strong, romantic baby boy names: orion, augustine, salem, sebastian, milo?

Augustus Constantine

Urban was a pope - very rare name, but certainly fits OP's brief of historic/classic but very unusual. I know an Urban, he is about 12!

You'd definitely have to be a certain type of person to even attempt pulling it off - but it's definitely a name!

I'm not sure any of the names on the list meet your brief, and I think the brief is a little flawed. How can you have a unique name that is so well-used it translates into multiple languages and honours the collective human history? I mean the best name for the latter criterion is probably John- hardly unique and not very romantic.

Sebastian is a nice name. Off the top of my head, something like Darius/Dario is an old familiar throughout Europe, being a saint's name, but has never quite made it into common usage in UK. Otherwise I would point you in the direction of Sophocles or Shakespeare (Sebastian is from Twelfth Night, so a good start).

How about Ambrose? Or Gabriel? Clement?

Urban? That's one way of describing a city. Urban environment etc etc. Although it certainly ticks the unusual name box!

Sorry, not keen on any of them.

I really don't like Orion, especially with the surname - as someone else has said, it sounds like a kitchen appliance.

Sebastian, Augustine and Milo don't sound strong to me, they sound like pale skinny public school boys who are bullied.

Isn't Salem a girls name?

Sebastian is really the only one on your list which has the feel you want. And it isn't common - really pretty rare - it's just that it isn't completely outlandish, which is where you are with the other 'rarer' names on your list. And - it's lovely. Again, unlike (I'd say) all the others.

Milo - forget this. It's the name of a child's tv character (tweenies) and is popular because of that.
Augustine - Sounds feminine - if you like this, Augustus would be better? Recognisable, but just not as nice as Sebastian.
Salem - Horrible. Witch trials. Ugly word. Or you get to look like a 'we're so straaaange' Stephen King fan.
Orion - ok. Not a particularly nice word as a name. No good nickname. Orri? (People will think you're Icelandic).

How about:

Urban
Ptolemy
Julian

I LOVE Caspar but dh hates it. So I always suggest it on these threads as I feel someone should benefit!

It's a very old fashioned, traditional name which is woefully underused!

Sebastian and milo are good names but not unusual. I prefer Sebastian by a long way.

I think Orion Fillups sounds like a washing machine , also great potential for being called onion.

Augustine is girly. How about Augustus? Nn Gus. Quite strong. Reminiscent of a roald Dahl character but not to everyone.

Salem just no. Ugh. Witch hunt.

How about, um Caleb?

I mean if you want a link with the past there's lots of classic English names that go back donkeys. Alexander, James, Thomas. Or biblical names, even older and often strong.

I think Sebastian Milo would be lovely and fills the long name- short name requirement.

Or just call him Sebastian and not worry about the unique thingy.

I don't know quite what you mean about a name being unique enough to support an independent individual, but Milo is a cliché these days and Sebastian isn't unusual if that's what you are after. Augustine sounds like a girl and Salem sounds like either witch trials or that you're massive Stephen King fans, so I think you will have to go for Orion.

I love Sebastian but am not a fan of Seb, which is the main thing stopping me putting it on our list. I'd consider if you like the shortened version. (Is there a better one?) I don't think it's too popular at all though.

Milo is sweet. I didn't realise it was an old name.

I like Orion.

Yes, Sebastian and Milo are the best on that list, IMO.

Salem makes me think of the Salem witch trials. Very grim and unromantic. I've never heard of it as a given name, what culture is it from?

I would pronounce Orion as O-rye-on if that helps.

I think Augustine has a very Roman feel to it, but the 'ine' ending may cause some confusion over whether it's a boy's name or a girl's name.

I wouldn't have said Sebastian was common at all - I've only ever met one (about 5 years old), but I guess the popularity may vary regionally.

I like Sebastian and Milo best out of your suggestions.