Animal Names for Boys

Suggests the salty, windswept air of the seashore.

Boi, sometimes used as a standalone in Catalonia, comes from names like Baldwin and Baldric. It doesn't sit so well in the English language, where it sounds like — and is an alternative spelling for — "boy".

Heiress has been recorded as a baby name since 2004, but the male version, Heir, took longer to catch up. It debuted in 2019 with just five uses but appears to be rising quickly. One factor that will likely help its case: star power. Nick Cannon named one of his twin sons, born in 2021, Zillion Heir (that's right, Zillionaire), drawing attention to this new addition to the class of money-related names. In 2022, it was chosen by parents for 13 baby boys.

A casual take on Corbin.

Lovers of Maxwell might like this more unusual – but no less distinguished – surname name, with its adorable nickname of Hart.

The most famous bearer of this name was Athenaeus of Naucratis, a Greek rhetorician and grammarian who wrote the Deipnosophistae , which roughly translates to "Dinner Table Philosophers." There was also an early Greek composer by the name, which relates to the goddess Athena and the city of Athens.

Though lots of obscure place-names are now on the map, it's hard to imagine this one inspiring anyone.

Quirky choice for a noodle-lover.

An old-timey nickname for Derrick that has since been forgotten.

Meaning "anointed one" in Greek, this was a title applied to Jesus by early Greek-speaking followers. It has been used as the English form of both Christos and Chrestos, which means "good".

Eisenhower is derived from Eisenhauer, a German surname composed of the elements eisen, meaning "iron," and hauer, "hewer." In modern English, that translates to "iron cutter." It's best known as the surname of President Dwight D., "Ike" Eisenhower, making Ike an appropriate nickname (and you might need one, with a name this stately!)

This European version of Cyril (pronounced like French Cyrille) makes the Top 100 in Belgium.

A slight elaboration on Forrest, with the same woodsy charm.