Animal Names for Boys

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

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.

A name that is truly honored in France, as the name of several saints, artists like Daumier, and writers like Balzac.

Variation of Amir that debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2016 and still ranks in the lower part of that list.

A unique celestial choice used for both sexes in Korean.

For better or worse, this name is still firmly attached to the TV series Gilmore Girls. It's one of a number of Scottish and Irish surname names beginning with Gil, meaning "servant". In this case, it's "servant of Mary", making it a subtle male Marian name.

A name from the Game of Thrones universe with serious baby name potential, given its similarity to cool retro choices like Darwin and Harvey.

Romanian form of Cosmas

Cador is said to be one of the ancient rulers of Cornwall who, according to Arthurian legend, was the guardian of Guinevere. The name Cadbury is said to come from his four hill-forts.

Last name occasionally used as a first, can be seen as a Lance Armstrong athlete-hero name.

An obscure Gothic name derived from Amali — a dynasty of the Goths — and the Germanic element ric, meaning "ruler".

Astrological name retains a hippielike Age of Aquarius feel.

Fiji is a pleasingly quirky place name that's been little used for babies, but could work for either a boy or girl. Though it has been used quite a lot for fancy bottled water, we don't think it quite qualifies as a water name.

Dox may sound like a modern invention but it actually has a notable historical bearer. Malagasy poet Jean Verdi Salomon Razakandrainy was known mononymously as Dox, inspired by a nickname he received in art school.

A subtle nature name which would nevertheless make for a bold choice, saint’s name Corbinian derives from Latin corvus ("crow; raven"). It’s a traditional yet rare choice in parts of southern Germany, where it’s usually spelt Korbinian.

The full name of recurring Game of Thrones character Dolorous Edd, who was appointed head of the Night's Watch late in the series. While we like Edison, the extra "d" is probably going to cause more confusion than it's worth for all but the most diehard fans.

Fenix is a spelling variation of the place name and mythological name Phoenix, possibly inspired by the Romani form, Fennix, or the Spanish Fénix. Derived from Greek and meaning "dark red", the phoenix is an immortal bird that, having lived for a number of centuries, would be consumed by fire and rise from its own ashes.

Ilyas is the more traditional Arabic spelling, but Ilyes is the common version in Northern Africa and France, which has a large Algerian population.