Animal Names for Boys

  1. Jaime
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of James
    • Description:

      A Hispanic classic that has lost some momentum in recent years. It could be misunderstood by some as Jamie -- which is how it's pronounced on Game of Thrones.
  2. Chito
    • Origin:

      Choctaw, Native American
    • Meaning:

      "handsome"
    • Description:

      A short, snappy name of Choctaw origin, with a charming meaning, Chito might also be used in Georgian where it means "bird", and as a Filipino and Spanish short form and pet name.
  3. Brick
    • Origin:

      Word name, various origins
    • Description:

      This is an Anglicized form of various names; the Irish Gaelic O Bruic; German, Bruck or Breck, meaning "swamp" or "wood"; Yiddish, Brik, "bridge"; and Slovenian, Bric, "dweller from a hilly place." Gosh, and we thought it was just a macho word name invented by Tennessee Williams for the hero of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
  4. Aramis
    • Origin:

      French literary name
    • Description:

      One of Dumas' swashbuckling Three Musketeers, now better known as a men's cologne.
  5. Deveraux
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "riverbank"
    • Description:

      Swashbuckling name worthy of a hero in a romance novel. Deveraux or Devereaux is drawn from the River Eure in France. Mick Jagger has a son named Deveraux.
  6. Fable
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Inventive name for the child of a writer.
  7. Baylor
    • Origin:

      English occupational surname
    • Meaning:

      "one who delivers goods"
    • Description:

      Baylor's 2014 ascension to the US Top 1000 for boys is probably thanks to its fashionable two-syllable, r-ending, occupational surname feel. Think of it as Taylor with a twist.
  8. Hazel
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "the hazelnut tree"
    • Description:

      The charming vintage nature and color name Hazel has become popular for girls, but more than 30 baby boys were named Hazel in the US in a recent year. In fact, it's not a new thing for boys to be called Hazel. It ranked in the US Top 1000 from the late 1800s to the 1930s, peaking in 1891 when it briefly entered the Top 500, and again in 1920 when it was given to nearly 80 boys.
  9. Felipe
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Philip, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "lover of horses"
    • Description:

      A royal name in Spain, Felipe could make a lively alternative to the English sounding Philip. It has ranked on the US Top 1000 almost every year since the beginning of the twentieth century, but has never risen above the Top 300, making it a familiar without being overused.
  10. Gentry
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "aristocracy"
    • Description:

      A distinctive surname that, despite its meaning, has a cowboy swagger, a la Autry.
  11. Dawsey
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "soft, sweet; or son of David"
    • Description:

      This intriguing surname name belongs to a character in the 2008 novel The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer. Its origins are not entirely clear. It may derive from David, like Dawson or Dawes, or it may derive from French doux, douce "soft, sweet".
  12. Decimus
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "tenth"
    • Description:

      Decimus is one of the Roman numeral names used in large Victorian families--in this case for the tenth child. It is now seeing some new life thanks to the cutting-edge fashion for ancient Roman names.
  13. Albus
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "white, bright."
    • Description:

      The ancient name Albus has modern currency as the first name of the headmaster of Harry Potter's Hogwarts, more formally known as Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Can Albus work if you're missing the long white beard and the magic wand? Maybe, though it might be a heavy mantle for a Muggle child to wear.
  14. Cephas
    • Origin:

      Aramaic
    • Meaning:

      "rock"
    • Description:

      The apostle Simon was called Cephas by Jesus because he was to be the rock upon which the Christian church was to be built. In most versions of the New Testament, Cephas is translated into Petros in Greek, Peter in English.
  15. Bosco
    • Origin:

      Italian saint name
    • Description:

      Also, unfortunately, better known as a chocolate syrup. Borden and Bosco could play well together.
  16. Gannon
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "fair-skinned, fair-haired"
    • Description:

      The name of a historic Irish leader, Gannon has a solid, yet spirited feel. It was one of the fastest-rising names of 2014, but that trend didn't continue. One pop culture influence was the name of Teen Mom 3 son Gannon Dewayne McKee.
  17. Hawk
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Meaning:

      "hawk, a bird"
    • Description:

      Animal names are on the rise, especially more of the aggressive Hawk-Fox-Wolf variety than cute little Bunnys or Robins, and Hawk is a prime example.

      Hawk is more commonly heard as a surname, represented by uber-skateboarder Tony Hawk, a pioneer of modern vertical skateboarding. Variations include Hawke, as in actor Ethan, Hawks, as in Golden Age movie director Howard, Hawking, as in scientist Stephen, and Hawkins, as in musicians Coleman, Screamin' Jay and Sophie B, and was recently given to his baby boy by quarterback Tony Romo. There have been characters named or nicknamed Hawk in The Revenant, The Path and Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels. Hawk ranks at Number 699 on Nameberry.

  18. Hubert
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "bright, shining intellect"
    • Description:

      A name that sounds so old-fashioned some parents out there might conceivably find it quirky enough for a comeback, along with other one-time fuddie-duddies like Oscar and Homer.
  19. Ivy
    • Origin:

      Botanical name
    • Description:

      Ivy is in the Top 50 for girls, but actually had some usage for boys for several decades. As more parents consider botanical choices for boys as well, Ivy could get some more love on both sides.
  20. Elan
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "tree"
    • Description:

      When given the French pronunciation (ay-LAN), has a great deal of esprit and élan.