Animal Names for Boys

This snappy nickname may remind some of the 1985 Chevy Chase movie of the same name.

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

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.

In Nigeria, Chibuike is seen as a surname as well as a given name for both girls and boys. John Chibuike is a notable Nigerian footballer.

Possibility for fans of science fiction writer Ray.

This extravagant name of a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher could make for a bold alternative to Alexander.

The name of cities in Mexico and Colorado, Durango is a pleasant, fresh option from the atlas.

Highly unusual water name -- and actor Colin surname -- with a Scottish burr. Firth derives from the Old Norse word fjord.

Anno is an extreme rarity: a simple, familiar-sounding name with deep history that is completely unknown in the US and rare in its native Germany. Anno is the name of a saint also known as Hanno, a 10th century archbishop of Cologne also known as Hanno of Worms.

With more parents turning to biblical names like Ezekiel and Isaiah, this could prove a quasi-unique alternative in a similar -- if more Orthodox -- vein.

A beautiful plant and a rare botanical name probably deriving from Greek.

While several meanings are possible depending on the characters used, prosperity and peace are certainly lovely meanings for a name to have.

Rising spelling variation of the common unisex name Amari.

A better idea: how about you choose a name that means handsome, like Beau or Hasan or Irvin?