Animal Names for Boys

Upper-crusty English surname which may derive from two sources. The first is Old English meaning "horehound valley", the second is Old French meaning "little swallow", which was originally a Norman nickname given to someone resembling the bird.

Ing is an Ancient Norse fertility god whose name derives from Ingwaz, most likely meaning "ancestor." Ing himself was considered to be the ancestor of the Ingvaeone tribe. Ing is said to be the original name of the Norse god Freyr.

Streamlined form eases pronunciation and spelling, but somehow adds a weighty element to this British favorite. It became familiar in the U.S. via musician Gram Parsons.

Amasa is a rare Biblical name borne by two figures. One is the son of Abigail and nephew of King David, who named him commander of the rebels. This Amasa met a tragic end when he was murdered by Joab. The other Biblical Amasa was one of the Children of Ephraim.

All anyone will think of is the Fonz.

This Old Welsh name associated with blacksmiths has never caught on, but it has the right two-syllable occupational feel to qualify for revival. Gower Champion was a successful midcentury dancer, choreographer and director on the Broadway stage, in films and on TV.

This name feels modern and on-trend, thanks to that cool first similar — similar to trendy Asher — as well as associations with actor Ashton Kutcher. This particular spelling is nearly completely equally split between boys and girls in 2022.

A preppy surname of hidden German origin that would fit right in with currently trendy s-ending boy names like Brooks.

If not for Motown founder Berry Gordy, this name would now be totally in the girl group.

An old saint's name that, even with the post-Aidan wave of Irish names, is a bit too close to crone.

In the biblical parable of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus, the rich man was sometimes given the name Dives (literally "rich" or "the rich one" in Latin). He turns up in literature and folk song from the middle ages onwards, and very occasionally on birth certificates.

Christian Igbo people use Chi as the name for their god.