Animal Names for Boys

Hamza was the legendary uncle of the Prophet Muhammad, hero of The Hamzanama, the Story of Hamza. 

Hamza

Akari took the spot as most popular name in Japan back in 2018 and while it's no longer in top place, it does remain familiar — for girls, that is. Meaning "bright, light village" or "vermillion + white jasmine", depending on what kanji is used, how exactly did this come to be one of the fastest rising names for American boys in 2025? 
 
While it is used occasionally as a masculine name in Japan (video game producer Akari Uchida being one such bearer), in the US, its rise may be down to its similarity to names such as Jakari, Dakari, Amari, Kamari, Zakari, and Jamari, with the additional international twist of Kenji and Kenzo.
 
It made its US debut in 2025 when it jumped straight in at #542 having been chosen for 554 boys — five times more than it was used the year prior. 104 girls also received the name. 
 
The traditional Japanese pronunciation would be A-KA-REE, while in the US, uh-KAHR-ee is more likely.

Akari

Cal is a nickname style name that feels as friendly and calm as it does cool and breezy. While its longer forms have proved more popular over the years, Cal as a stand alone has dropped on and off of the US Top 1000 since the 1880s.
 
Traditionally, Cal derives from the Biblical Caleb, giving it the meaning "dog" or "the whole of". Alternatively, it comes from the English name Calvin, meaning bald. There are however a multitude of other origins, including Callum, Callahan, Callan, Pascal, Connally, Calix, and Macauley, which gives you the chance to pick whichever meaning you like best, some of which are listed above.
 
You could go for one of these long forms if your prefer something more formal or with a more solid meaning, but Cal as a standalone name has a long history of use. Since US records began, there has never been a year when it wasn't given to at least 5 babies, and. as of 2020, it is back in the US Top 1000 and on the rise.
 
Given to around 370 babies each year, Cal fits in with other nickname style names, like Leo, Jack, Finn, Ty, Drew, and Mack.

This Biblical name was rising dramatically for boys, but has plateaued in recent years. Although it's more popular for girls in the US, it's a delightful unisex choice. Eden is one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names/france">Top 100 Boy Names in France</a>, closing in on the Top 10.

Eden

Augustine is more substantial (and saintly) than August, less pretentious than Augustus, and, along with its nickname Gus, is definitely a viable choice. 
 Augustine is actually the diminutive form of Augustus and achieved its fame via the great fourth century saint, St. Augustine of Hippo, whose teachings and writings had a great effect on early Christianity.
 A major character in Uncle Tom's Cabin is Augustine St. Clare. The full name of the author of Ulysses and Finnegans Wake is James Augustine Aloysius Joyce.
 Model Linda Evangelista chose the French form Augustin for her son, also used by Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger as a middle name for their son James.
 The Spanish Agustin is experiencing a wild burst of popularity in South America: in recent years it has been the number one name in Uruguay and in the Top 5 in Argentina.

Augustine

While substituting a C for a K is a modern trend, Erik is in fact the traditional spelling of the name, derived from the Old Norse Eiríkr and introduced to the English speaking world in the Anglo-Saxon period. Now, Erik is popular in Scandinavia and throughout much of Central and Eastern Europe, where it ranks in the Top 100 in Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, and more.

The Erik form remains on style in the UK where Eric feels outdated and both Erik and Erick are preferred in Spain, Latin America, and among Spanish Speakers in the US.
 
Erik is the least popular form of the name in the US charts, outranked by Eric and Erick - however, all three remain in the Top 500, and when you add all the Eric/ks together, it begins to feel like a name that ranks just outside the Top 100, in tune with August, Myles, Nicholas and Xavier. 
 
Love the Scandinavian feel of Erik? Magnus, Ivor, Ivar, Henning, Halsten, Emrik, or Torkel might provide some further inspiration.

Erik

Fletcher is a common surname with a touch of quirkiness; it definitely fits into the So Far Out It's In category--and moving further in all the time along with other occupational names from Parker to Forester.
 One notable historical Fletcher is Fletcher Christian, the British seaman and mutineer portrayed on the screen at various times by Errol Flynn, Clark Gable, Marlon Brando and Mel Gibson. A musical namesake is Fletcher Henderson, who was important in the development of big band jazz and swing music.

Fletcher

Devilishly handsome, Devin arrived as Kevin was moving out. Not to be confused (though it often is) with the English place-name Devon. While both Devin and Devon are flagging somewhat for boys, the names have dropped out of the Top 1000 for girls, making it more a masculine and less a unisex name these days.

Devin

This Latinate name would have no problem fitting into an American classroom. It has made frequent appearances in the US Top 1000 over the last several decades. Borne by several Spanish saints, it  boasts both a rhythmic sound and popular o-ending.

Eliseo

Emir can be a title of honor in Arabic-speaking nations. In Turkey and the Balkan countries, Emir is one of the fairly popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/486/arabic-names-for-boys">Arabic names for boys</a>.

Emir

Drew, which projects a polished, somewhat intellectual impression, is rapidly becoming the Andrew nickname of choice, replacing the past favorite, Andy. It is fully capable of standing on its own, which it has for many decades, non-stop since 1942.
 There have been Drews in several iconic movies, such as Deliverance and Steel Magnolias and on TV in Parenthood and Everybody Hates Chris. High-profile Drews include Superbowl-winning Brees, comedian Carey, and singer-songwriter Lachey. Drew Barrymore brought it over to the girls' side, but it has never ranked very high there.

Drew

Chosen is officially a baby name thanks to Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, who chose (can't resist) the word as the name of his newborn son.
 
While it may inspire bad puns, Chosen is actually a pretty good word name: It's got the two-syllable, n-ending sound that is so fashionable for boys' names, plus a positive, affirming meaning. And if Saint and Messiah can be baby names, why not Chosen? And there's no reason it can't also work for girls.

Chosen

Armando takes the flat-footed Herman and makes it romantic.  This is another of the Latin names we expect to be seeing more of. 

Armando

Despite its distinguished pedigree and popularity in Israel, Disney's Little Mermaid cartoonized Ariel in the US, at least in some people's minds. But it was used for a male character in Shakespeare's The Tempest centuries ago.

 More recently, cool short form Ari has come into prominence via the character in Entourage, plus its similarity to short, breezy Biblical names like Levi and Eli. 

 Though Ariel has been on the rise for boys in recent years and flat for girls, the gender divide still leans heavily toward the feminine. But with parents increasingly drawn to uncommon Biblical boy names – especially those with that strong and gentle -iel ending – we think that gap could be set to narrow in the coming years.

Ariel

This name was transposed from the word for a church officer to a baby name when Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe chose it for their son, after a baseball player ancestor, and Don Johnson followed suit. Its popularity also got a boost from Nashville character Deacon Claybourne -- only to fall a bit in recent years.

Deacon

Garrett, also spelled with one 't', is an Irish-inflected name that was in the Top 100 in the nineties, but has now slipped in popularity.
 Perhaps best known now as a Twilight name--Garrett was a vampire in Stephanie Meyer's Breaking Dawn-- there have also been Garretts on Boston Legal and as Jack Nicholson's astronaut character in Terms of Endearment. Garrett Morris is a SNL alum.
 Related options: Garrison, Gerrit, Garrick and Garth.

Garrett

Although we prefer Drew to the old Raggedy Andy, Andy has overtaken Drew as a name in its own right. About twice as many baby boys are named Andy, just Andy -- though about eight times as many parents go with the full Andrew.

Andy

Author Colson Whitehead put his name on the map, and now variations such as Colsen and Colsyn are shooting up along with it. With its cowboy style, Colsen was one of the fastest rising boy names of 2024, when it was given to 442 boys — more than four times the number of babies who were given it previous year. 
 
A potential honor name for a Nicholas (or a Cole or a Colin) with a slightly softer feel to it than Colson or Colton, it may appeal to those wanting something rugged but not too rough.

Colsen

Jakai is a cool modern invention, inspired by other -kai names such as Makai and Zakai. Add to this the popular prefix "ja", and it also feels connected to classic nickname Jack, the international Jacques, and modern favorites, Jackson and Jax. 
 
With its Biblical adjacent feel and the multicultural quality of Kai, Jakai feels familiar but less common than its inspirations. It entered the US Top 1000 in 2021 and has been climbing ever since, with 360 boys receiving the name in 2023. 

It could be a fun and fresh way to a honor Jacob, Jack, or Jacques or a more unique way to get to Kai.
 
One disadvantage of using a modern invented names however, is that some lack a definitive meaning. For Jakai, there are a couple of possibilities. As a spin of Kai, it could mean "the sea" from its Hawaiian origins or "warrior" from its Frisian links. As a variation of Jack, it could mean "God is gracious" or "supplanter" depending on whether you take it from John or from Jacob. You could mix these various meanings together if you wanted, to get "supplanter of the sea" for example.

Jakai

This is an appealing name that could cross cultural borders, but it has lost ground in recent years.