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Edinburgh Live

National

Sophie Buchan

Rare and unique baby names for boys and girls - and their actual meanings

Esteban Marvel Daniel James Wiley

When it comes to naming your little one, it can be a tricky task and knowing where to start isn't easy.

Do you name your baby after anyone in your life such as a friend or parent? Do you stick to a traditional name or perhaps opt for a unique one? And how will you chose to spell it whether it's with a K or C.

But whilst people like to keep it simple and not overthink it, others love to go for names that not many other people will have.

With this in mind, new research from Play Like Mum has delved into the latest ONS data to reveal the top 100 rarest baby names in the UK for boys and girls.

Play Like Mum have said their research looked into a list of over three thousand of the rarest names, and narrowed it down to 50 for boys and 50 for girls. Included in their list are said to be some of the "best and more unusual names" - including some names inspired by popular culture.

They explain: "Our original list of 3,000 names consisted of the names which were registered just three times in England and Wales over the course of the year 2020. For privacy reasons, names registered two times or fewer were withheld by the Office of National Statistics. "

So what names are said to be unique?

Unique girl names

1. Antonietta

Although this beautiful name might sound Italian, it has French and Latin origins and it means “priceless”. A very pretty name if you are after something unique.

2. Fifi

It’s been 10 years since Fifi and the Flowertots stopped airing on British children’s television, which perhaps explains the decrease in popularity. Fifi is actually a name of Spanish and French origin which means ‘Jehovah increases’. It is also a common nickname for Ophelia, Phoebe, or Fiona.

3. Elke

Elke might sound unusual at first, however, it is a name that has German and Dutch origins, and means “noble”. It is pronounced as “El-ka” and is a great choice for a unique name with a strong meaning.

4. Marvel

You are probably familiar with Marvel from its comics and movies, however in 2020 Marvel became the name choice for three babies. As a name, Marvel has French origins meaning to wonder or admire. It is a gender-neutral name and was also the name of a male character in the Hunger Games series.

5. Saffi

Concluding our top five choices is Saffi, which is a name with Greek origins meaning “wisdom”. It is also a name linked with Sophie, which could make Saffi a great choice for a unique alternative.

Unique boy names

1. Daniel-James

Within our list of unusual names were many hyphenated first names. What is particularly interesting about this name is that Daniel James is a Premier League football player. In 2020, James was playing for Manchester United before making his move to his current club, Leeds United.

2. Drake

Drake is a name of English origin which means “dragon” or “snake”. However, if you are wondering where you have heard this name before, then it is probably on a radio or a music streaming service, as Drake is the name of one of the most popular rappers of recent time.

3. Esteban

The name Esteban is actually a Spanish variation of the name Stephen. In Spain, Esteban means “crown”, suggesting a sense of regalness.

4. Wiley

The name Wiley has been used as a nickname for William. However, the name on its own is of Scottish origin meaning resolute protection, coming from the word “wylye”. Wylye is also a river in southwest England.

5. Vincentas

You may be more familiar with the name Vincent, however, Vincentas is a Latin name meaning “winner”.