Animal Names for Boys

Caliber belongs to the class of tough boy names — along with Shooter, Wesson, and Trigger — that are given to a small but notable number of boys each year. We generally discourage parents from using such violence-promoting names — there are better routes to the nickname Cal.

Cecilio is derived from Caecilius, an Ancient Roman surname that was likely originally bestowed upon someone who was blind.

The bright yellow weed lends itself to a creative baby name, although we don't recommend the nickname Dandy.

Possibly meaning "bold", this West African surname is less commonly found as a first name, too.

As Ezra becomes more popular, so is Esdras being rediscovered. Los Angeles chef Esdras Ochoa was recently named one of the top chefs in the US.

Gennady is derived from an early saint's name (Gennadius) and shares the same Greek root word as the English word generous. It is a familiar if still uncommon boys' name in Russia. If you're looking for unique boy names you might want to put this one on your list.

Properly written with a Turkish dotted I, this handsome Turkish name derives from two elements both with regal meanings.

Depending on the kanji characters used, this attractive and energetic Japanese name can have a variety of meanings relating to nature.

This practically unique variation of Clement has appeared on the charts four times: 1917, 1918, 1920, and 1971. Each year, it was only given to five baby boys.

Much more niche and obviously Germanic than its anglicised cousins Everard and Everett, but with the same strong meaning. Eberhard is hardly ever used in the US - it's only made the charts once so far, back in 1918.

Plausible word name, denoting strength and stability.

This name from the Igbo language of Africa, which feels like the more-familiar Arabic Ahmad, might be an original and attractive choice.

Toni Morrison, a master of character naming, coined this one for the best friend of hero Milkman Dead in Song of Solomon. Definitely a cool choice, with a twang.

A strong and evocative Kazakh moon name. It also appears in Estonia as a masculine form of the popular girl name Aino, meaning "the only one".

A two-syllable surname feel puts this name of an important English saint in the running -- though it could sound like a confused cross between Duncan and Dustin.

Although it's now used mainly as an independent name in the Netherlands, Hidde began as a short form of heavy Germanic names Hildebrand and Hildebert.

Not a great idea to associate your newborn with drug lords.

Anglicized form of Cadoc, a Welsh saint's name.