Animal Names for Boys

Cullen is an appealing Irish surname name that upped its cool factor considerably when it became the Twilight family name of Edward et al. It's considerably less popular than it was at its peak in 2010, but is still widely used. 
 Cullen Jenkins was a defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.

Cullen

Color us surprised — Kashton is over four times more popular than Cashton. While the on-trend K spelling ranks in the US Top 500, Cashton lingers just outside the charts and is given to around 170 boys each year. 
 
Made up of 'Cash' and the familiar -ton suffix, Cashton could mean "town on the box maker" if you look towards its Latin, occupational roots. Alternatively, it could mean "money town" if you draw on the more obvious association with English word "cash".
 
Perhaps it is for this reason then, that Kashton is the preferred option - for some, it might feel more like a name, than a flex of wealth.

Cashton

Guns 'n' Roses musician Axl (born William) Rose created this name by dropping a vowel, a la Barbra Streisand. The traditional Axel is more popular, though celebrity parents Fergie and Josh Duhamel deliberately chose the Axl spelling to honor her rock hero.

Duncan is jaunty, confident, and open, a Scottish <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/453/royal-baby-names">royal name</a> that's brimming with friendly charm and makes it into our golden circle of names that are neither too popular nor too strange. Popularity aside, Duncan is one of the most classic <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/473/scottish-names-for-boys">Scottish names for boys</a>. 
 From a surname based on a clan name, Duncan was the name of a Scottish saint and two early Kings of the Scots. The beneficent Duncan I, who lived in the eleventh century, was immortalized in Shakespeare's Macbeth. 
 The brave and handsome Major Duncan Heyward is one of the main characters in James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans. Other cultural references include Duncan Idaho, the only character to appear in all of Frank Herbert's Dune novels; Duncan MacLeod, the immortal protagonist of Highlander; one of Garp's sons in The World According to Garp; and singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik.
 David Bowie's son Zowie changed his name first to Joey and then finally to Duncan.
 
Duncan peaked int he late 90s and has been a downfall since, even falling out of the Top 1000 in 2021 — but made a reappearance in 2022.

Duncan

Eleazar is a distinguished Biblical name--in which it appears several times-- ripe for the picking following the stardom of Eli, Elijah, and other similar names. 
 Eleazar is also a Twilight name, first appearing in the Stephenie Meyers book Breaking Dawn.
 It's related most closely to Eliezer, which also appears in the Bible many times. The name also belonged to three great Talmudic scholars.

Eleazar

Atharv is one of the names of Lord Ganesh of the Hindu religion, and of the eldest son of Brahma.

Atharv

Rockers Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz put a new baby name on the map when they chose this downscale New York borough name for their son.  The Bronx, the place, was named for early Dutch settler Jonas Bronck.  Might Bronx become the next Brooklyn?  We'd be surprised if it did.

Bronx

This no-nonsense German variation of Charles is strong and sturdy. A top choice throughout the 20th century, Carl is now verging on falling off the charts.

Carl

Darren and wife Sharon shop for fifties memorabilia on eBay. The Connecticut place-name Darien might offer an update. 

Darren

Eidan is a masculine name with several possible origins. It may be a modern variant spelling of Aidan, the anglicized form of the Irish name Aodhán meaning 'little fire.' Alternatively, it could relate to the Hebrew name Eitan, meaning 'strong' or 'enduring.' The name has gained some popularity in recent decades as parents seek names with historical roots but contemporary sounds. Eidan blends multicultural influences with its appealing two-syllable structure and soft ending. The name strikes a balance between uniqueness and accessibility, making it attractive to parents looking for something distinctive yet familiar-sounding. Its cross-cultural nature gives it versatility across different backgrounds.

Eidan

Ansel, primarily associated with the great western photographer Ansel Adams, famed for his magnificent photographs of the Yosemite Valley, could make a creative artist-hero choice. For Adams it was a family name – he was named after his uncle, Ansel Easton. And, in turn, Adams was the namesake of young heartthrob Ansel Elgort, son of a photographer.
 Derived from the same root as Anselm, Ansel is a medieval Germanic name that still feels fresh and stylish today.
 Ansel has been far from a <a href="https://nameberry.com/unique-names">unique baby name</a> – it was on and off the popularity lists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, reaching as high as Number 540 in 1893.

Ansel

This form, coming from various elements, has started to take off on its own. 

Isai

Adiel is a masculine name with biblical Hebrew roots, meaning "ornament of God" or "God is my witness." Found in the Old Testament, it belongs to several minor figures, giving it authentic religious heritage. The name combines the Hebrew elements "adi" (ornament, jewel) and "el" (God), creating a spiritually significant title. Despite its ancient origins, Adiel maintains a modern feel with its concise structure and appealing sound. While not widely popular in Western countries, it has seen occasional use among families seeking a distinctive biblical name that isn't overused. Its international appeal crosses cultural boundaries, making it recognizable yet uncommon in many communities.

Adiel

Biblical name Cain was, until recently, seldom heard outside of the Old Testament and soap operas. Although Cain's murderous actions will always make this name difficult for some, Cain, Eve and Adam's firstborn, was a farmer - making this a good choice for those with farming connections. Long outshone by Abel, Cain is starting to find a broader audience, helped along by homophones Kane or Caine.

Cain

The short form Archie is so open and friendly --and very trendy in the British Isles--that some parents are now beginning to consider the formerly fusty Archibald as well. SNL comedians Amy Poehler and Will Arnett are one couple who made this breakthrough choice.
 After being introduced to England in the twelfth century, Archibald became especially popular in Scotland, where it was in the Top 20 until the 1930s, but later took on a stuffy, aristocratic air. In the US, Archibald ranked as high as Number 279 in 1889.
 A notable literary namesake is poet Archibald MacLeish, and Archibald was the full name of both comic-book star Archie Andrews and curmudgeon Archie Bunker. And of course suave Cary Grant was born Archibald Alexander Leach.

Archibald

The given name of the late rapper Nipsey Hussle, Ermias is a form of Jeremiah used in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It leapt into the charts in 2019 after the rapper's death, but has declined in use since then. 

Ermias

Hasan is a significant Muslim historical figure — he was the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the son of Ali and Fatimah. Shia Muslims consider Hasan a martyr — he died after being poisoned by his wife. It is a popular choice in Turkey, Azerbaijan, and the UK. 

Hasan

One of the trendiest of the new two-syllable <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boys’ names</a> that have swept the country in the past few years, including the rhyming Aidan, Caden, Kaden, and Jaden. It's been falling on the US Top 1000 lately but it is still among the most popular contemporary <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/502/english-names-for-boys">English names for boys</a>..

Braden

Even less popular than the rarely-used Deangelo. This spelling is likely helped by singer-songwriter and record producer D'Angelo.

Dangelo

This is one of the attractive smoosh names heard frequently in Italy, but rarely in the US. A particularly appealing example due to the stylishness of Luca.