Animal Names for Boys

Cagney is one of the spunkiest Irish surnames around, and could make a lively and fresher successor to the tired Casey.

Demetrio is an original way to a mythological name, and is further appealing as a boy's name inspired by a goddess, the earth mother Demeter.

This is one of the attractive smoosh names heard frequently in Italy, but rarely in the US. A particularly appealing example due to the stylishness of Luca.

Handsome young actor Armie Hammer put this name on the map in 2010, when he rose to national attention for playing the Winklevoss twins in David Fincher's "The Social Network." His full name is Armand, after his great grandfather, wealthy Los Angeles businessman Armand Hammer.

Romantic Italian choice.

This evocative name of a dramatic tropical Indian fig tree is ready to move west.

The least usable of the Three Musketeers names.

An example of the Welsh love of naming children after rivers and places. Colwyn is rare in the States but has genuine appeal: no hidden spelling traps, and similar-yet-different to names like Colton, Colson and Colin.

Acker is a surname name that has not seen much use to date, but given it's lush nature meaning (and the fact that it also means "friend" in Somerset slang) this could be a cute choice for parents looking for something fresh. An added bonus its link to English "Master of the Clarinet" Acker Bilk. The Dutch version, Akker, is also an option.

This Welsh surname might be an interesting alternative to the popular Evan, though that Bev beginning conjures up a fifty-five-year-old woman named Beverly.

Bingham is the unusual surname name chosen by Kate Hudson and Matt Bellamy for their son. It was Bellamy's mother's maiden name, and the nickname Bing, coincidentally, belongs to almost-stepfather Kurt Russell's dad. We haven't heard Bing since crooner Crosby, but it does have a lot of zing.

Whether it's an Asian surname-name or short for Channing, has a sound and feel that's both simple and stand-out.

A little further down the road paved by Aidan and Logan.

This airy Finnish and Swedish name may derive either from Greek "aura" (breath; breeze), or from Old Norse "aurr" (earth; clay).

While Faust, who sold his soul to the devil, was anything but fortunate, this Latinate variation is more commonly heard and accepted.

A li'l hell-raiser name in the Ryder-Rogue-Rebel vein.

A forward-looking word name.

This is a name you get stuck with, not (we hope) one your parents choose for you.

This gender-neutral Indonesian name feels familiar but unique. Damar is also used among African-American parents for boys.