Unique baby names can be hard to find, but it helps to start with a little criteria to narrow things down — like what letter the name should start with. Some parents-to-be choose to go with names for their kids that match their own first initial, or try to name their kids with names that begin with all the same letter. And if "A" happens to be the magic letter, there are tons of ideas out there for interesting names for boys and girls that start with the first letter of the alphabet.
Be warned, though: Names like Ashley and Adam won't be found on this list. We've rounded up the most unique, unusual names that start with A to choose from. The charming part of these names is the fact that they are so uncommon, reducing the chances that a future baby will ever run into anyone with the same name later down the road!
Looking for some special "A" names to add to the list of prospects? Read on for some major inspiration.
ADELINE
As far as "A" baby names for girls go, Adeline is a cute one. It might sound trendy, but it's actually not all that common these days — and it's easy to say and spell, which is important once little ones reach kindergarten and start to learn how to read and write.
ALESSA
Alessa is a name that comes from Italian and means "defender of the people," which is perfect for a family who might want to tie their Italian heritage into their baby name (or love a name with a strong meaning). It's also a great alternative to the much more popular Alice.
AURELIA
We've seen this variations of this name spelled both Aurelia and Aurelie, and honestly, both would be adorable and unique choices with a sweet meaning. Aurelia comes from the Latin name Aurelius, which means "the golden one." Is there anyone on Earth who wouldn't think of their new baby that way?
ANTONIA
Another strong name rooted in history, Antonia comes from Roman and means "priceless." Sure, babies can be expensive, but they also happen to be priceless! Other variations on this name include the name Antoinette, which is a bit more feminine for those who are looking for a girly twist.
ADABELLE
Names that end in "Belle" have been super popular for a while (think: Annabelle and Isabelle) but this more uncommon one is a name that many of us haven't heard before. With a name like Adabelle, it's possible to follow that trend while still letting baby girl be unique.
AMELIE
Amelia has been rising in popularity so quickly, which may have turned some people off from the name who would have used it otherwise. Sound familiar? Try Amelie on for size. Related to both Amelia and Emily, Amelie is an Old German name that means "industrious."
ANNABETH
Combining names is a big trend right now, but Annabeth is one we haven't heard too commonly — at least, not yet. Anna's fairly popular on its own, but in this form, it's a bit more unusual, especially for those who love the way a double-barrel baby name sounds out loud.
AUBRIANNA
Like the name Aubrey, but feel like it's a bit too plain? Let us introduce everyone to the name Aubrianna — a fancier, more feminine version of the original gender neutral name. It's not for everyone, of course, but for those who like to be a little extra, this name could end up being a perfect fit.
ASTRID
The name Astrid — which dates back to Old Norse and means "beautiful" — is a timeless choice, yet still a unique one. It'll never go out of style, but there's a good chance that a baby girl named Astrid in 2021 will definitely still be the only Astrid in her kindergarten class in a few years.
ANASTASIA
Add another timeless name to the list! The name Anastasia might sound like a mouthful for a little kid, but there are plenty of sweet nicknames to be used with this name, including Stacey and Stasi. Not to mention that baby girl would share a name with royalty — just saying.
ABBOTT
The name Abbott might be more commonly known as a last name, but that isn't always true! It's also a surname that happens to make a great first name for a little boy (or even a little girl). The name comes from Old English and means "preacher," for those who are curious.
ADLER
We've started to hear Adler a bit more lately (especially after this was the name that former Boy Meets World star Danielle Fishel chose for her baby boy), but it's definitely still a less common choice — and an adorable one. This "A" name comes from German and means "eagle."
AUGUST
Though the name August (the one Mandy Moore also chose for her first baby, who was born in early 2021) is definitely convenient for a baby boy who happened to be born that month, it's open to all babies, no matter when they're due. August reminds us of sunny skies and our final days at the pool — all warm and fuzzy things, like babies.
ACKERLEY
Here's a name that sounds important for an important little dude! It actually comes from Old English and means "oak meadow," which might make this the perfect choice for a family with English roots or who simply loves being outdoors. He'll probably be the only Ackerley in his class!
ABEL
Here's a unique baby name that starts with A and comes from the Bible. Abel was the son of Adam and Eve, and means "breathe." It's also a pretty simple, short first name that is easy to pronounce, and in a world of biblically inspired names like John, Matthew, and Luke, why not let Abel have its day in the sun?
ALCOTT
Another last name that works well as a first name, Alcott means "dweller of the old cottage" and comes from English. It's not common at all for a first name, and that's part of the charm — and those of us who love Little Women know that using the beloved book's author's last name for our kids is a high honor.
ARLO
Though we've seen this name more over the last couple of years than we did previously, Arlo, which means "barberry tree," is still unique and unusual. And for the record, a barberry tree is a shrub that grows bitter fruits similar to cranberries (but not quite as delicious).
ALGER
A shorter form of the more old-fashioned name, Algernon, Alger is a cute, bold choice — and a bit more quirky than something like Adler. The name means "elf spear," and while it's been holding on in the top 1,000 most popular baby names, there's a good chance any Algers born this year won't encounter another boy with the same name.
ARES
Ares (which is pronounced Air-ees) is the perfect name for parents who are looking for a Greek-inspired baby name. Ares was the god of war in Greek mythology, so if anyone feels like their little one might be born a fighter, this could end up being the perfect name for him.
ANDERS
The name Anders is a Scandinavian name that means "strong and manly." Of course, birth is a little early to know our baby's future personality, but Anders is a cute, short name that keeps it simple and could be a sweet shoutout to a family heritage that began in Denmark, Norway, or Sweden.
