Animal Names for Boys

Dugald is a Harry Potter name. In fact, there are not one but two characters name Dugald in the Harry Potter books.

A venerable boys' name in Persian and South Asian cultures that is increasingly used for girls in most parts of the world, thanks largely to the popularity of Game of Thrones character Arya Stark. In the U.S., for instance, there were 1890 newborn girls named Arya in 2016 and just 54 boys in 2016. The related Aryan remains mostly male, however, so it would likely be a better choice for a little boy, if you don't mind the other meaning.

Caedmon is considered the first English poet -- a nice literary tie-in to the streamlined version.

A classic variation of the name Isidore, both Isadore and Isidore were equally popular at their peak in the 1910s. They were historically used among Jewish families — Isidore and Isadore were often used as Americanizations of Jewish names such as Israel and Isaac.

In Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, the friend who persuades Romeo to go to the party where he meets Juliet. Alas.

This variation of Ahmad is one of the most popular Arabic names among Muslim families the world over and is now the most used spelling in the USA. It shares the same root as other popular Arabic names, including Muhammad and Hamid.

Often stands alone in Israel, but rarely here.

A modern name likely inspired by the Latin phrase carpe diem meaning "seize the day".

Cool Finnish name ripe for import.

Authentically spelled İlkin, this would be an unusual (to English speakers) pick for a firstborn boy.

One "bald" name we can get behind, thanks to pioneering African-American author James Baldwin – though the name is now also associated with the Baldwin brothers, particularly Alec.

Almond may seem like a hippy modern name, but its use for American boys goes right back to the mid-nineteenth century. In these cases, it was either a variation of Almund, meaning "noble strength," or the surname Aleman, meaning "German."

This spelling of the rising unisex name Briar may strike some parents as more definitively masculine than its source.

Shortening Francisco somehow makes it sound even cooler. Cisco is also the name of a digital security company.

This shortened variation of Aaron—it was Elvis's middle name—is now a widely used choice.

The surname of influential French fashion designer Marc Bohan could make a modern-sounding two-syllable boy's name, though it might be confused with Bowen.