Animal Names for Boys

A common pet name, usually inspired by the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, Dodger is used as a given name for around 6 boys every year.

Nice Scottish sound, but too tied to sweaters and socks.

Energetic Russian and Romanian form of Elisha.

This is a big name, both in heritage and sound. On the right child, this could be inspired, but others may shrink from all the connotations. While your preferred nickname for this option might be Col (or Kit if you're connecting it to Christopher Columbus), you may end up with the slightly more cumbersome "Bus" as the short-form.

More orthodox spelling of a name that also appears as Hazaiah and Hazaia. An obscure Biblical choice that has some modern zest.

A bold, powerful word name used for girls since 1981 (when the TV show of the same name first aired), and more recently for boys too.

Chaplin carries two very distinctive images: the beloved Little Tramp and a minister, often to the military. It was the baby-name choice of Ever Carridine in 2010.

Traditionally a feminine name in Japan, although Ammika Harris and Chris Brown chose Aeko for their son, born in 2018. The starbaby's name is pronounced like "echo," but the traditional Japanese pronunciation is AH-EE-KO.

Along with Aureliusz, Aureli is a Polish form of Aurelius, a Ancient Roman name meaning golden, and made most familiar in the form of emperor Marcus Aurelius.

A capital place-name possibility.

Mythological name with a fabulous meaning. Sure it's weighty, but so is Aphrodite; Andy is an easy nickname choice to make this name more wearable in the classroom.

Has a harmonic feel.

Ayal is a boys' name used in modern Israel but virtually unknown in the US. Even more popular in Israel is the female form, Ayala.

Many emotional, virtuous word names are coming back into style, but Happy feels unlikely to be revived. This could be because it doesn't have a solid history of being popularly used (in comparison to Joy) and because it's such a familiarly used word in day to day life (unlike Valor).

Soft yet strong.