Animal Names for Boys

Photographer Newton...or that hard thing you wear on your head.

Ihaia or Īhāia is the Māori form of Isaiah.

A possible hero name inspired by notables from Spanish poet/playwright Federico Garcia Lorca to writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez to the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia.

Typically used for girls, but Disney Channel show Big City Greens made it wearable for boys as well.

The jazziest nickname for Charles.

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

A traditional French male name that could, with American pronunciation, become an admirable word name.

An unassuming virtue, that is also a surname name.

Braxley is an invented name — a combination of two hot syllables — and therefore has no official meaning. It could, however, be interpreted to mean "Brock's field" from each of its elements.

Hasan is a significant Muslim historical figure — he was the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the son of Ali and Fatimah. Shia Muslims consider Hasan a martyr — he died after being poisoned by his wife.

Whatever its merits as a name, Haman is a Biblical villain, a member of the Persian king's court who plotted to slaughter the Jews. His plan was foiled by Queen Esther and Haman was hanged. Not a role model you want for your child.

An attractive ancient Irish saint's name that conjures up a beacon of light, this Irish name for boys is well-used in Ireland but rarely heard in the US.

The name of the powerful king of fairies in Irish folklore, who also rules over the dead in some legends. Finbar or Finbarr is a related name.

No matter how much you love the novels of Papa H., don't saddle your son with this unwieldy appellation.

Ahmet is known outside its native land largely thanks to Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. The original crazy celebrity baby namer Frank Zappa named one of his sons Ahmet, after the influential music executive. Ahmad is a variation of Muhammad.

More user-friendly, though less substantial, than Bartholomew.