Animal Names for Boys

French form of Fiachra

This name, also a term of affection, is popular in Turkey but has a spelling that may confuse English speakers.

Baalzebub, also spelled Beelzebub, is a demon in Abrahamic religions. In Christian sources, Baalzebub is another name for Satan.

Pleasant Irish last name that could be a more masculine alternative to the overused Cassidy. Early kings of Leinster bore the name, which relates to the first name Caomhan or Kevin and can also be spelled Kavanagh, Cavanagh, Cavenagh, and Kavanaugh.

Rhythmic and energetic, Drury is of French origin, with the wonderful meaning of "dear one, sweetheart."

There are many more appealing Irish surnames than Foley, and certainly more positive meanings. If Foley is a genuine family name, this would be all right in the middle.

Gehrig might have been used as a sports hero name honoring legendary baseball Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig, but the association with the disease he gave his name to makes it a no-no.

The kind of hybrid name -- it sounds like a blend of the popular Caleb and Colton -- that could catch on despite its lack of pedigree.

An interesting single-syllable name pronounced brahsh.

This Basque name is quite popular in Spain, where it has long been in the Top 100 names. This is likely due to its pleasant meaning; the sound, dignified in Spanish and Basque, may not fare so well in English-speaking countries.

A sharp and interesting Kurdish name derived from the name of a river and mountain in the region.

A form of Ahmad popular in Western Africa. It ranked in the French Top 500 for much of the 1980s.

Agostino is the Italian form of this increasingly popular ancient name.

Notorious Chicago gangster Al Capone may not seem like a worthy namesake, but parents have been using his surname for their sons since 1996. In English, we pronounce Capone with two syllables, but the authentic Italian pronunciation is cah-POH-neh.

This strong and commanding Russian name is pronounced ah-KEEM.