Animal Names for Boys

Maine's state motto.

Familiar through the renowned children's author Roald Dahl, this Germanic surname was traditionally given to those who lived near a valley. Dahlia is up and coming for girls, leading the way for this gender neutral option. Dahl was used on a character in the book The Last Fallen Moon by Graci Kim.

A relatively common French surname associated with sometimes scandalous French novelist/dramatist Jean Genet. The name may derive from genêt, the French name for the broom shrub. Alternatively, it can derive from the French forms of Eugene, John or Janet as an ancestral surname.

Near Eastern name with lots of opportunities for variation and improvisation.

Intriguing Indian name on the rise.

The name of four popes and several saints: a promising Italian import.

This unusual (to the American ear) unisex name is used throughout Scandinavia and Germany.

Frequently used in the Spanish-speaking community; Christopher Columbus was born Cristóbal Colón.

A dandy, bouncy family name with tap shoes, high hat, and cane. There are several theories of its derivation, including as a nickname from the word 'ganty,' for a person who commonly wore gloves, or from 'gamen,' for someone good at games.

If you don't want to limit yourself to one month of the year, this unique baby name offers the plus of the friendly nickname, Cal.

A cool and wearable option for honoring an ancestral Harold.

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

Boyan — also spelled Bojan — could be a unique pathway to the hip nickname Bo. Boyan also doubles as a Saint name.