Animal Names for Boys

A modern combination of the cool Cy- beginning and -aire ending sounds, given to 22 baby boys in 2022. May also be a creative spelling of Sire.

Best known to most as a brand of Whisky, Ballantine is a Scottish surname relating to the Celtic god Bal. It has potential as a off-the-beaten-track boys name that is still familiar. Ballantine is the brand name of a whiskey, a beer, and a publishing imprint.

Top 50 pick in Slovenia, where it is a form of Aeneas, the mythological son of Venus. Anej peaked in Slovenia in 2007, when it ranked Number 15.

Of the names derived from titles, this is one of the least obvious (unless you are of German extraction). Chancellor also has the attraction of offering the exciting - and very on-trend - nickname Chance.

A quirky character name from the Netflix series You, twin brother to the equally quirky Love.

Barker may be appealing to parents looking for a name with many layers - not only does it share a meaning with the more common Shepherd and Tanner, it also brings to mind the bark of a tree, making this a surreptitious choice for nature enthusiasts.

Well-liked nature name in Iceland, but unlikely to translate well in the US.

The unique O-ending makes this name memorable, especially for someone with ties to Texas.

Family surname or feminist statement name? Either way, this literary surname has a cool, current sound.

A bird name that could be thought of as an animated spin on Garrett.

A cool and wearable option for honoring an ancestral Harold.

Kayce (pronounce like Casey) was among the fastest-rising boy names of 2022, jumping all the way up to #587 thanks to character Kayce Dutton from the hit show Yellowstone. With the Casey spelling having its own boost for both boys and girls, it is not long before Cayce will start to climb too.

This Late Roman name is little-used in modern times, though the feminine forms Feline and Felina are popular in Europe. While some relate it to the happy-go-lucky Felix, it actually has a cat-like meaning. St. Felinus is a legendary third-century martyr.

An English place name and surname derived from the name of the River Exe, which runs mainly in Devon and Somerset in the southwest of England. The river's name simply means "water" from Brythonic uisk.