Animal Names for Boys
- Haldor
Origin:
NorseMeaning:
"Thor's stone"Description:
This, like many Norse and Scandinavian names, remains icebound, though with the unexpected rise of such ancient Scandinavian mythology names as Odin, Thor, and Freya, we may see Haldor rise again.
- Erastus
Origin:
Latinized form of Greek ErastosMeaning:
"beloved"Description:
The Biblical Erastus was an assistant of Paul's in the New Testament. A name used in the 19th century that has fall off the scope, but may be revived as parents dig deeper for undiscovered Biblical choices.
- Auggie
Origin:
Short form of August and variationsDescription:
Auggie, a variation of the more common Augie, is an adorable and, at this point, fresher sounding short form than Gus of the rising August and all its variations, from Augustine to Augustus.
- Crow
Origin:
Bird nameDescription:
From Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore, the story of a boy named Kafka -- crow in Czech.
- Ellington
Origin:
English place-name and surnameMeaning:
"Ellis's town"Description:
Ellington is a swinging musical name, evoking the jazzy and elegant persona of the Duke (born Edward Kennedy Ellington). While that reference may seem to make Ellington a male name, it is also occasionally used for girls.
- Hardy
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"bold, brave"Description:
Hardy is a spirited and durable un-Germanic German surname that is starting to be used in this country.
- Coro
Origin:
Native AmericanMeaning:
"wind"Description:
A place name from Venezuela believed to come from an indigenous word for wind, this can make an innovative choice for a child of either sex.
- Berilo
Origin:
Spanish, from GreekMeaning:
"beryl, pale green gemstone"Description:
A Latin name with a lot of tango flair.
- Artan
Origin:
Irish, Albanian, or FaroeseMeaning:
"little bear; golden; little father"Description:
An on-trend, but very unusual, international option for lovers of the similar Arthur. Artan is an Irish name meaning "little bear", an Albanian name meaning "golden", and a Faroese name deriving from Attila "little father".
- Amaris
Origin:
Variation of Amariah, HebrewMeaning:
"God has said"Description:
Amaris is unisex name with a Musketeer-esque feel to it: gentle and poetic, but cool and adventurous too. A variation of the Biblical name Amariah, it is given to three times as many girls than boys, though this gap has been narrowing in recent years.
- Cailean
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"pup, cub"Description:
This is the original Gaelic spelling of the Anglicized Colin -- more authentic, yes, but could make your American child's life unnecessarily complicated.
- Donnacha
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"brown-haired warrior"Description:
Virtually unknown in this country, Donnacha is currently in the Top 100 in Ireland. According to legend, Donnacha was a High King of Ireland until his death in 1064. The English version Donaga (done-a) might be preferable here.
- Elan
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"tree"Description:
When given the French pronunciation (ay-LAN), has a great deal of esprit and élan.
- Hemlock
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"poisonous plant"Description:
A rare and bewitching nature name, belonging to a poisonous plant also known as devil's bread or poison parsley.
- Fachnan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"malicious"Description:
This name of four ancient saints is recommended neither for its sound nor its meaning.
- Cru
Origin:
Spelling variation of Crew or short form of Cruz or CrusoeDescription:
The short, clipped Cru is one of those modern names that's starting to find favor -- it was given to about 100 boys last year, while Crew has vaulted onto the Top 1000. One inspiration is undoubtedly the Spanish name Cruz, which came to wider attention via the third son of Victoria and David Beckham. Cru has a handsome sound and a modern feel.
- Elior
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"My God is my light"Description:
This appealing Hebrew name is heard in Israel, and would fit in well with all the popular El-starting names for boys, such as Elliot and Ellery. It was given to just five American boys in 2015. Also worth considering is the pretty female version, Eliora.
- Flavian
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"yellow hair"Description:
A Latin clan name that may rise again along with other things Roman.
- Acre
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"a unit of land area equal to 4,840 square yards"Description:
Acre feels at home with other modern, fresh word names like Rumor, Snow and Ace. But with the feeling of wide open spaces and nature, Acre also offers a softer, earthier tone that will appeal to those seeking a unique name with a distinctly Americana feel.
- Arvin
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"friend of the people"Description:
This name's popularity peaked in the 1930s in the mid 600s - but we think it is time for a reconsideration. Arvin feels more modern than similar names like Marvin and Alvin. It also boasts a beautiful meaning and defies easy shortening (which is an asset to many parents who choose a name because they want it to be used!).