S. birth data has never listed Cyfrin, which takes at least five babies in a single year.
Dagrun
Dagrun feels like a secret kept in plain daylight, true to its meaning. It is an unusual female name that conjures images of dragons and northern sagas. It would sit comfortably in a fantasy novel without having been invented for one. The two hard syllables give it a strength that softer Norse names lack. Dag and Runa can carry the everyday load.
- Origin: Norse, Scandinavian
- Meaning: Secret day
- Pronunciation: DAG-ROON, DIG-ROON
- Popularity: Dagrun does not appear in published U.S. birth data, which lists a name only once at least five babies in a year receive it.
Dahlia
The Dahlia flower was styled after the botanist Anders Dahl who first discovered it. As a personal name, Dahlia is elegant and floral but has a checkered past. Elizabeth Short was dubbed the Black Dahlia after being murdered, and her case became widely publicized. Despite this correlation, this valley flower still blooms as a strong candidate for beautiful female names.
- Origin: Swedish
- Meaning: Valley flower
- Pronunciation: DAH-lee-uh
- Namesakes: Dahlia Ravikovitch, an Israeli peacemaker, translator, and poet.
- Popularity: Dahlia came in at No. 215 on the U.S. charts in 2025, with 1,420 babies. That is its best rank on record.
Dua
Dua means prayer, and little on a mystical name list runs deeper than that. Three letters, one clear pronunciation, and no spelling battles waiting at school, while the singer Dua Lipa has given it a modern, glamorous association without wearing it out. For parents who want short, spiritual, and easy on every tongue, this one delivers all three.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Prayer, love
- Pronunciation: DOO-ah
- Namesakes: Dua Lipa, a popular British-Albanian singer, bears this moniker with style.
- Popularity: Dua sat at No. 1,060 in the U.S. in 2025, with 231 births. That is its best rank on record. Births over the last decade ran about 374% ahead of the decade before.
Elisa
A diminutive of Elisabeth, Elisa is hinged on the concept of faith. And let’s not kid ourselves, such an adorable name can’t be passed up.
- Origin: Greek, Hebrew
- Meaning: God’s promise, Consecrated to God
- Pronunciation: eh-LEE-sah, eh-LEE-zah
- Variations: Eliza
- Namesakes: Elisa Bonaparte (full name: Maria Anna Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi Levoy), the sister of Napoleon Bonaparte and an Imperial French princess.
- Popularity: U.S. parents put Elisa at No. 458 in 2025, good for 674 births. Its high point was No. 311 in 1981.
Elysia
Elysia comes from Elysium, the Greek idea of the afterlife or paradise. Contentment is built into the name because of it. It sounds airy without being weightless. The ending keeps it feminine and current. Elle, Lys, and Ellie are all available if you want something shorter for daily use. It leans toward peace rather than conflict, true to the meaning.
- Origin: Greek, Latin
- Meaning: From Elysium, heaven
- Pronunciation: eh-LIH-zhee-uh
- Namesakes: Elysia Rotaru, a Canadian actress known for her role on the TV series Arrow and the character Ingrid in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules.
- Popularity: Elysia logged 149 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 1,444. Its high point was No. 1,292 in 2002.
Etienne
Etienne is a French classic, and the meaning, crown or garland, keeps a regal thread running through it. It sounds polished rather than fussy, and in French speaking countries it is an everyday name instead of a curiosity. English speakers may need one pass at the pronunciation, after which it usually sticks. If you like the idea of a small boy with an unmistakably continental name, this is a comfortable place to start.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Garland, crown
- Pronunciation: EH-TEE-en, AY-TEE-en
- Namesakes: Étienne Aigner, founder of fashion companies, Etienne Aigner US and Etienne Aigner AG. Étienne Capoue, a French football player.
- Popularity: Etienne sat at No. 3,977 in the U.S. in 2025, with 27 births. Its high point was No. 2,103 in 1972.
Faye
Faye is fairy, plainly and directly, by way of the Middle English faie. It is one syllable of pure atmosphere, which is why it works as well in the middle position as it does out front. The name had a long American run through the first half of the twentieth century and keeps finding new parents. Tinkerbell has company.
- Origin: French, Middle English
- Meaning: Fairy
- Pronunciation: FAY
- Variations: Fae
- Namesakes: Faye Wong, (born in Beijing as Xia Lin), a Chinese songstress and actress from Hong Kong.
- Popularity: U.S. parents put Faye at No. 515 in 2025, good for 579 births. Its high point was No. 146 in 1934. Births over the last decade ran about 176% ahead of the decade before.
Fenrir
Fenrir is the monstrous wolf of Norse myth, one of the most feared figures in the old stories. Wolves have carried the gothic and the folkloric for centuries, and this name inherits all of it in two syllables. The meaning, fen dweller, grounds the legend in marsh and mist rather than pure menace. Fen works as a gentler nickname hiding inside a fierce full name. It logged just 11 U.S. births in 2025, so choosing it still means choosing something genuinely rare.
- Origin: Norse, Scandinavian
- Meaning: Fen-dweller
- Pronunciation: FEN-reer
- Popularity: Fenrir logged 11 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 7,335. Its high point was No. 4,940 in 2023.
Freya
Do you have a budding goddess at home? Freya comes from the Norse goddess of love, war, fertility, and death. Freya or any of its variations make for a unique baby name that will certainly catch people’s attention.
- Origin: Norse, Scandinavian
- Meaning: Noblewoman
- Pronunciation: FRAY-uh
- Variations: Freyja, Freja
- Namesakes: Freja Beha Erichsen, a Danish model dubbed the “Queen of Cool.”
- Popularity: Freya ranked 176th in the U.S. in 2025, with 1,746 babies given the name. Its high point was No. 129 in 2022. Births over the last decade ran about 584% ahead of the decade before.
Grimoire
A grimoire is a book of spells and invocations, so this name reads like an object pulled straight out of a story. It turns up as a surname in France and Russia and is close to unheard of as a first name. There is no established template to follow. Gothic leaning parents will enjoy that Grim is sitting right there, ready to use. Take it if you want something literary rather than mythological, a book rather than a god or a monster.
- Origin: Latin and French
- Meaning: Book of spells and invocations
- Pronunciation: grim-WAHR
- Popularity: There is no published U.S. record for Grimoire, since fewer than five babies a year are given the name.
Guinevere
Guinevere is the white phantom of Welsh tradition. That is a startling meaning for a name most people file under Arthurian romance. It has a vintage ring without feeling worn. The three syllables give it a slow, deliberate music. Gwen, Vera, and Ginny are all hiding inside it, so a child can pick her own register later. A mythical list without a fairy name would be missing something.
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: White fairy/white phantom, fair one
- Pronunciation: GWIN-ah-veer, GWIN-ah-veeuh
- Variations: Guenevere, Gwynnevere
- Namesakes: Guinevere Jane Turner, an American actress and screenwriter, noted for writing the film American Psycho.
- Popularity: Guinevere came in at No. 899 on the U.S. charts in 2025, with 295 babies. That is its best rank on record. Births over the last decade ran about 160% ahead of the decade before.
Gwendolyn
Gwendolyn belongs to the Welsh tradition of fair and blessed names, and it has the vintage polish to prove it. In the poetic work The Life of Merlin, Gwendolen is the magician’s wife, which is about as magical a pedigree as a name can claim. The spellings multiply happily, from Gwendolen to Gwendoline, and so do the nicknames, with Gwen, Wendy, and Lyn all within reach. It sounds like an heirloom without sounding dusty.
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: Fair bow, blessed ring
- Pronunciation: GWEN-duh-lin
- Variations: Gwendolin, Gwendolyne, Gwendoline, Gwendolen
- Namesakes: Gwendolyn McDonald Black, a musician, activist, and educator from Canada.
- Popularity: Gwendolyn ranked 360th in the U.S. in 2025, with 848 babies given the name. Its high point was No. 112 in 1951.
Hanifa
Hanifa is a powerful name and the feminine form of Hanif, describing someone who inclines toward true faith. The sound is soft, the meaning is not, and that contrast is what makes it interesting. It is familiar in Muslim communities and still rare in U.S. birth records, and its use has climbed about 70 percent over the last decade.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: True believer
- Pronunciation: ha-NEE-fah
- Variations: Haneefa, Haneefah
- Popularity: Only 19 U.S. babies were named Hanifa in 2025, ranking it No. 6,192. Its high point was No. 4,811 in 2024. Births over the last decade ran about 71% ahead of the decade before.
Hannibal
Hannibal belonged to Carthage long before it belonged to fiction. The Phoenician meaning, grace of Baal, ties it to an ancient religion, and the renowned North African commander who bore it gave the name its reputation for nerve. Thomas Harris then attached it to a fictional cannibal, which is the association most people reach for first. Parents who use it anyway usually want that exact mix of command and menace, and Hal softens it when softening is called for.
- Origin: Phoenician/Carthaginian
- Meaning: Grace of Baal
- Pronunciation: HA-nuh-bl
- Variations: Hunnable, Honeyball, Honeybell
- Namesakes: Hannibal of Carthage, a renowned North African military leader of antiquity.
- Popularity: Hannibal logged 6 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 11,151. Its high point was No. 2,000 in 1913.
Hemsa
Hemsa is soft enough to sound like the whisper it is said to mean. Reliable information about it is genuinely hard to come by, though some connect the name to a Sanskrit word that means sun. What is certain is that your daughter will not meet another one. That scarcity is the whole appeal for parents who want something quiet and unclaimed.
- Origin: Arabic, Indian
- Meaning: whisper, secret, sun
- Pronunciation: HEM-sah
- Popularity: Hemsa stays off the U.S. charts entirely, as names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published.
Hex
Hex is three letters of trouble, in the best possible way. It comes from the Pennsylvania German hexe, to practice witchcraft, so the link to curses is not something you can talk your way around, and as a first name it is blunt, modern, and completely unisex. Goth leaning parents will love it, and everyone else will remember it.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Magic spell, curse
- Pronunciation: HEKS
- Popularity: Published U.S. birth data has never listed Hex, which takes at least five babies in a single year.
Hyde
Hyde was an English surname meaning from the hide long before the story of Jekyll and Hyde made it shorthand for the worst half of a person. Gothic horror would be poorer without the maniacal Edward Hyde, and the name still carries that split charge. It suits any gender and pairs well with longer, softer middle names. If you want the sound without the menace, the Japanese spelling Hide is said HEE-day and carries the sense of excelling or flourishing.
- Origin: Anglo-Saxon
- Meaning: From the hide
- Pronunciation: HIDE
- Variations: Hide
- Namesakes: Sir Hyde Parker, a British admiral of the Royal Navy, knighted in 1779.
- Popularity: Hyde logged 15 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 5,960. Its high point was No. 3,618 in 2017. Births over the last decade ran about 104% ahead of the decade before.
Inanna
Inanna stands out among mythical girl names that begin with I, both for the doubled n and for who wore it. She was the ancient Mesopotamian goddess titled Queen of Heaven. That is a considerable legacy to hand a small person. The sound is far gentler than the history, flowing instead of severe. Ana and Nan are waiting if the full version ever feels ceremonial. Said aloud, it lands closer to a lullaby than a throne room.
- Origin: Sumerian
- Meaning: Lady of Heaven
- Pronunciation: EE-na-nah
- Namesakes: Inanna Sarkis, a Canadian Youtuber, actress, and director of Bulgarian and Assyrian descent.
- Popularity: Inanna sat at No. 9,096 in the U.S. in 2025, with 11 births. Its high point was No. 7,038 in 2020.
Ira
In Sanskrit, Ira can be masculine or feminine, however, in western countries, it is more commonly used as a male name. There are many men called Ira in the Bible, but most notable of all was a priest or minister to King David. Quite the respectable role. Consider this sophisticated yet mysterious name for a son or daughter.
- Origin: Hebrew, Indian
- Meaning: Watchful, earth
- Pronunciation: EYE-rah, EE-rah
- Namesakes: Ira Alterman, an American journalist and writer.
- Popularity: U.S. parents put Ira at No. 822 in 2025, good for 301 births. Its high point was No. 146 in 1915. Births over the last decade ran about 112% ahead of the decade before.
Jade
The jade gemstone has long had ornamental usage throughout Eastern and Southern Asia. In China, a pierced jade disc symbolizes heaven. Jade comes from the Spanish word for “stone of the side/bowels” promoted as a curative. Jade is a popular choice for both boys and girls for its simplicity, historical importance, and refreshing quality.
- Origin: English, Spanish
- Meaning: Precious stone, stone of the colic
- Pronunciation: JAYD
- Variations: Jayde
- Namesakes: Jade Barbosa, a Brazilian artistic gymnast and a two-time bronze medalist at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.
- Popularity: Jade came in at No. 95 on the U.S. charts in 2025, with 2,658 babies. Its high point was No. 80 in 2023.
Jeong
Sounds like John, but with a twist! Korean names don’t have to be intimidating. In particular, Jeong is a first and last name with a tender side. Meaning “silent” and “gentle,” your sweet Jeong could one day come to embody these qualities.
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Silent, gentle, chaste
- Pronunciation: j-O-ng
- Variations: Jung, Jong, Chong, Chung
- Namesakes: Jeong Jang (family name Jang), a professional golfer from South Korea who won the Korea Women’s Open as a teenager.
- Popularity: Jeong last appeared in published U.S. birth data in 1989, at No. 8,477 with 5 babies.
Jinx
Jinx means a spell or charm, and it behaves like one. Gamers know the chaotic character from League of Legends and its Netflix series Arcane, while everyone else hears the word for bad luck. It is short, sharp, and gender neutral, which makes it easier to wear than the meaning suggests, and being slightly ahead of the crowd is part of the draw.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Spell, magic charm
- Pronunciation: JINKS
- Variations: Jynx
- Namesakes: Jinx Godfrey, a London-based film editor known for her work on the biographical film The Theory of Everything.
- Popularity: Only 8 U.S. babies were named Jinx in 2025, ranking it No. 11,363. Its high point was No. 2,386 in 1950.
Kadmiel
Kadmiel has an old-fashioned vibe built right in, since it comes from the Hebrew qedem, meaning antiquity, and el, which refers to God. Few names announce their age quite so plainly, and its use has crept up over the last decade even though its last published showing was just 7 U.S. births in 2023. It suits parents with strong faith and a taste for the deeply old rather than the merely vintage.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God of Antiquity
- Pronunciation: KAD-mee-el
- Popularity: Kadmiel last appeared in published U.S. birth data in 2023, at No. 10,218 with 7 babies. Its best showing was No. 8,500 in 2021. Births over the last decade ran about 18% ahead of the decade before.
Kieran
Kieran means little dark one, which is a lot of atmosphere for a name this easy to wear. Kieran Culkin gave it a famous bearer with exactly the right mischievous energy, and the Irish spelling Ciaran is there if you want the name to look as old as it is. It works on a toddler and on an adult, which is more than many shadowy picks manage. No spelling debates, no explanations.
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: Little dark one, black-haired
- Pronunciation: KEE-run
- Variations: Ciaran
- Namesakes: Kieran Culkin, a well-known American actor and brother of Macaulay Culkin.
- Popularity: Kieran ranked 389th in the U.S. in 2025, with 817 babies given the name. That is its best rank on record.
Kronos
Kronos carries a heavy punch and some muddled history. In Greek myth he led the titans and fathered Zeus, while in early Greek philosophy Khronos personified time itself, and the two have been conflated for centuries, sometimes deliberately. For naming purposes that hardly matters. Kronos sounds like weather rolling in, and the rule of cool decides the rest.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Time
- Pronunciation: KROH-nos
- Variations: Cronos, Cronus, Chronos, Khronos
- Popularity: Kronos last appeared in published U.S. birth data in 2018, at No. 11,560 with 6 babies.
Laguna
Laguna is a water name in disguise, meaning pond or lake. It looks like Lagoon and Luna pressed together, which gives it both a shoreline and a moon without stating either outright. It is more common as a surname, so using it up front is still an unusual move, and saying it out loud once makes the appeal obvious.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Pond, lake
- Pronunciation: lah-GOO-nah
- Popularity: Laguna logged 7 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 12,601. Its high point was No. 10,725 in 2024.
Lobo
Lobo is the Spanish word for wolf, and it lands strangely on English ears in the best way. DC Comics gave it a grim, gritty villain who did a lot to make the name recognizable outside Spanish speaking families. Two syllables, no spelling trouble, and an animal with real presence behind it. The next Halloween costume more or less picks itself.
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Meaning: Wolf
- Pronunciation: LOH-boh
- Namesakes: Roland Kent LaVoie, known by his stage name Lobo, an American folk rock and country pop singer and lyricist.
- Popularity: Lobo last appeared in published U.S. birth data in 2024, at No. 10,510 with 7 babies. Its best showing was No. 9,351 in 2021.
Lorna
Lorna is a similarly honorable title for your child, related to the laurel tree, which symbolizes victory and honor. What’s so mysterious about that, you ask? To some, Lorna looks like La Llorona, and although the pronunciations differ, it gives Lorna a certain darkness.
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: Laurel
- Pronunciation: LOR-nuh
- Namesakes: Lorna Bennett, a Jamaican reggae artist who topped the Jamaican singles chart twice.
- Popularity: Only 56 U.S. babies were named Lorna in 2025, ranking it No. 2,980. Its high point was No. 298 in 1941.
Mahina
Moon names crowd this category, and Luna has claimed most of the attention. Mahina offers the same imagery with far less company, since it is based on the Hawaiian lunar goddess. Three soft syllables move gently, keeping a name that could feel grand instead feeling easy to say. Hina works as a short form for a family that likes nicknames. Its use has more than doubled over the last decade.
- Origin: Hawaiian
- Meaning: Moon, moonlight
- Pronunciation: mah-HEE-nuh
- Popularity: Mahina logged 38 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 3,876. Its high point was No. 3,104 in 2022. Births over the last decade ran about 130% ahead of the decade before.
Midna
Midna was created for the video game The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, built out of the English word midnight, and players adopted it as a real name from there. It is short, dark, and easy to say, which is more than most invented names manage, and with no long history behind it your daughter gets to set the precedent. For parents who want mystery without weight, this is a light way to carry it.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Midnight
- Pronunciation: MID-nah
- Popularity: The most recent U.S. record for Midna is 2023, when 7 babies were given the name at No. 13,023. Its best showing was No. 11,489 in 2016.
Milagros
Milagros is uncommon even within Hispanic communities because of its dated and highly religious feel. It only becomes less popular in English-speaking circles. But we believe in miracles! A list of mystical names isn’t complete without the magic of Milagros, and what greater miracle is there than the birth of your little one?
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Miracles
- Pronunciation: mee-LAH-gross
- Namesakes: Milagros Cerrón Arauco, a young Peruvian survivor of Sirenomelia.
- Popularity: Only 137 U.S. babies were named Milagros in 2025, ranking it No. 1,545. Its high point was No. 729 in 2008. Births over the last decade ran about 34% behind the decade before.
Morpheus
Originally based on the Greek god of dreams and sleep. The fictional character, Morpheus, played by Laurence Fishburne in The Matrix movie franchise, popularized this mythical name. But enough dream talk. This badass baby name is no illusion, so it could be worth a shot.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Shaper of dreams
- Pronunciation: MOR-fee-us
- Variations: Morfeus
- Popularity: The most recent U.S. record for Morpheus is 2024, when 5 babies were given the name at No. 13,591. Its best showing was No. 11,596 in 2000.
Mystique
Mystique checks every box on this list without pretending otherwise. It looks the part and sounds the part. The meaning, an air of mystery, says it outright. The shapeshifting X-Men character Raven Darkholme is the reference most people reach for, which gives the name a sleek, dangerous edge. It is a touch on the nose, and some parents will want exactly that.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Air of mystery
- Pronunciation: miss-TEEK
- Popularity: Mystique last appeared in published U.S. birth data in 2021, at No. 16,930 with 5 babies. Its best showing was No. 4,081 in 2001. Births over the last decade ran about 20% behind the decade before.
Naadira
Naadira has stayed rare in U.S. birth records, and the meaning, precious, rare, describes both the name’s history and the girl who wears it.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Precious, rare
- Pronunciation: nah-DEE-rah
- Variations: Nazira, Nadirah, Naadirah
- Namesakes: Naadira Alli, a singer and former child star living in South Africa.
- Popularity: The most recent U.S. record for Naadira is 1996, when 5 babies were given the name at No. 15,092. Its best showing was No. 9,269 in 1993.
Namid
Namid comes from the Ojibwe and means star dancer, one of the loveliest images on this list. The pronunciation is simple once heard, and the name works for a boy or a girl without adjustment. It carries none of the gothic weight of the other picks here, just night sky and movement.
- Origin: Native American
- Meaning: Star dancer
- Pronunciation: nah-MEET
- Popularity: Namid stays off the U.S. charts entirely, as names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published.
Nectarios
This one’s a tad long, but it’s as sweet as nectar. Despite never being used in Greece as a name until much later in history, Nectarios was mostly used by monks and bishops from 300 AD onward. Its etymology stems from the Greek word “nektar,” which was a miraculous beverage of honey and meant “overcoming death.”
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Of nectar, ambrosia
- Pronunciation: nek-TA-ree-ohs
- Variations: Nektarios, Nectarius
- Namesakes: Saint Nectarios of Aegina, a widely renowned Greek saint whose feast day falls on November 9th.
- Popularity: The most recent U.S. record for Nectarios is 1979, when 5 babies were given the name at No. 6,739. Its best showing was No. 5,634 in 1977.
Nero
Nero’s most famous namesake is the Roman emperor, Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus. Quite the mouthful! Your baby’s name doesn’t have to be so wordy, especially since Nero is already so short. This commanding name will give the illusion of power from a tender age.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Black, stern, powerful
- Pronunciation: NEER-oh
- Namesakes: Alexandre Nero Vieira, a Brazilian actor, musician, and musical director, nominated for the International Emmy Awards for Best Actor in 2016.
- Popularity: Only 21 U.S. babies were named Nero in 2025, ranking it No. 4,815. Its high point was No. 2,825 in 1918. Births over the last decade ran about 99% ahead of the decade before.
Norne
Norne may have two roots, and both of them belong on this list. In Norse myth the Norns were three deities who governed fate, and the word has also been tied to the Swedish dialect term norna, meaning to communicate secretly. Fate and secrets inside five letters is a strong return on a short name. Norn is the older spelling if you want the mythology straight.
- Origin: Scandinavian, Norse
- Meaning: Fate, secret communication
- Pronunciation: NOHR-n
- Variations: Norn
- Popularity: There is no published U.S. record for Norne, since fewer than five babies a year are given the name.
Nova
Nova is a unisex name most often used for girls. In astronomy, a nova indicates the dramatic appearance of a bright new star. Is there any other name perfect for a shiny new addition to your family than that?
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: New
- Pronunciation: NOH-vuh
- Namesakes: Nova Spivack, an American venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and author who co-founded The Arch Mission Foundation non-profit.
- Popularity: Nova ranked 46th in the U.S. in 2025, with 4,657 babies given the name. Its high point was No. 32 in 2021. Births over the last decade ran about 911% ahead of the decade before.
Oleg
Oleg of Novgorod is the most famous bearer of this saintly moniker. Also called Oleg the Seer, he was a prince who ruled over the Rus people. With a forebear like that, Oleg seems to be a name fit for a young prince.
- Origin: Russian
- Meaning: Holy, sacred
- Pronunciation: OH-leg
- Namesakes: Oleg Andronic, a Moldovan football player who plays as a forward.
- Popularity: Only 9 U.S. babies were named Oleg in 2025, ranking it No. 8,728. Its high point was No. 3,208 in 1959.
Ophelia
A tad Shakespearean, Ophelia is surprisingly in fashion. Although widely known for the tragic heroine, your baby can still benefit from such an outstanding epithet. It certainly has a sophisticated air and isn’t going out of style. Already fairly short, it needs no nicknames, but Phee or Lia could work if your heart is truly set.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Help
- Pronunciation: oh-FEE-lee-ah
- Namesakes: Ophelia Gordon Bell, a British sculptor and the daughter of painter Winifred Gordon Bell.
- Popularity: Ophelia came in at No. 264 on the U.S. charts in 2025, with 1,183 babies. Its high point was No. 259 in 2024. Births over the last decade ran about 685% ahead of the decade before.
Orion
Though short, Orion is a name that can yield a few nicknames if you so desire. From Ori to Rion and even Rin, there are a few options to choose from. Related to the stars in the night sky, the Orion constellation is visible worldwide. With this celestial pick, your young Orion can shine as bright as the stars.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Dawning, boundary
- Pronunciation: oh-RYE-un
- Namesakes: Orion Metcalf Barber, an American federal judge, and Vermont state politician.
- Popularity: Orion ranked 334th in the U.S. in 2025, with 1,012 babies given the name. Its high point was No. 300 in 2018.
Padma
A symbol of purity and resurrection, many world religions and cultures have long regarded the lotus flower as sacred. It’s no wonder that Padma, which means “lotus,” would have such deep, spiritual roots. Keep it simple and bless your baby with this floral mythical name.
- Origin: India
- Meaning: Lotus
- Pronunciation: PUD-mah
- Namesakes: Padma Sachdev, an Indian poet, and novelist and the first modern female poet of the Dogri language.
- Popularity: Only 7 U.S. babies were named Padma in 2025, ranking it No. 12,856. Its high point was No. 7,849 in 1968.
Pandora
Pandora has been associated with locked boxes for ages, from security systems to jewelry companies, thanks to the Greek myth of the box she was told never to open. The name itself means all gifts, a far kinder story than the myth gives her credit for.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: All gifts
- Pronunciation: pan-DOR-uh
- Namesakes: Pandora Colin, a British actress known for her roles in Penny Dreadful and the 2019 mini-series Chernobyl.
- Popularity: Pandora logged 31 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 4,526. Its high point was No. 784 in 1952.
Parina
Some have related this word to the Hindi word “pari” which means “fairy,” and although this may not be the true meaning, parents may not mind-bending it a little. Fairies are depicted as soft and delicate anyway, so there may be something there!
- Origin: Indian
- Meaning: Soft, delicate
- Pronunciation: pah-REE-nah
- Namesakes: Parina Chopra, an Indian actress and model.
- Popularity: Parina last appeared in published U.S. birth data in 2014, at No. 16,051 with 6 babies.
Pavani
In Sanskrit, Pavani is rendered as Goddess Ganga, the Hindu goddess of purification and forgiveness. In Marthi, Pavani simply means “pure” and “kind-hearted.” Either way, it’s a wholesome choice.
- Origin: Indian
- Meaning: Goddess Ganga, holy, pure
- Pronunciation: pah-VAH-nee
- Namesakes: Pavani Reddy, an Indian model and actress for Indian television and film.
- Popularity: The most recent U.S. record for Pavani is 2024, when 5 babies were given the name at No. 17,089. Its best showing was No. 13,157 in 2012.
Persephone
Persephone is based in Greek myth as Demeter’s daughter, Hades’ wife, and the “Queen of the Underworld.” This mythological name may seem heavy, but it rings lyrical. Its comeback into the mainstream might stem from TV and comic appearances.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Bringer of death
- Pronunciation: per-SEF-ah-nee
- Namesakes: Persephone Vandegrift, an award-winning American playwright and screenwriter. Persephone Apostolou, an American actress famous for her role in the movie 7 Witches.
- Popularity: Persephone came in at No. 735 on the U.S. charts in 2025, with 372 babies. Its high point was No. 683 in 2022. Births over the last decade ran about 189% ahead of the decade before.
Phoenix
Phoenix is inspired by the mythical bird from ancient Egypt and classical antiquity, symbolizing immortality. Associated with sun worship, the phoenix would combust at the end of its life and rise from the ashes. Already a popular name, the American actor Joaquin Phoenix, may have further pushed this name into the spotlight.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Dark red
- Pronunciation: FEE-niks
- Namesakes: Phoenix List, an American TV actor known for his roles in Rabbit Hole and American Viral.
- Popularity: Phoenix ranked 329th in the U.S. in 2025, with 1,027 babies given the name. Its high point was No. 236 in 2020.
Pixie
Pixie is a fairy in one bright word. There is no ambiguity about the mood it sets. It reads playful on a child and asks more confidence of an adult, which is worth thinking about now rather than later. Plenty of parents use it as a nickname first and let it graduate. If you want charm rather than shadow from a mystical name, this is the pick.
- Origin: Celtic
- Meaning: Fairy
- Pronunciation: PIK-see
- Namesakes: Pixie Davies, a young British actress known for her roles in Humans, Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, and Mary Poppins Returns.
- Popularity: Only 6 U.S. babies were named Pixie in 2025, ranking it No. 14,510. Its high point was No. 1,723 in 1955. Births over the last decade ran about 27% behind the decade before.
Qamar
Moon names run heavily feminine, and Qamar quietly fixes that. The Arabic meaning reaches past the moon to the brightness it casts, and the name works for a son or a daughter without any adjustment. The spelling looks unfamiliar in English, though the sound is straightforward once heard. In U.S. birth records it is still rare enough that nobody will have claimed it first.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Moon, brighter by the light of the moon
- Pronunciation: KAH-mar
- Variations: Qemer
- Namesakes: Qamar Javed Bajwa, a Pakistani military general and Chief of the Army Staff of the Pakistan Army.
- Popularity: Qamar logged 63 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 2,745. That is its best rank on record.
Quirin
Quirin looks unusual and sounds even better, two syllables that land cleanly. It comes from Quirinus, a Roman war god, and a bishop carried it as well, so the name has a martial side and a devotional one. That double history leaves parents room to decide which half they mean, and its total absence from U.S. birth charts means whichever half they pick, it will be theirs alone.
- Origin: Latin, German
- Meaning: Spear, wielder of the spear
- Pronunciation: KEE-rin
- Namesakes: Quirin Moll, a German professional football player for 3. Liga club.
- Popularity: Quirin stays off the U.S. charts entirely, as names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published.
Raven
Raven is a mystery name you can’t pass up if you love the gothic, the dark, and the intellectual. In Norse mythology, the raven was a symbol of wisdom. You just have to think of Edgar Allan Poe or Game of Thrones, and you’ll see that Raven is firmly rooted in literary genius.
- Origin: Anglo-Saxon
- Meaning: Blackbird, dark-haired
- Pronunciation: RAY-vun
- Namesakes: Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman-Maday, an American actress and songstress, probably the most popular bearer of this name.
- Popularity: U.S. parents put Raven at No. 404 in 2025, good for 771 births. Its high point was No. 139 in 1993.
Rhiannon
In Welsh myth, Rhiannon was a goddess of fertility, the moon, and possibly associated with horses. Let your queen-to-be conquer the world with this name of a lunar legend!
- Origin: Celtic, Welsh
- Meaning: Great queen, goddess
- Pronunciation: REE-AH-nuhn
- Namesakes: Rhiannon Beth Roberts, a Welsh footballer for Liverpool Women’s Football Club.
- Popularity: Rhiannon logged 210 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 1,119. Its high point was No. 418 in 1977.
Ripley
Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley is still the reference point, and few fictional namesakes have aged better. Underneath that the name is quiet: a habitational surname about a strip of clearing in the wood, and one that seems more popular in Britain than in America. It works for any gender and shortens neatly to Rip. Simple bones, tough reputation.
- Origin: Anglo-Saxon
- Meaning: Strip of clearing in the wood, from the shouter’s meadow
- Pronunciation: RIP-lee
- Namesakes: Ripley Parker, an upcoming British writer and daughter of actress Thandiwe Newton.
- Popularity: Ripley sat at No. 1,032 in the U.S. in 2025, with 243 births. That is its best rank on record.
Rune
Technically, you could write your baby’s name using runes. Runes were a Germanic writing system used before the Latin alphabet was adopted. Nowadays, a rune denotes a symbol with occult purposes. All this makes Rune both practical and mystical. It is still uncommon in the U.S., but it has been climbing fast, more than tripling over the last decade to reach its best rank yet.
- Origin: Norse
- Meaning: Secret, a rune
- Pronunciation: ROON
- Namesakes: Rune Klan, a Danish comedian and magician.
- Popularity: Only 90 U.S. babies were named Rune in 2025, ranking it No. 1,789. That is its best rank on record. Births over the last decade ran about 251% ahead of the decade before.
Saga
Saga is a story, which is a generous thing to hand a newborn. It is an epic girl’s name popular in Sweden and Finland, so real usage sits behind it rather than invention. American parents may think first of the space opera graphic novel of the same name, which gives it a futuristic tilt. Four letters, two syllables, nothing to explain.
- Origin: Scandinavian, Swedish
- Meaning: Seeing one, fairytale, story
- Pronunciation: SAH-gah
- Namesakes: Saga Becker, a Swedish actress known for her role in Something Must Break. Saga Gärde, a Swedish actress and director, noted for the T.V. drama S.P.U.N.G.
- Popularity: Saga logged 17 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 6,784. Its high point was No. 6,358 in 2024.
Sage
Inspired by the term for a profoundly wise person and the medical herb you stuff into your turkey at Thanksgiving, Sage is soothing to the ear. The Latin root word “salvia” means “healing plant.” You could bring a little health and wisdom into your household with Sage.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Wise, from the sagebrush plant
- Pronunciation: SAYJ
- Namesakes: Sage Kotsenburg, an American snowboarder.
- Popularity: Sage ranked 160th in the U.S. in 2025, with 1,853 babies given the name. Its high point was No. 142 in 2023. Births over the last decade ran about 129% ahead of the decade before.
Secret
Yes, this one is obvious, and some parents prefer it that way. Secret states the theme out loud and skips the etymology lesson entirely. The soft sound keeps it from feeling like a dare, and it sits comfortably in the middle position if the front feels too bold. You asked for mysterious.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Mysterious, hidden, unknown
- Pronunciation: SEE-krit
- Popularity: The most recent U.S. record for Secret is 2024, when 7 babies were given the name at No. 13,249. Its best showing was No. 4,121 in 1998.
Selene
We know you love your baby to the moon and back. That’s why we picked this pretty name based on the Greek lunar deity, Selene, whose Latin equivalent was the Roman goddess Luna. Although the Latin variant, Selena, is more popular, we think Selene is a better choice to have in orbit.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Moon
- Pronunciation: seh-LEEN
- Variations: Celine, Celene, Selena
- Namesakes: Selene Luna, an American actress, burlesque performer, and comedian.
- Popularity: Selene came in at No. 623 on the U.S. charts in 2025, with 469 babies. That is its best rank on record. Births over the last decade ran about 88% ahead of the decade before.
Serafina
Serafina comes from the seraphim of biblical tradition, the burning ones. That is a striking image to give a small child. The name moves in four flowing syllables and manages to sound devout and glamorous at once. Sera and Fina are ready made short forms. The spelling Seraphina is there if you prefer the older look. Few names here carry warmth and fire at the same time.
- Origin: Hebrew, Latin, Italian
- Meaning: Burning ones, ardent one
- Pronunciation: seh-rah-FEE-nah
- Variations: Seraphina
- Namesakes: Serafina di dio, or Serafina of God, was born in Naples and became the founder of seven Southern Italian Carmelite monasteries of nuns.
- Popularity: Serafina sat at No. 1,024 in the U.S. in 2025, with 245 births. That is its best rank on record.
Seren
Seren is Welsh for star. The two syllables are easy for English speakers, and it works for a boy or a girl without adjustment. Turkish families use it too, which gives the name reach in two very different directions. If you want a star name that has not been worn smooth, this is the one.
- Origin: Welsh, Turkish
- Meaning: Star
- Pronunciation: seh-REN
- Namesakes: Seren Bundy-Davies, a track and field athlete from Wales.
- Popularity: Only 50 U.S. babies were named Seren in 2025, ranking it No. 3,207. Its high point was No. 2,792 in 2016.
Shadow
Shadow is a dark name with no subtlety and no apology. Plenty of people file it under pet names, but that is habit rather than a rule. As a first name it is unisex, easy to spell, and impossible to misunderstand. If it feels like a lot up front, it makes an excellent middle name.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Shade
- Pronunciation: SHA-doh
- Popularity: Shadow logged 15 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 6,091. Its high point was No. 2,202 in 1993.
Thorne
Thorne is topographic, meaning from the thorn bush. It is far more familiar as an American surname. The added e is doing real work, turning a plain noun into something that looks deliberate. It is gothic without being grim, and it pairs well with softer first or middle names. Thorn is the stripped down alternative if you want the sharper edge. Either way, nobody mishears it.
- Origin: Anglo-Saxon
- Meaning: From the thorn bush
- Pronunciation: THORN
- Variations: Thorn
- Namesakes: James Thorne Smith Jr., an American supernatural fantasy fiction author.
- Popularity: Thorne sat at No. 9,614 in the U.S. in 2025, with 8 births. Its high point was No. 2,951 in 1956.
Thoryn
If you cannot get enough Norse mythology, Thoryn is an easy fit, carrying thunder and the god of thunder along with it. A variant spelling belongs to Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit trilogy, which is where most people will place the sound. The y makes it look modern while the roots stay ancient, and with only 8 U.S. babies given the name in 2025, it still reads as a rare pick rather than a trend.
- Origin: Scandinavian
- Meaning: Thunder, God of thunder
- Pronunciation: THOR-in
- Variations: Toryn, Thorin
- Popularity: Only 8 U.S. babies were named Thoryn in 2025, ranking it No. 9,616. Its high point was No. 5,034 in 2015.
Tigris
Tigris has teeth. It names one of the two great Mesopotamian rivers, from a Sumerian word interpreted as swift river, so there is water and speed inside it. To Greek ears, though, Tigris meant what tiger means to us, a big cat with stripes. Either reading gives a child something fierce to grow into, and both beat the usual animal names.
- Origin: Greek, Latin, Gaelic
- Meaning: Tiger
- Pronunciation: TIE-gris
- Variations: Tygris, Tygrys, Tigrys
- Popularity: Tigris logged 5 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 17,055. That is its best rank on record.
Ulysses
Ulysses has a classic quality about it. With famous literary ties to the novel by Irish writer James Joyce and nautical pips for its relation to the MV Ulysses car ferry, this mythical “U” name comes across as cultured. Few favor it because of its length and vintage sway. At the very least, Ulysses is more approachable than its Greek counterpart Odysseus.
- Origin: Latin, Greek
- Meaning: Wrathful
- Pronunciation: YOOL-ih-seez
- Namesakes: Ulysses S. Grant, born Hiram Ulysses Grant, the Ohio-born President of the United States of America between 1869 and 1877.
- Popularity: Ulysses sat at No. 1,201 in the U.S. in 2025, with 169 births. Its high point was No. 426 in 1923.
Umbra
The umbra is the innermost, darkest part of a shadow, the place you stand during a total eclipse. That is an unusually precise piece of darkness for a baby name and much of why Umbra works. Two syllables, easy to say, with a sound as smooth as the shadow it names.
- Origin: Latin, Greek
- Meaning: Shade, shadow, ghost
- Pronunciation: UM-bruh
- Popularity: Umbra stays off the U.S. charts entirely, as names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published.
Urias
Leaning toward a faith-based name but want to keep it short and sweet? Urias is a five-letter name with a familiar look for being a derivative of the Hebrew name Uriah. It’s recorded as a surname in Spain, where it’s more likely to be seen.
- Origin: Hebrew, Spanish
- Meaning: Jehovah is my light
- Pronunciation: oo-REE-as
- Variations: Uriah
- Namesakes: Urias McGill, a 19th-century free-born African-American who emigrated to Liberia and started a successful trading business with his brothers.
- Popularity: Urias logged 22 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 4,691. Its high point was No. 3,242 in 1914.
Urielle
Urielle is the feminine form of Uriel, the archangel named in certain Rabbinic and Christian traditions and honored in Catholicism as the patron of confirmation. The meaning, light of God, gives the name a bright, hopeful note. It looks elaborate on paper. In the mouth it is three quick syllables. Uri and Elle both work when the full version feels formal.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Light of God
- Pronunciation: oo-ree-EL
- Popularity: Urielle sat at No. 8,321 in the U.S. in 2025, with 13 births. Its high point was No. 7,571 in 2024. Births over the last decade ran about 86% ahead of the decade before.
Ursa
You thought of Ursula, and that is fine. Ursa is the lighter relative, a Latin little she-bear with none of the sea witch baggage attached. The Ursa Major constellation keeps it pointed at the night sky, which is where most of this list wants to be. Short, warm, and quietly unusual, it suits a small child and grows up without any trouble.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Little she-bear
- Pronunciation: UR-suh
- Variations: Orsa, Ursula
- Popularity: Only 10 U.S. babies were named Ursa in 2025, ranking it No. 10,057. Its high point was No. 4,408 in 1924.
Vesper
Vesper has a hushed sound to match its meaning, the evening star. The word also names evening prayers, so the name reaches in two directions at once, celestial and devotional. Ves works as a short form for the years before the full name fits. It suits a baby born at dusk and, honestly, everyone else too. Its use has nearly doubled over the last decade, moving it from an obscure pick toward a genuinely discovered one.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Evening star
- Pronunciation: VES-pur
- Popularity: Vesper logged 72 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 2,482. Its high point was No. 2,267 in 2023. Births over the last decade ran about 93% ahead of the decade before.
Virgo
Anyone who reads horoscopes already knows Virgo, and the constellation takes its name from the Latin word for maiden. Greek legend attached it to Astraea, the Star Maiden, which gives the name a mythic anchor beyond astrology. It turns up more often as an English surname, though two syllables and one very old story make it catchy enough to lead.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: The virgin, maiden
- Pronunciation: VUR-goh
- Namesakes: Virgo Williams, an American R&B singer.
- Popularity: Published U.S. birth data has never listed Virgo, which takes at least five babies in a single year.
Volkov
Volkov means wolf, and Russian names bring a hard consonant edge that English wolf names lack. It is a surname first, which is true of several picks here and has never stopped anyone. The sound is strong without being aggressive. Volk makes a blunt little nickname. Volkova is the feminine form if you are not having a boy. Either spelling reads as deliberate rather than borrowed.
- Origin: Russian
- Meaning: Wolf
- Pronunciation: VOHL-koff
- Variations: Volkova
- Popularity: Volkov does not appear in published U.S. birth data, which lists a name only once at least five babies in a year receive it.
Winter
“Winter is coming” is what they’ll say when your son or daughter steps into a room. With this chilly moniker, your baby Winter will have an entire season of their own! But not to worry, Winter is beloved by celebrities who keep it in vogue all year round.
- Origin: Anglo-Saxon
- Meaning: Winter season
- Pronunciation: WIN-tur
- Variations: Wynter
- Namesakes: Winter Lunde, a Canadian fashion model. Winter Ave Zoli, an American actress, and model known for her role in Sons of Anarchy.
- Popularity: Winter came in at No. 426 on the U.S. charts in 2025, with 732 babies. Its high point was No. 305 in 2022.
Wysteria
The wisteria is a cascading purple blossom named after an American physician and anatomist, Caspar Wistar. The given name borrows all of that softness and adds an unexpected bonus, since it sounds a great deal like the word whisper. That accident is what earns Wysteria a place among mysterious names. The y spelling is the one that makes it look intentional.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Wister’s flower
- Pronunciation: wis-TEER-ee-uh
- Variations: Wisteria
- Popularity: Wysteria last appeared in published U.S. birth data in 2023, at No. 17,481 with 5 babies. Its best showing was No. 9,634 in 1977.
Xenagoras
Xenagoras is an intense name, not only for its spelling but its definition. Still, it sounds awesome. Names that start with “X” are not always easy to come by or even that mainstream. Don’t be a stranger. Bring home a baby Xenagoras even if you have to make it his middle name.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Strange, foreign, marketplace
- Pronunciation: ZEE-nah-GOHR-ahs
- Namesakes: Xenagoras was a Greek historian from Pontoheraclea who wrote a work called Chronicle.
- Popularity: Published U.S. birth data has never listed Xenagoras, which takes at least five babies in a single year.
Xenophon
Hoping your baby will grow up loving philosophy and the arts? The Greek philosopher and military leader, Xenophon, was a student of Socrates himself. Bring this ancient name into modern times for another round of the strange and mysterious.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Strange voice
- Pronunciation: ZEH-nah-fon, ZEE-nah-fon
- Variations: Xenofon
- Namesakes: Saint Xenophon was a wealthy citizen of Constantinople noted for his deep piety.
- Popularity: Xenophon last appeared in published U.S. birth data in 1974, at No. 5,995 with 5 babies. Its best showing was No. 4,320 in 1931.
Xoán
If Xavier feels overused but the X still appeals, Xoán is a quieter route to it. It is the Galician form of John, so it carries a familiar meaning, God is gracious, under an unfamiliar shape. The pronunciation surprises English speakers once and then behaves. A name that is genuinely rare here and completely ordinary somewhere else is a good trade.
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Pronunciation: ZOH-an
- Namesakes: Xoán M. Paredes, a Galician geographer, teacher, and ordained druid.
- Popularity: There is no published U.S. record for Xoán, since fewer than five babies a year are given the name.
Yacoub
Yacoub comes from the biblical Jacob, who was a prophet and patriarch in Islam. The name has a strong pronunciation that will catch people’s attention. It’s also widely used as a last name, as in the case of Sir Magdi Habib Yacoub, a famous Egyptian cardiothoracic surgeon who has since retired.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Form of Jacob, supplanter
- Pronunciation: YA-koob
- Variations: Yaqub, Yakub
- Namesakes: Yacoub Al-Mohana, a Kuwaiti film and music director.
- Popularity: Only 14 U.S. babies were named Yacoub in 2025, ranking it No. 6,433. Its high point was No. 4,416 in 2020. Births over the last decade ran about 144% ahead of the decade before.
Yami
Yami means darkness in Japanese, and the word holds more shading in its own language than any translation can carry. As a name it is short, soft, and far less severe than the meaning suggests. Parents hunting for a cryptic name that starts with Y have few options, and this one travels well, since the sound is easy in most languages.
- Origin: Japanese, Indian
- Meaning: Darkness, light in dark, pair
- Pronunciation: YA-mee
- Namesakes: Yami Gautam, an Indian film and TV actress and model born in Bilaspur.
- Popularity: Yami logged 7 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 13,131. Its high point was No. 11,124 in 2023.
Yara
This awesome “Y” name is found in various languages and cultures. In Hebrew, Yara’s close cousin, Yaara, means “woodland” or “honeycomb.” In Muslim, it instead means “light of dawn.” Yara is pretty enough without the extra baggage. Your Yara can be as elusive as a butterfly or as spectral as the fabled Brazilian lady of the lake.
- Origin: Brazilian, Arabic
- Meaning: Water lady, small butterfly
- Pronunciation: YAH-rah
- Namesakes: Yara Sallam, an Egyptian feminist, and human rights activist. Yara da Silva Amaral, a Brazilian actress in many telenovelas and movies.
- Popularity: Yara ranked 507th in the U.S. in 2025, with 585 babies given the name. That is its best rank on record. Births over the last decade ran about 147% ahead of the decade before.
Zelda
Zelda is a nickname for Griselda, but stands on the battlefield on its own two feet. Princess Zelda comes to mind if you’re into fantasy and video games. If you’re not a gamer, perhaps you simply enjoy how it sounds. Either way, be sure to add Zelda to your top list of mystical names.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Gray fighting maiden, battle maid
- Pronunciation: ZEL-duh
- Namesakes: Zelda Fitzgerald (née Sayre), an Alabama-born novelist, painter, and socialite. Zelda May Rubinstein, an American actress known for her role in the Poltergeist films.
- Popularity: U.S. parents put Zelda at No. 832 in 2025, good for 328 births. Its high point was No. 389 in 1916.
Zenobia
Septima Zenobia ruled the Palmyrene Empire in Syria in the third century. She encouraged learning, tolerance, and a mixing of cultures across it, which gives the name a genuinely cultured history. The meaning, life of Zeus, keeps a mythological thread running underneath. It is long, but it breaks easily into Zeni or Nobi. For parents who like the sound of Zendaya but want a queen behind it, Zenobia is waiting.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Life of Zeus
- Pronunciation: zeh-NOH-bee-ah
- Namesakes: Zenobia was a 3rd-century queen of the Palmyrene Empire in Syria.
- Popularity: Zenobia logged 18 U.S. births in 2025, which put it at No. 6,541. Its high point was No. 932 in 1919. Births over the last decade ran about 19% ahead of the decade before.
Zephyr
Zephyr is the west wind, from Zephyrus, the Greek god who was the messenger of spring and the gentlest of the personified winds. That makes it one of the few names here with a soft heart under a striking surface. It is easy to say, easy to spell once seen, and Zeph makes a great nickname. Follow the wind before someone else beats you to it.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: West wind
- Pronunciation: ZEH-fir
- Popularity: Zephyr sat at No. 1,203 in the U.S. in 2025, with 169 births. Its high point was No. 1,097 in 2021.
