Animal Names for Boys

The name of the great Italian Renaissance sculptor known as Donatello (but born DONATO), is one that could easily emigrate to modern America, just like sister DONATELLA.

The Greek equivalent of Abaddon — both a place name (that of an abyss) and a demonic angel that lives there.

This name of famed philosopher, mathematician and Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell becomes slightly more plausible with the French pronunciation, bare-TRAHN. Another noted bearer is French director and screenwriter Bertrand Tavernier.

Branch is an attractive name with associations both with trees and with branching out into brave new worlds. Baseball's Branch (born Wesley, with Branch as his middle name) Rickey broke the color barrier by hiring Jackie Robinson for the Dodgers. Like Leaf, Branch makes a nice, not-so-obvious, addition to the tree category.

Italian surname most Americans will associate with actress Edie Falco, of Sopranos fame.

Not even for the child who wreaks havoc.

For die-hard Fleetwood Mac fans, though Fleet is definitely a cool short form.

Yet another member of the Gwyn/Gwen/Finn family of names ultimately deriving from a Celtic element meaning "white", Guin gets rare use in England and Wales; a notable bearer is Olympic- medal winning (female) rower Guin Batten.

Rarely used in the last two centuries, but might be worth dusting off and holding up to the light.

A mash-up of Ezra and the popular -en ending for boys' names. It may be a modern invention, but Ezren sounds legitimate and very on-trend.

More familiar and melodic to the American ear than either Hans or Hansen, and some might attach it to the three-brother pop-rock band called Hanson.

A saint’s name, Anglicized from Adomnán or Ádhamhnán, which may derive either from Ádhamh (Adam) or from Gaelic adomnae "great fear". St Eunan was a 7th century abbot of Iona best known for his "Law of Innocents", which protected women, children and non-combatants.

Little-known name from the Old Testament.

Enosh looks like a respelling of the more popular Enoch, but it's actually a separate Biblical name, belonging to a son of Seth and a grandson of Adam in the Old Testament.

This name of the patron saint of Naples would make an apt choice for a New Year's baby, or one with Neapolitan roots.

This Italian form of Benedict sidesteps the Benedict Arnold association that still clouds the English version.

A little further down the road paved by Aidan and Logan.

Able takes this name in the direction of the word denoting someone capable and handle, and that is not a bad way to go.