Animal Names for Boys
- Dutch
Description:
If Holland works for a girl, why not Dutch for a boy? Gavin Newsom, Lt-Governor of California, kept up his geographical baby name theme when he called his 4th child Dutch William, (his other children are named Hunter, Montana and Brooklyn.)
- Dawsey
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"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".
- Crue
Origin:
Variation of Crew, English word nameDescription:
Crew x True = Crue. This on-trend name — short and punchy with popular sounds —is rising for a reason. Crue entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2022, following in the footsteps of trendy Crew and Cruz.
- Issac
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"laughter"Description:
A play on the spelling of Isaac that's somehow been in the Top 1000 every year since 1880. (If only by a hair: In both 1926 and 1962, it came in at number 999.) It hit an all-time peak at Number 377 in 2007, and has slumped a fair bit in the ensuing decade.
- Conlan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"hero"Description:
Undiscovered Irish surname.
- Ashwin
Origin:
SanskritMeaning:
"ash friend"Description:
A cultural crossover with multiple roots. Ashwin is an English surname from the Anglo-Saxon male name Æscwine, meaning "ash tree + friend". It's also a popular Hindi name: in Hindu mythology, the Ashvins or Ashwini are twin Hindu gods of the sunrise and sunset. Either way, it has a soft, strong sound and great nickname potential in Ash or Win
- Gatlin
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"wandering man"Description:
Gatlin has risen into the Top 1000 in recent years on the strength of its association with the Olympic champion sprinter Justin Galtin as well as the Gatlin Brothers of Nashville fame. The name has the same root as gadabout, thus the meaning related to wandering.
- Denali
Origin:
Place-name and Native AmericanMeaning:
"the great one"Description:
Alaska's Denali National Park is the home of the highest mountain in the US, officially renamed Denali in 2014, endowing the name with a lofty feel. There were 20 boys and 55 girls given the name in 2014.
- Britton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from Britain"Description:
One case where a spelling variation improves the name, Britton is used about four times as often as Britain for both genders. Currently, the count of baby Brittons is running at about 4 to 3 in favor of the boys.
- Dougal
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"dark stranger"Description:
Heard in the Scottish highlands, and much more in tune with the present times than the dated Douglas — for which it could make a perfect tribute name. Dougal was the Scottish nickname for invading dark-haired Danish Vikings, just as Fingal was given to the blonder Norwegians.
- Ethian
- Eldar
Origin:
Nordic; Hebrew; Bosnian; LiteraryDescription:
A powerful name with diverse origins, Eldar is currently popular in Bosnia and Herzegovina (#45 in 2017). It's also a rare Nordic name meaning "fire warrior", a unisex Hebrew name meaning "God resides", and the name of one of the Elven races in Tolkien's legendarium.
- Enos
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"mankind"Description:
A thundering biblical name - belonging to a grandson of Adam and Eve, also known as Enosh - that hasn't made as much of a comeback as similar Enoch. Enos is also a book in the Book of Mormon, and the name of the first chimpanzee to go into orbit. Caution: depending on your accent, it could have one or two unfortunate rhymes.
- Aris
Origin:
Modern Greek spelling of Ares,"ruin, bane"Meaning:
"ruin, bane"Description:
This modern Greek spelling is currently in the Top 1000 in England and Wales, and in France.
- Beowulf
Origin:
Old EnglishMeaning:
"bee wolf"Description:
This ancient name is that of the hero of the epic Beowulf, which is thought to be the oldest-ever poem in English lit written in the vernacular. J. R. R. Tolkien used the poem as one of his inspirations for The Lord of the Rings.
- Bly
Origin:
English surname nameMeaning:
"friendly"Description:
The surname of enterprising journalist Nellie Bly and poet Robert Bly makes a simple, modern, and upbeat sounding choice for either a boy or a girl.
- Io
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"rely on + emperor, rely on + hero"Description:
Io is most familiar to English speakers as a female name from Greek mythology, but in Japan it's used for both sexes.
- Cordell
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"maker or seller of rope or cord"Description:
This is a name that deserves more attention. Cordell is an occupational name that, through its similarity in sound to Cornell, Denzel, Dashiell, Boswell and Maxwell, feels both on-trend and upmarket.
- Indie
Description:
Variant spelling of Indy
- Amatus
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"beloved"Description:
Amatus is an ancient Roman name in the "Ama" family of names whose meanings relate to love -- they range from Amy to Amity to Amias to Amoret and Amatus.