Animal Names for Boys

Amal is the name of a male figure in the Bible, a member of the tribe of Asher. Not, in this case, Mrs. George Clooney.

The Arabic name Idrissa is related to the more common form Idris, which is the name of a Quranic prophet usually equated with the biblical Enoch). Idrissa is more commonly seen in North and Western Africa. Idrissa Gueye, the Senegalese footballer who plays for Aston Villa in the UK, is probably the most famous person with this name.

Bates is a fresh version of Bartholomew, and feels more wearable than Bart. Bates could be considered a patriotic choice for American parents - Katharine Lee Bates was an author and professor best known for penning the words to "America the Beautiful".

Hopewell feels like it could be a Puritan-era virtue name, but it is actually a habitational surname. It is derived from Hopwell, from the Old English elements hop, meaning "valley," and well, "stream." Hopewell could easily be adapted into a first name, with Hope or Wells as nickname possibilities.

After Leo, this is one of the most usable names in the zodiac: part ancient, part new-age, part high-tech. In the night sky, the constellation Gemini is present all year round in both hemispheres. It has been associated with twins since ancient times, and its two brightest stars are named Castor and Pollux after the twins of Greek mythology. It also has STEM connections: Project Gemini was a NASA spaceflight program before Apollo.

Evocative word name that's refreshingly straightforward. Overtones of Christianity and penalty. More subtle option: Cruz.

As Ireland becomes fashionable as a place name, bouncing on and off of the US girls charts thanks to Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin choosing it for their daughter, some parents may start to consider the adjective form Irish for either a boy or girl.

Ib, though it sounds insubstantial here, is actually a pretty common name in Denmark.

Despite pronunciation, looks a bit like an airline or -- worse still -- a hair dryer name.

The second book of the Bible provides a dramatic name that's more distinct than Genesis and simpler than Leviticus.

A more distinctive alternative to Alejandro.

Up-and-coming surname name that may evoke thoughts of ballet dancer Misty Copeland or one of the many towns called Copeland.

Derived from the Old German elements ekka "edge, blade" and hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy". Eckhart Tolle is a German writer, and it is also found as a surname.

Boruto is not a given name in Japan, but it was used for Naruto's son in the Naruto franchise. The name is based off of the Japanese pronunciation of the English word "bolt."

Abiah is a gentle, rarely used Old Testament name belonging to Samuel's second son. This makes a good choice for the parent who wants a traditional biblical name that is not overly familiar.

Able takes this name in the direction of the word denoting someone capable and handle, and that is not a bad way to go.

Brolin — inspired by actor Josh — has been used sparingly as a boy name since 2007. Most instances of the surname come from the Swedish derivation, meaning "bridge," however, Josh Brolin's surname is a variation of the German name Brüderlin, meaning "brother."