Animal Names for Boys

Attempts to modernize traditional Isaiah has led to this overly creative spelling.

Izayah

Asael is a masculine name with Hebrew origins, derived from the elements 'asah' meaning 'made' and 'el' meaning 'God' - thus translating to 'made by God' or 'God has created.' In the Bible, Asael appears as the name of King David's nephew, known for his swiftness as a runner. The name has maintained popularity in Jewish communities and has seen increasing usage in Christian families drawn to biblical names. In Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in Latin America, Asael has gained steady popularity in recent decades. The name strikes a balance between being recognizable and distinctive, with its melodic sound and meaningful etymology appealing to parents seeking a name with spiritual significance.

Asael

The poetic, soft-spoken Auden has recently started to be considered as a first name option, used for both sexes, appreciated for its pleasing sound as well as its link to the distinguished modern Anglo-American poet W.H. Auden.

Auden

Short form of Donald -- or more stylishly, Donahue or Donovan -- that's acquired a new sixties-era suaveness thanks to Mad Man Don Draper.  The name also carries a Sopranos or Godfather-style double entendre.

Infantilizing short form best reserved for toddlers and younger.

Donnie

Phonetic spelling of the British Ian that has earned a share of its own popularity; chosen by Bo Bice for his son.

One of the most famous Arabic names, Iman is a gender-neutral choice fairly evenly balanced in the US given last year to 110 girls and 80 baby boys. Another spelling popular in some countries is Eman.

Iman

Alakai is an Anglicization of Alaka'i, a Hawaiian name meaning "leader" and the name of a swamp and wilderness preserve on the island of Kaua'i. Its traditional pronunciation would beah-lah-kah-ee, however, some parents as using it as an invented name inspired by Malakai, with the sounds of the much loved Kai at the end.
 
Rarely used before the 2010s, Alakai is now 5 times more popular than it was a decade ago. Given to around 110 babies in a recent year, model, actor, and musician Bryce Alakai might have made people more aware of the name.

Alakai

Arsiah

An alternate Hebrew form of Abraham that could lead to the nickname Avi.

Avrohom

A surname-style choice with jazzy ties to Cab Calloway and a more sporty association leant to it by a golfing company, Callaway has seen moderate gains in the US since the 2000s. In a recent year, 67 boys (and 58 girls) received the name, while alternative spelling Calloway was given to 87 boys (and 22 girls). 
 
The name may be viewed as an Anglicization of the French place name, Caillouet-Orgeville, meaning "pebbly place" from its Norman roots. Alternatively, it may be seen as a variation of the Scottish Galloway meaning "place of the foreign Gaels".

Callaway

Devansh

A distinctive surname that, despite its meaning, has a cowboy swagger, a la Autry. 

Gentry

A classic virtue name for girls stretching back to the Pilgrim times, in more recent years, Honor has become one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/unisex-names">unisex baby names</a> with a near-even gender split. Rarely used on boys before the 2010s, it has nearly doubled in use over the last decade.
 
Honor is quality that is universally admiral and a majority of parents would want their child to know and do what is morally right. Honor therefore fits any gender and it sounds and looks enough like Connor, Valor, or Hector that it feels grounded and wearable.
 
Given to 109 boys and 91 girls in 2024, notable bearers include artist Honor Titus and football player Honor Jackson while playwright and novelist Honoré de Balzac had a French variant.

Honor

Another Spanish boys' name that relates to a goddess, the Egyptian Isis. San Isidro is the patron saint of Madrid.

Isidro

Azaire was the highest breakout name for boys of 2021 thanks to a fashionable sound and pop culture connection. Azaire is the title of a hip hop album released by M. Pire the Sire, who named it after his son. His previous album is called Zariyah, after his daughter. In 2022 Azaire continued to climb steeply, rising to 42 boys from 25 in 2021.

Azaire

Charley is, at this point, an old-fashioned spelling for the most popular short form of Charles, better known these days as Charlie. But Charley is a classic and relates more directly to Charles. 

While the y ending may be more traditionally masculine than ie, girls named Charley outnumber boys four to one, while Charlie is split nearly evenly between the sexes. If you're considering naming your son Charles and styling his nickname Charley, be aware that with 20 times more male Charlies than Charleys, you and your child will face constant misspellings. 
 
This spelling was used for characters by Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell in her novel Sylvia's Lovers and by Brandon Thomas in his play Charley's Aunt.

Charley

Darell is a masculine name representing a variation of Darrell, which originated as an English surname derived from Norman-French roots. The name ultimately comes from the Old French 'd'Airelle,' meaning 'from Airelle,' referring to a place name. As a given name, Darell gained modest popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century but has since declined in usage. The single 'r' spelling distinguishes it slightly from the more common Darrell. The name has a distinguished, somewhat traditional quality while maintaining accessibility. Notable bearers have included athletes and musicians, contributing to its association with achievement. Darell projects reliability and strength while avoiding trendiness, making it a solid but increasingly uncommon choice for parents seeking a name with subtle distinction.

Darell

This tough and attractive name is popular in its native Bosnia and Turkey, though globally, it might be better known in the form of Timur.
 Deriving literally from the Turkish word for the metal iron, Demir is also on the rise in the US, possibly due to its easy translation into English, its strong vibe, and its similarity to familiar choices like Zamir, Samir, and Emir. 
 
The similar Damir is currently in the US Top 1000, which may be pulling Demir up the charts. They can be viewed as alternative forms of the same name, however, Damir could also mean "given peace" from Serbian, or "heart and mind" in Arabic.
 
Given to 114 boys in 2023, Demir is notably borne by footballer, Yusuf Demir, musician Demir Demirkan, and by Demir The Dog, created by the popular plush brand, Squishmallows.

Demir

Aariz is a modern masculine name of Arabic origin meaning 'respected' or 'honorable.' Some sources also suggest it can mean 'cultivator' or 'farmer.' The distinctive double 'a' at the beginning gives the name a contemporary feel while maintaining its traditional roots. Aariz has gained popularity in Muslim communities globally over the past two decades, particularly in South Asian countries like Pakistan and India, as well as among Muslim families in Western nations. The name blends cultural heritage with a sleek, accessible sound that works well across different languages. Aariz represents qualities of dignity and integrity, making it an appealing choice for parents seeking a name with positive attributes and meaningful etymology.