Animal Names for Boys

Unisex name from the Qu'aran.

An imposing meaning, an appealing sound.

The double-A is often a hard sell for baby names in an English-speaking context, and many will find Dario, as in public intellectual Dario Fo, appealing enough with just one. But diehard Game of Thrones fans may be attracted to this version, as it is the first name of charming rascal Daario Naharis, a mercenary first hired, then seduced, by Daenerys Targaryen during her conquest of Slaver's Bay.

Wildly optimistic -- and unrealistic -- choice.

This Polish form of Gracian is enjoying a run of relative popularity, having been in the top 100 there for over a decade. This name has a long and distinguished pedigree, having belonged to both a Roman emperor and a 4th century Catholic saint who founded the see of Tours in central France. It would make a fabulous namesake for an important Grace in the family.

Hatchell is an attractive English surname that feels ripe for discovery — assuming you're looking for a rare and preppy surname. There are many theories on the origins of Hatchell. It may derive from a given name such as Hacche, Haeccel, or Hake, or be a habitational surname related to a number of "lost" English places. Another theory suggests that Hatchell is derived from the Old English word haecel, meaning "hooded cloak" as well as "flax comb." This theory connects Hatchell to the West Germanic word for "hook."