Names to add to your shortlist
Alfie
Warm and friendly, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 72 births · #2,056Peak: 2024 · 75 births
Archie
Bright without feeling childish, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 1,129 births · #301Peak: 2025 · 1,129 births
Arlo
Soft-edged and cheerful, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 2,443 births · #148Peak: 2024 · 2,490 births
Asa
Playful but still easy to imagine on an adult, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 622 births · #483Peak: 2022 · 685 births
Bowie
Warm and friendly, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 164 births · #1,228Peak: 2021 · 237 births
Cosmo
Bright without feeling childish, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 80 births · #1,934Peak: 2022 · 99 births
Elio
Soft-edged and cheerful, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 818 births · #388Peak: 2025 · 818 births
Finn
Playful but still easy to imagine on an adult, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 1,702 births · #206Peak: 2017 · 2,382 births
Hugo
Warm and friendly, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 837 births · #378Peak: 2025 · 837 births
Kit
Bright without feeling childish, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 195 births · #1,103Peak: 2025 · 195 births
Lenny
Soft-edged and cheerful, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 128 births · #1,419Peak: 1961 · 199 births
Louie
Playful but still easy to imagine on an adult, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 481 births · #596Peak: 2024 · 500 births
Milo
Warm and friendly, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 2,974 births · #119Peak: 2022 · 3,115 births
Monty
Bright without feeling childish, it feels intentional rather than unusual for the sake of being unusual.
2025 U.S.: 112 births · #1,543Peak: 1961 · 539 births
Nico
Soft-edged and cheerful, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 2,066 births · #174Peak: 2025 · 2,066 births
Odie
Playful but still easy to imagine on an adult, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 17 births · #5,547Peak: 1918 · 62 births
Ollie
Warm and friendly, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 207 births · #1,058Peak: 1919 · 369 births
Otis
Bright without feeling childish, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 422 births · #652Peak: 1920 · 1,031 births
Otto
Soft-edged and cheerful, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 1,241 births · #277Peak: 2024 · 1,244 births
Percy
Playful but still easy to imagine on an adult, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 154 births · #1,279Peak: 1921 · 603 births
Perry
Warm and friendly, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 135 births · #1,373Peak: 1959 · 2,751 births
Remy
Bright without feeling childish, it is a strong candidate to test beside your surname.
2025 U.S.: 781 births · #408Peak: 2022 · 924 births
Rory
Soft-edged and cheerful, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 1,768 births · #199Peak: 2025 · 1,768 births
Roscoe
Playful but still easy to imagine on an adult, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 63 births · #2,248Peak: 1920 · 604 births
Rufus
Warm and friendly, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 27 births · #4,019Peak: 1922 · 737 births
Sonny
Bright without feeling childish, it has a clear rhythm that is easy to remember.
2025 U.S.: 1,137 births · #298Peak: 2025 · 1,137 births
Teddy
Soft-edged and cheerful, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 301 births · #823Peak: 1949 · 613 births
Toby
Playful but still easy to imagine on an adult, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 234 births · #979Peak: 1975 · 1,191 births
Wells
Warm and friendly, it gives the shortlist a different sound from today’s most common choices.
2025 U.S.: 944 births · #347Peak: 2025 · 944 births
Ziggy
Bright without feeling childish, it stands apart without asking for a creative spelling.
2025 U.S.: 119 births · #1,491Peak: 2022 · 168 births
The data line uses the exact spelling shown. “No published 2025 count” can mean the spelling had zero births or fewer than five, because SSA does not publish counts below five.
Cute should still grow well
A name can sound warm and playful without locking a child into a babyish image. We favored choices that can work on a birth announcement and still look comfortable on an adult.
Nicknames change the feel
Some names arrive with obvious short forms while others already feel nickname-like. Decide whether you prefer a formal name with options or a compact name that stands on its own.
Popularity can move quickly in this style
Soft, friendly names often rise together. Current counts help show which choices are still unusual and which have already become much more familiar.
Build a shortlist before you rank it
Save the names that make you stop for a second. After you have five to ten, compare sound, initials, likely nicknames and current popularity. A smaller shortlist makes the differences much easier to hear.
Remember that national data is only one lens
A U.S. rank cannot measure family meaning, cultural fit or how common a name feels in your own community. Use the numbers for context, then give your personal reasons more weight.
Roscoe's pick
Otis
Otis feels warm and cheerful, with vintage roots and an easy two-syllable rhythm.
More names to explore
Questions parents ask
Are these cute unique boy names with warm personality actually rare?
The style pages are editorial, but every name card also shows its exact-spelling 2025 U.S. count when SSA published one. Data-led pages use explicit thresholds or rank movement.
Does a missing 2025 count mean nobody used the name?
No. The national public file omits names recorded fewer than five times for a sex in a year, so a missing count can mean zero or one to four births.
Should I avoid a name if it is rising?
Not necessarily. Popularity is only one part of choosing a name. If you love the sound, meaning or family connection, a rising rank may not change your decision.
Will the same name be equally rare outside the United States?
No. Popularity varies by country, region, language and community. The numbers on this site describe U.S. national data unless a page says otherwise.