There’s nothing wrong with names like Michael or Rachel, Rob or Bob. Common names make it easier to ensure that for people pronounce your name correctly, or just easier to remember what it is at all.

The only problem with common names is that as a child, you’ll like meet five other Michaels, Rachels, Robs, or Bobs. And if you’re not okay with that, then you probably want to name your child something a little more unique.

The names below you’ve probably heard of, but they’re actually severely underused (and to us, underrated!). So if you’re really big on your child not sharing the same name as any one else in their class, but still having a name that people can pronounce and known, check out this list of the more underused, yet classic, baby names below.

1. Martin

   A name that peaked in the 1880s, Martin is one of those names you’ve definitely heard of, but don’t know many of because it remains classic, but underused.

2. Myra

   Of Greek origin meaning “sweet-smelling oil,” Myra is certainly a sweet-sounding name—and one we think needs to be more of!

3. Nina

   Nina is a Hindi name that means “pretty eyes,” and is a common nickname name in Spain and Russia, however you really don’t find too many Ninas in America.

4. Calvin

   Definitely popular, but severely underused, Calvin peaked in the 1902s but has never steadily been popular and is sometimes refererd to as an “old man” name. The Latin origin meaning is “bald, hairless.”

5. Miriam

   Consistently used since the early 1900s, yet not consistently popular.

6. Otis

   Have you heard of the name Otis before? Of course. But how many Otis’s do you actually know? Exactly.

7. Patrick

   While Patrick is one of those names that’s been consistently used, it’s still a pretty underused moniker and may be on the decline. It means “nobleman,” which we think is pretty noble!

8. Carmen

   Carmen peaked at in the 1960s and while it’s remained in the top 400s since 1900, we still consider it a steady underused classics—it’s a familiar name but has never been super popular.

9. Sabrina

   Whether or not this name is underused due to Sabrina the Teenage Witch back in the 90s or because Sabrina was the illegitimate daughter of the King of Britain and was drowned in the river by her father’s ex-wife, we still think it’s a beautiful name.

10. Naomi

    And yet another great recognizable and consistent name, but one that ranks low in popularity.

11. Alice

    Super popular in the 1880s. Relatively popular now. And yet, not enough Alices in this world.

12. Mary

    Mary, Mary, quite contrary…while Mary has never ranked lower than #123 in 2012, it was #1 from 1880-1946, so we consider it to be at an all-time popularity low.

13. Paul

    Of Latin origin, Paul means little or small—kind of an odd thing to name your child, but Paul is such a classic we can’t help but love it. And yet, it’s still pretty low on the list.

14. Oscar

    In English, Oscar means divine spear or God’s spear. Friends and family will love a little boy named Oscar, and won’t have to worry about meeting too many of them.

15. Rose

    Such a pretty, familiar name—and yet how many Roses do you know, other than the ones you plant?

16. Helen

    Such a classic gem, we wonder why Helen’s not used as much as it used to be!

17. Victoria

    Victoria is Latin for ‘victory’ or ‘conquer.’ Nice, classic, underused. (Side note: It’s typically known as the female version of Victor, a great underused boy’s name.)

18. Louis

    We might see a rise in popularity again after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge named their third child Prince Louis, but for now, Louis is one of those known-but-underused names.

19. Lisa

    Feminine and lovely—classic and underused!

What do you think of some of these underused baby names? Are you surprised by any of them? Which one is your favorite?