Animal Names for Boys

A generation or two ago it may have been unthinkable to name your child something as bold as Divine. But with names like Messiah and Saint in the mainstream, almost anything is fair game.

The Westerosi equivalent of Benjamin -- meaning it's a "Game of Thrones" name, for non-fans -- is most prominently borne in George R.R. Martin's novels by Benjen Stark, younger brother of Eddard Stark and a member of the Night's Watch.

A bold, unisex virtue name that first made the charts for boys in 1990 and girls in 2008. Millennials may associate it with the Cartoon Network show Courage the Cowardly Dog, about a timid, good-natured dog by the name.

Underused literary name (as in the poet John) with a -den ending that's very much in style.

Famously Tupac Shakur's middle name.

Back in the day, Con was a nickname for Cornelius and Conrad. Today it feels like a pet form of Connor.

Saint Germain, the intellectual center of Paris, lends the name a creative aura. But most Americans would say jer-mayn. The Latin Germanus may mean sprout or bud, or brother.

A meeting of two trends — compound names a la Myking and Alegend and money-related -illion names such as Million and Billion.

Futuristic, in a 1930s kind of way.

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

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

The name of the late husband of Naomi in the Bible.

Eastman is a solid, old-style Atlantic seaboard surname. But as a first name, we think Easton works better.

This name of a river in Wales represents a vowel change from Alan, which makes the name somewhat more intriguing, but still possibly not intriguing enough. Bonus points if you're a surfer, sailor, or you're expecting a baby born under a water sign of the zodiac: It's one of the more unusual names that mean water.