Animal Names for Boys

Some sources say Artis is a form of Arthur, and it certainly has the same root and meaning of bear. But Artis is a name in its own right with a 60-year history on the US Top 1000, from about 1900 until the early 1960s.

Artis

Popular in Turkey (where it is written as Asil, with the dotted i) but used in Pakistan, Egypt, Israel, India, and beyond, Asil is a unisex Arabic name with a number of different meanings, depending on the etymological root you follow or which source you check. The meaning "noble, aristocratic, royal" is popular for boys, though it may additionally mean "original, purebred, deep-rooted", "evening, night", or "flow, run, stretch".
 
Appearing in the Quran, giving it extra significance for Muslim families, Aseel is used as an alternative spelling.

Asil

The Titan of the dusk in Greek mythology, husband of Eos (Dawn) and father of the four Anemoi (Winds), as well as the goddess Astraea. The name is derived from Greek "aster", meaning "star".

Astraeus

Ayham is a masculine name of Arabic origin, derived from Arabic roots meaning 'having great power' or 'possessing strength and courage.' The name is particularly used in Middle Eastern countries including Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine. Ayham has historical significance in Arabic culture and literature, with several notable poets and scholars bearing this distinguished name. While traditional in Arabic-speaking regions, it has gained increased international recognition in recent decades as global naming patterns have diversified. The name combines melodic pronunciation with powerful meaning, making it appealing to parents seeking a name that conveys strength while maintaining cultural authenticity.

Ayham

Azra

Behr derives from the German word Bär meaning "bear" and is used in various forms as both a given name and a surname. 
 
In Dutch and German, the usual spelling for the given name is Bähr, though Baer was used in the late middle ages as a nickname for someone brave or strong and Behr has been notable borne by Behr Perlhefter, a Jewish scholar and Rabbi.
 
As a surname, it appears as Baer, Behr, and Bhaer (as seen in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women), while diminutive forms Baeril and Baerush are sometimes used by Polish and Russian Jews. 
 
To complicate things just a little more, the name could also have come from ber meaning "boar" in Middle High German or the Middle Dutch word baer, meaning bare and possibly given to people who wore rags.
 
Behr might also sound familiar to those who've done any decorating recently, thanks to the Behr Paint Company.
 
In English, it might be pronounced just like bear or bare, while in German, slightly more emphasis is placed on the final 'R', making it one and a half syllables.

Behr

A streamlined short form of Hebrew Benjamin or the Spanish nickname for Benito and Benigno, this spelling offers a lighter alternative to Bennie or Benny. A multicultural, unisex option, it is also a Japanese name, meaning "crimson, red". It was chosen for just 10 boys and 7 girls in the US in 2024, though this may rise after country singer Lauren Alaina chose it for her baby in 2025. 

Beni

Bezalel

Bransen

Braylan

A new, rising word name for boys that has the advantage of sharing sounds with more common names like Bryson and Braydon. And the disadvantage of getting confused with them.

Brazen

Brennen is a masculine name with Irish and Gaelic origins, derived from the surname Brennan, which means 'descendant of Braonán' (Braonán being a personal name meaning 'sorrow' or 'moisture'). This contemporary spelling variation of Brennan has gained moderate popularity in the United States since the 1990s as parents sought distinctive yet familiar-sounding names. Brennen offers the appealing nickname option 'Bren' and projects strength and individuality. The name carries a modern feel while maintaining traditional roots, appealing to parents who want a name that's both distinctive and accessible. Though never reaching the top 100 names, Brennen has maintained steady usage, particularly in families with Irish heritage who appreciate its cultural connections.

Brennen

There are 15 times as many baby boys named Brett than Bret, but this sleeker version is used and has some merits, namely, being sleeker.

Bret

Rare word name that works for either gender.

Bright

Calixto is known in Spain as the name of three popes, one of whom was the martyr, Callixtus I, regarded as a saint. Calixto has a lot of energy and futuristic spirit, thanks in part to the attention-grabbing 'x.' He is the main character in the Spanish classic, Fernando de Rojas's Tragicomedy of Calixto and Melibea.

Calixto

The name of a 5th century saint and hermit of Sicily, Calogero is perhaps more famously associated with the Italian-French singer Calogero Maurici, known mononymously by his distinctive first name. Meaning "beautiful elder", it is derived from Greek, via the Roman Calogerus and, it may appeal to those who want to honor an important older person in their lives.
 
The central protagonist of the 60s movie, A Bronx Tale, it featured in the French charts in the 50s and 60s peaking at #242, while in Italy, it last appeared in the Top 200 in 2009.

Calogero

Calvary

Carlisle is more popular than Carlyle for both genders, and in both spellings more widely used for boys than for girls.  It's a name we see on the rise in either spelling.

Carlyle

After half a century, this otherwise feasible name has at last started to lose its link to the friendly ghost; it certainly didn't scare model Claudia Schiffer, who chose it for her son, as did Atomic Kitten Jenny Frost. Iconoclastic namer Jason Lee switched genders and called his daughter Casper. Also related to the revived Jasper, Caspar seems headed towards the path to a similar resurgence.

 Caspar is the name of one of the Three Magi who brought gifts to the infant Jesus&mdash;-Caspar of Tarsus was the one who brought the gift of gold.

 In the Casper spelling, the name was quite popular in the U.S. near the end of the nineteenth century, peaking in 1889 at Number 332, but it dropped off the list completely in 1933. It still retains its popularity in Scandinavia and Belgium.

 Actor Casper van Dien was the tenth generation in his family to bear the name of his Dutch ancestors, continuing the tradition with his son Casper Robert Mitchum.