Animal Names for Boys

Possible middle name for devotees of detective Sherlock...or the actress Katie.

All varieties of Hob are antiquated nicknames for Robert, though this one is saddled with the "Calvin and Hobbes" cartoon association.

Erkin is an Uzbek vocabulary word from Old Turkic, and is widely used as a unisex name in Turkey. In English-speaking countries, it is unknown but straightforward and with a great meaning.

This anglicized spelling of the already anglicized Alistair originates from the Scottish form of Alexander. Some might think it lacks the flair of the -air ending, while others might find it sleeker and simpler. Either way, in the US, it's the second most popular spelling after Alistair, ahead of both Alasdair and Alastair, while in the UK, it is in use, but least preferred of the four.

An attractive Nordic name most common in Iceland. It was derived from the Old Norse elements bryn, meaning "armor," and her, "warrior" or "army."

Kit and Topher are the Christopher nicknames du jour, thanks to actors Harington and Grace. But now that Chris is feeling less ubiquitous, this jaunty Scottish and Irish short form has a certain charm.

Short form of the Biblical name Abiah or Abijah, meaning "my father is God".

Flash Gordon makes this a superhero name, but Flash might just appeal to modern parents looking for one of the new active boys' names, ala Ace and Breaker and Ranger. We'd recommend something more pulled-together as a proper name with Flash as a nickname or middle name.

Meaning "golden flower", this name was borne by a semi-legendary 3rd century saint.

The connection to a knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend gives this name a hint of nobility. Geraint Thomas was a Welsh cyclist who competed in the 2008 Olympics.

A patriotic spin on Armie, with roughly the same meaning whether you consider it a variation or a totally separate word name.

A rarely-used spin on a classic.

An unusual yet accessible Scandinavian choice, though it might be confused with Harvard.

Basie is a fabulous jazz name to honor the Count, whose birth name was William, the influential pianist, organist, bandleader and composer who led his band for almost fifty years.

A more romantic form of old school Clement, which ranks in the Top 100 boy names in Chile. Clemente, like Clement, derives from the Late Latin name Clemens, the name of 14 popes and several saints.

Hugh plus.

When used in English-speaking countries — it's heard occasionally in the UK — it's more often spelled Alaric, however, across Scandinavia and Europe, Alarik might be prefer.