Animal Names for Boys

Ananda is historically a masculine Sanskrit name — a form of Anand — but the A ending and similarity to Amanda give it a feminine flavor in the English-speaking world. In fact, it is currently used more often among baby girls in the US.

An undiscovered place-name with an appealing o-sound ending.

Baze is a nouveau nickname that originated on the TV show "Life Unexpected," as the short form consistently used for the character Nathaniel (Nate) Bazile; its similarity to the name Blaise gives it a feeling of authenticity.

Masculine variation of Abeba.

A Middle English form of Adalbert (and therefore of Albert), which was the name of several Saxon kings. Nowadays, Ethel plus Bert is not a fashionable sound, but Albert is feeling fresh again.

Baby-naming rule #984: forget any name that contains the syllable wig.

Revolutionary choice.

Cyriaque is the French version of Cyriacus, an equally obscure name in the US. Abroad, however, Cyriaque has a few contemporary namesakes, specifically two French footballers: Cyriaque Louvion and Cyriaque Rivieyran.

See GABRIEL.

This name fits with the trend for geographic names like Easton and Cove. In Wales it's more commonly found in placenames and businesses than on people.