Extravagant baby names are unique baby names with gravity that sound delightfully fancy and a touch eccentric. These appellations stray far from old standards like Micheal, Robert, and John and push the limits of what contemporary parents can get away with. Often with more than one or two syllables, these baby names sound stately, refined, and even dignified.
What are the most extravagant baby names for boys that actually sound great? We decided to collect the fanciest-sounding baby names out there to discover which ones would actually function in the real world today. We found that names inspired by literature, nature, religion, and mythology are all excellent categories to look at when considering an extravagant baby names. Are you ready for some truly luxurious appellations? Check out these 25 extravagant baby names that are huge on style and small on modesty.
25. Lancelot
In Arthurian legend, Lancelot was one of the most charming of the Knights of the Round Table. Do you think Lancelot’s romantic narrative involving Queen Guinevere makes this name sound overly idealistic? We do not! We think Lancelot is a winner. The name has French origins and means “servant.”
24. Aurelian
Aurelian is a derivative of Aurelius, the name of a Roman Emperor. In ancient Rome, the name was associated with Marcus Aurelius, a Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD, the last of the “Five Good Emperors.” Aurelian is merely a softer form of the name that we prefer but go with Aurelius if it suits you. Aurelian means “the golden one.” Not bad, right?
23. Ollivander
A rare twist on modern favorites like Oliver and Alexander, this extravagant option is nonetheless familiar to most people as the surname of the wand-maker Garrick Ollivander, in the Harry Potter books. We love a mashup name and Oliver and Alexander do merge will for Ollivander. Oliver means “olive tree” and Alexander “defending men.” Both are Greek in origin.
22. Peregrine
Considered an aristocratic name by the British, Peregrine likely sounds regal to most American parents as well. The meaning of Peregrine, which was borne by several saints, relates to the transitory nature of life on earth, and can be translated as “traveller” or “pilgrim.” Of all the baby names to import from the UK, we think Peregrine is one of the best that American parents consistently overlook.
21. Tybalt
Similar in sound to the French name, Thibault, which is much more popular, Tybalt is best known as the violent and brawling cousin of Juliet in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Tybalt is a diminutive form of Theobald, which comes from Medieval English and means “of the bold people.”
20. Campion
Campion sure sounds like a winner! Campion is an English name that comes from French and does indeed mean “champion.” American writer and film director Campion Murphy is a notable namesake. Campion is also a botanical baby name that refers to a woodland flower.
19. Artemas
Often confused with Artemis, Artemas is the male form of the name that means “gift of Artemis.” Artemis is the Greek goddess of the hunt who had many followers in antiquity. This name has never ranked in the US top 1000 most popular baby names for boys but we expect that to change very soon as fresh mythological monikers are all the rage right now.
18. Severin
Severin is the French form of the Latin name Severus, which does sound rather severe. We prefer things a touch softer in Severin. Several saints had the name and despite that, it still has not crossed the pond and landed on birth certificates in the US. Severin means “stern.”
17. Acacius
Acacius is a Latinized derivative of the Ancient Greek Akakios and can be translated to relate to the same root as the name Acacia, for the thorn bush, or Akakios which means “not evil.” This obscure appellation deserves more attention today and we hope you will add it to the list of your potential baby names.
16. Theodoric
Theo is one of the hottest baby names on the market right now and you might be searching for the perfect vehicle to get you to the shortened form. Theodoric would be a wise choice as this name means “people’s ruler” and comes from German origins. Another potential nickname for Theodoric could be Rick.
15. Romulus
In the founding myth of Ancient Rome, Romulus was the original Roman along with his brother Remus. Unfortunately, Romulus did away with his brother in order to make Rome more in his image. Despite that, Romulus has a solid, strong ring to it. The name means “citizen of Rome.”
14. Scipio
The name once belonged to a ruthless Roman invader of Africa, which is not ideal, but we think the centuries that have passed might make Scipio a new potential for parents. Scipio comes from Latin and means “staff.” We love the bouncy energy in this lyrical baby name!
13. Siderion
With Sebastian sucking all the air out of the room for other S-baby names, we found Siderion could be a unique alternative. Siderion was the ancient name of vervain (or ironwort). Thus, this Latin appellation means “vervain.” The verbena plant is a species of this plant genus.
12. Jupiter
Ashley Tisdale just named her daughter Jupiter, which is a delightful gender-swap for the typically masculine name. Jupiter was the Latin name given to the supreme Roman deity who ruled over all. As with any celebrity baby name, Jupiter will likely become a trend. Get ahead of it!
RELATED: Ashley Tisdale Just Named Her Baby Jupiter, Here Are 34 Baby Names Like It
11. Cosimo
Cosimo is a playful, Italian variant of the Greek name Cosmo which means “order” or “universe.” Cosimo de Medici was the first of the Medici dynasty to wield influence in Florence during much of the Italian Renaissance. He remains one of the most prolific patrons of the arts on the European continent. Popular still in its native Italy, you rarely hear Cosimo in the US today.
10. Hieronymus
Hieronymus is a German form of the name Jerome, which means “sacred name.” The name is best-known to Americans thanks to the Dutch painter, Hieronymus Bosch, who a character in detective novels by Michael Connelly was named for.
9. Figaro
French playwright Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (what a mouthful) coined the name Figaro for the central character in his plays The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro, and The Guilty Mother. In modern France today, the name is synonymous with the “barber” and that meaning has been adopted there.
8. Agostino
Offbeat Agostino is the Italian and Spanish preferred form of the Roman name Augustus. Agostino is a huge hit in native Italy and we expect to enjoy favor in the US in coming years. Agostino means “magnificent.” You can’t get a name with a better meaning than that!
7. Kesteven
Ceoftefne was the original spelling for the modern Kesteven. Kesteven has a complex history throughout Europe as it contains Celtic elements that mean “wood” as well as Norse origins meaning “meeting place.” Then, the name was adopted as a surname by the English. Kesteven is a top 50 name in Germany today but most Americans probably are unaware it even exists. This one is ripe for the picking!
6. Caliban
In Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Caliban is name to a character born deformed to a witch. While that might be an unsavory literary reference, we feel that Caliban has charms on its own. The name comes from Romanian tradition and means “black.”
5. Cicero
Cicero was once a popular baby name in the US but it has been off of the top 1000 list for over 100 years now! Cicero has Roman origins and means “chickpea.” This bold name with a sweet meaning deserves a renaissance today.
4. Taliesin
Fans of architect Frank Lloyd Wright probably recognize the name Taliesin as belonging to two of his famed residences. Taliesin is a name from Welsh mythology that means “shining brow.” Pronounced tah-lee-ESS-in, it very well could trip up some well-meaning pronouncers of this baby name.
3. Charlemagne
Charlemagne is a boy’s name meaning “Charles the Great.” The Frankish king Charles the Great’s rule ended in 814, but the name Charlemagne lived on as a popular choice until the 1950s. The name has never been popular in the US, but it has had some banner years in Australia of all places over the last decade.
2. Iskandar
Iskandar is a rare example of a name adopted into Arabic tradition. Iskandar is the Arabic form of the Greek name Alexander. Thus, the name means “defending men.” This unique name would be the perfect alternative to the Alex-names.
RELATED: 25 Extravagant Baby Names for Girls That Sound Delightfully Fanciful
1. Deveraux
Deveraux would make for a romantic and evocative choice today. The name comes from French origins and means “riverbank.” Mick Jagger and ballerina Melanie Hamrick named their son, born in 2016, Deveraux Octavian Basil Jagger. What do you think of that extravagant name? Deveraux is a name worthy of a hero.
There you go! We hope you enjoyed these unique baby names and have found some extravagant options that might work for your family. We encourage you to be bold as the more eccentric the name, the more likely it is for people to remember it. Choosing the perfect baby names for your baby can feel like a chore but we hope you feel inspired by this list and got plenty of ideas! Happy baby name hunting!
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Babyletto 3-in-1 Convertible Crib
$379 at the time of publication
This item is perfect for parents who hope to get the most bang for their buck when it comes to keeping the items they buy for their little one for as long as possible. This particular crib can be used for all stages of your little one’s first years of life until it is time to move them into a big kid bed. As our expectant mom reveals “you’ll need crib mattresses, but those are more generic than the crib. You want to look for ones that are SAFE!”
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Baby Name Generator
No baby name sounding good? Want a quick way to generate unique baby name ideas? Try our baby name generator below!
Set your terms (sex of the baby, number of letters, popularity, etc.) and then get a list of names that meet your criteria. Maybe the perfect name is just waiting to be generated for you.