Animal Names for Boys

Flip is a cute, attitude-filled nickname for the very proper Philip and variations. A perfect choice if you're looking for a buttoned-up proper name with an informal short form.

Shakespeare seems to have coined this name for the Prince of Bohemia in his late tragicomedy The Winter's Tale. It's rarely been used as a name for a real person, but we think it has potential. The flowery flor sound will appeal to parents looking for less conventionally masculine boys names, but the "Z" gives it an edge and cool factor lacking in, say, Florian. Plus, the Shakespeare connection obviously gives it a lot of literary cred.

Japanese-born fashion designer Issey Miyake, known for his techno-clothes, could provide baby naming inspiration.

Streamlined spelling of the biblical name, as in basketball great Isiah Thomas, falling fast from its height in the charts.

Don't let the long-nose connotations put you off. Cyrano feels so current with names like Theo, Leo, Cypriano and Cyrus finding fans again and even the fictional character has so many redeeming features (poet, musicians, self-made man).

This appealing name of a mythical king of Tara whose reign brough prosperity to his kingdom is strongly associated with actor Sean. The Irish form is Conaire.

An anglicized spelling of Irish Ardghal, this name is most famously borne by Ardal O'Hanlon, an actor, author and stand-up comedian best known for his role as Dougal Maguire in the comedy series Father Ted.

A name used in the Old Testament, as well as a variation of Buzz.

Pitt is the prototypical blond Brad.

There was an ancient Saint Fort, and this is a modern, original way to convey a powerful meaning, especially in the middle place.

An upbeat and attractive Swahili name, also familiar as a surname. As names ending in -ari continue to rise, Bakari could be one to watch.

Probably best associated with the rapper XXXTentacion, Jahseh is a modern invented name which combines the Hebrew word for God, Yah (as seen in Elijah), with the Jamaican Patois word "seh", meaning 'say', to create a name which means "God Speaks".

The name of the father of Jonah in the Old Testament. Has a cool, energetic sound.

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.

The French form of Clement, this well-used French classic was especially popular in France in the 90s and 2000s.

May tagalong after fast-rising cousin Jaxon.

Dubois, which can also be stylized as DuBois or Du Bois, is a surname derived from bois, the French word for "forest." A notable, namesake-worthy bearer is W. E. B. Du Bois (who actually pronounced his surname doo-BOYSS), civil rights activist and a founder of the NAACP. A familiar fictional wearer is Blanche DuBois, protagonist of A Streetcar Named Desire.

Adnan in the Muslim religion was an ancestor of Muhammad. More recently, the name was introduced to many Westerners via Adnan Syed, the young man at the center of the sensational Serial podcast.

The Greek god of the east wind was associated with the season of autumn and dwelt near the palace of the sun-god Helios in the far east.

Vietnamese baby names don't often make national news, but Hiệp grabbed everyone's attention when Olivia Munn and John Mulaney chose it as the middle name for their son Malcolm. In isolation, Hiệp means "to unite," but it is often used as a component of other words such as hiệp sĩ, meaning "knight," hiệp định, "agreement," and hiệp ước, "pact."