Animal Names for Boys

Chinedu

Christen

Christon

Clayten is a masculine name that represents a modern variant spelling of Clayton, which originated as an English surname meaning "settlement made of clay" or "clay town." This alternative spelling maintains the strong, earthy qualities of the original while adding a contemporary touch. As a first name, Clayten conveys stability, groundedness, and a connection to the earth. Though less common than Clayton, Clayten has gained some usage in North America during recent decades, particularly among parents seeking names with traditional roots but distinctive spellings. The name projects a rugged, masculine image while remaining approachable.

Clayten

Surname that is occasionally used as a given name in tribute to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.

Cobain

Codie is a masculine name (though sometimes used for girls) of English origin, representing a modern spelling variant of Cody. The original Cody derives from the Gaelic surname Mac Óda, meaning 'son of Oda,' or possibly from an Irish place name. This particular spelling gained popularity in the late 20th century as parents sought alternate versions of traditional names. Codie has a friendly, approachable quality with its soft ending, making it feel less formal than some traditional male names. The name carries associations with the American West through the historical figure Buffalo Bill Cody, lending it a rugged, pioneering spirit despite its modern spelling. Codie remains less common than Cody but offers a slightly more distinctive alternative.

Codie

This British surname has a somewhat aristocratic air, which ties in to its association with the early American boxing champ "Gentleman Jim" Corbett. Also borne by actor and country singer John Corbett, it blends the sounds of the more popular Corbin, Cory, Barrett, Bennett, and Beckett.
 
The name comes from the French corbeau paired with a the diminutive suffix, -et. It may have started out as a nickname for someone with dark hair (like Corbin did).

Corbett

This Italian place name is best known as the surname of the Godfather family. In Mario Puzo's 1969 novel, Vito Andolini was born and raised in the Sicilian town, and his surname was changed to Corleone upon his arrival at Ellis Island.

Corleone

A bold, unisex virtue name that first made the charts for boys in 1990 and girls in 2008. Millennials may associate it with the Cartoon Network show Courage the Cowardly Dog, about a timid, good-natured dog by the name.

Courage

A locational surname with its origins in the North of England, occasionally also used as a first name. Notable bearers include actor Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things) and author and filmmaker Dacre Stoker, the great-grandnephew of Dracula author Bram Stoker.

Dacre

The Greek, Russian and Belarusian form of Daniel.

Daniil

The name of the protagonist of a trio of novels by French author Alexandre Dumas, most notably The Three Musketeers. D’Artagnan is an aspiring musketeer who travels to Paris in search of
fortune and adventure. The character is based on real-life musketeer Charles Ogier de Batz de Castelmore, Comte d’Artagnan. Artagnan is a small village in southwest France.

Dartagnan

Dayten is a contemporary masculine name that appears to be a modern variation of Dayton, which itself originated as an English surname derived from place names meaning 'day settlement' or 'dairy town.' This modern spelling variant emerged primarily in the United States in the early 21st century as part of the trend toward unique spellings of traditional names. Dayten has a bright, energetic quality with its connection to 'day' and follows the popular '-en' ending pattern seen in names like Jayden and Brayden. While uncommon in official statistics, Dayten represents the modern parental desire to create distinctive versions of established names. The name carries associations with daylight, brightness, and optimism while maintaining a strong, contemporary sound.

Dayten

Possibly meaning "bold", this West African surname is less commonly found as a first name, too.

Diallo

Diogo is the much-less-known brother of Diego, both forms of James, which is itself a form of the Biblical Jacob. And Diego itself probably started life as a short form of Santiago, aka Saint Jago, aka Saint James. 

That's a lot of variations for one name. In Diogo's case, Americans will forever mistake it for Diego, which was used for nearly 3000 baby boys in the US last year, while Diogo was given to fewer than five.

Diogo

Also written as Dionysos, Dionysus was a son of Zeus and the god of wine, revelry, fertility, and dance. Likely meaning "godlike one of Nysa" — Nysa being a region in Greece where Dionysus was raised — you could also interpret it as "godlike one of the trees".
 
Bold and vibrant with a touch of fun, Dionysus is less likely to be heard than its descendants: Dennis, Tyson, and Tennyson. Nevertheless, it's not too dissimilar from higher ranking options like Adonis, Dorian, Atticus, and Darius.
 
Ten boys were called Dionysus in the US in a recent year, while Dionysos has never featured.

Dionysus

Donta is a masculine given name that emerged in the United States in the latter half of the 20th century. It may be a shortened form of names like Ladontae or a variation of Dante (derived from the medieval Italian name, ultimately from the Latin name Durant, meaning "enduring"). Another possibility is that it developed as a variant spelling of Donte. The name began appearing with more frequency in naming records during the 1970s and 1980s. While not among the most common names, it has maintained steady usage since its emergence. Donta exemplifies naming patterns that favor shorter forms, distinctive spellings, and strong consonant sounds. Several athletes have brought visibility to the name in contemporary American culture.

Donta

Dontavious appears to be a modern elaboration of names beginning with 'Don-' (from Latin 'dominus' meaning 'lord' or a shortened form of Donald, meaning 'world ruler' in Celtic). The suffix '-tavious' may be influenced by Latin names ending in '-avius' or '-avious' like Octavius, meaning 'eighth.' The name emerged in the United States primarily in the late 20th century, representing the trend of creating longer, more distinctive names through the combination of familiar prefixes and suffixes. Dontavious remains relatively uncommon in usage records. This naming pattern reflects the creativity in contemporary naming practices, where traditional elements are combined to create unique personal identifiers. The name's rhythmic quality and distinctive sound have likely contributed to its appeal.

Dontavious

Strong but gentle Irish last-name-first. Could bring to mind long-running rock group Duran Duran. 