Animal Names for Boys

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.

Doctor is an honorific used as a name, somewhat like names such as Bishop, King, and Princess. Banned in New Zealand, Doctor can lead to the kind of confusion you may feel would be only positive for your child -- a bona fide Doctor before he even gets to kindergarten. At its zenith in 1884, Doctor was used for 12 boys, but last year it didn't even clear the five-baby minimum to make it onto the Social Security extended list.

A minor Old Testament prophet, and a (deservedly) even more minor name.

Best known as a hotel company, but shares some of the cool sounds of Wyatt.

Prospective parents tend to respond more to the softer American pronunciation than the harsher German one, and even more to the Scandinavian version (see GUNNAR).

Not a great idea to associate your newborn with drug lords.

The Y ending gives Carson a feminine spin. Carsyn is used for girls more than 70% of the time.

Although Artemis is a traditionally feminine name, the Russian variation, Artemiy, is used exclusively for boys.

Hekuran may look unfamiliar to English speakers, but with an intuitive pronunciation and strong meaning, it's a wonderful cross-cultural choice.

The last name of many accomplished people throughout history, from Nobel laureates to U.S. congressmen. The name Gilman was recorded in England since before 1066, and is thought to originate in the French for William, ie Guillaume. Gilman might make an original first or middle name to honor an ancestral William.