Animal Names for Boys

No guarantee of a fellowship.

Too tightly associated with the real-life villainous Captain Bligh of The Mutiny on the Bounty.

We have Cove and Canyon—why not Cave?

Popular for pets, not baby boys.

Once a birth order name, now might work as a cool x-ending nickname. But be warned that it sounds very close to an unfortunate slang term.

In the early 20th century, an average of 40 baby boys were named Florimond each year. Today, however the name has fallen out of use. We think Florimond is ready for a revival along with a cohort of other Flor names.

Many emotional, virtuous word names are coming back into style, but Happy is one that is unlikely to be revived.

Dapper-sounding choice with old American roots (Dabney Cosby was a 19th century Virginian architect who worked with Thomas Jefferson on some of that state's most iconic buildings). Dabney Montgomery was Martin Luther King Jr's bodyguard, giving this name yet more American history depth. Dab is a sweet nickname option for this name.

For fans of Warren G. All two of them.

This is one of hundreds of modern Israeli names that are unknown here but could translate to our culture.

Basie is a fabulous jazz name to honor the Count, whose birth name was William, the influential pianist, organist, bandleader and composer who led his band for almost fifty years.

The mute, horn-honking Marx Brother's real name was Adolph -- so Harpo represented a huge step up. Also, it's Oprah's production company (her name spelled backward).

Howl joins the wild new gang of names with attitude to spare: We're talking Rebel, Rogue, Wilder, and Wiley. Howell makes it much more genteel.