Animal Names for Boys

An alternate spelling of Brian, Bryan's one of the most enduring of Irish imports. Bryan is now slightly more popular than the original, with associations to Bryan Cranston, Bryan Ferry and Bryan Brown.

Bryan

Gideon is a no-longer neglected Old Testament name, but still makes an excellent choice for parents looking to move beyond such overused biblicals as Benjamin and Jacob. In the Old Testament, Gideon was a judge called on by God to rescue the Jews from the Midianites, and the name was popular among the Puritans.
 Gideon was given a spike by the short-lived TV series Gideon's Crossing, and has been heard more recently as a main character in Criminal Minds, as Molly Weasley's brother Gideon Prewett in the Harry Potter series, and as an anti-hero, Gideon Gordon Graves, in the Scott Pilgrim series.
 The ubiquitous, in-every-hotel-room Gideon bibles were named because Gideon symbolizes great work done by few people.
 Among the celebs who have chosen Gideon for their sons are Neil Patrick Harris and Ziggy Marley.

Gideon

The origins of the name Brian are not entirely clear, but it is suspected that it evolved from an Old Celtic word related to nobility. In Ireland the name is associated with Brian Boru, the most famous of all Irish warrior-kings, credited with driving the Vikings out of Ireland around the year 1000. 
 
Like other native Irish names, Brian was outlawed in Ireland during the centuries of British rule, restored to use after the war for Irish independence in 1916. Irish immigrants propelled it onto the US Top 1000 list for the first time in 1925.
 
Because it was outlawed for so long, Brian may feel like a less classic and ancient name than it really is. Its massive popularity in the 1970s, when it ranked in the Top 10, makes it one of today's quintessential Dad Names.
 While Brian has been trending downward in the US for decades, it still ranks solidly in the Top 1000, where it will likely remain for decades to come. Bryan, Bryant, and Brianna are common variations.
 
Brian has some pretty diverse associations—to newscaster Williams, the movie Monty Python's Life of Brian and as Marilyn Manson's real name.

Brian

Cairo is an exciting place name possibility with upbeat o ending and an on-trend first syllable. Debuting in the US Top 1000 in 2015, it has been climbing ever since, and, as of 2023, it is given to more than 1000 babies each year. 

The name derives from the Arabic al-Qāhirah, the name given to the Egyptian city in 969 AD by the Fatimid dynasty. With the meanings "conqueror" or "vanquisher", it was named to celebrate the strength of the dynasty. Today, Cairo is a busy city, a site of historical importance, with ancient buildings and museums but also contemporary architecture and film festivals.
 
As a given name, Cairo owes its sudden popularity to its choice by rapper Tyga for his son King Cairo's middle name. And Brazilian place kicker Cairo Santos helped popularize the name when he joined the Chicago Bears football team. Santos is named for his father, also Cairo.

Another influence propelling Cairo up the ladder: the popularity of the name Kai. And Cai could certainly be a nickname for Cairo.
 
Trending upwards in the UK and continuing to climb in the US, Cairo has also been joined in the charts by spelling variations, Kairo and Kyro, and is also given to nearly 50 girls each year. When you combine all these Cairos together, it was given to nearly 3000 babies in a recent year, making it feel like a name around the #120 mark, similar in popularity to Jasper, Emmett, or Milo.

Cairo

Thanks to its dashing Anglo-Irish image — due partly to Colins Firth and Farrell — and its C-initialed two-syllable sound, Colin and its cousin Collin have enjoyed a long run of popularity, reaching as high as Number 84 in 2004. 
 The usual pronunciation of Colin is COLL-in, but the alternate COLE-in version was publicized by General Colin Powell, the first U.S. African-American Secretary of State, who was named after World War II hero Colin Kelly.
 Literary cred: Colin Craven is a character in The Secret Garden, and Colin Creevey appears in the Harry Potter books.
 Both Kevin James and Kiss's Paul Stanley have young sons named Colin, while Tom Hanks has a grown one.

Colin

Ezekiel and Ezequiel have both featured in the US Top 1000 since the 1980s , though it has been since the 2010s that they've become favorites. Joining Biblical or international style choices such as Gabriel and Raphael, Ezekiel is in the Top 100, while this Spanish and Portuguese variation sits comfortably in the Top 400. 
 
Ezekiel is derived from the Hebrew name Yechezqel, composed of the elements chazaq, meaning "to strengthen," and ’el, referring to God. In the Old Testament, Ezekiel is an important prophet and the author of the Book of Ezekiel, predicting the fall of Jerusalem and eventual rehabilitation of Israel.
 
PopUlar in Brazil, Spain, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, Ezequiel was given to nearly 1000 babies in the US in 2023.

Ezequiel

Well used by Muslim parents across the world, Ibrahim is the Arabic variation of Abraham. Significant in multiple religions and with an international and well-travelled feel about it, Ibrahim has been in the US Top 1000 since the 1990s, and is currently popular in Azerbaijan, France, the UK, and Turkey.
 
A significant figure in The Quran, Ibrahim/Abraham fulfilled all the trials and commandments of God, and was therefore cared for throughout his life. He is viewed as a model of unwavering faith without becoming an idolater. 
 
Meaning "multitudes" or "father of man", Ibrahim is a powerful name that also feels very wearable. With sounds that are both zippy and serious, it is a versatile choice too.
 
Notable namesakes include soccer megastar Zlatan Ibrahimovic, peace activist, Ibrahim Abu el-Hawa; writer Laila Ibrahim; Ibrahim Abboud, the first president of Sudan and Kurdish writer, Ibrahim Ahmam, just to name a few.
 
Currently given to over 700 boys each year in the US, in 2022, Ibrahim also re-entered the UK Top 100.

Ibrahim

Converting Damian to Damien – or Julian to Julien or Lucian to Lucien – adds a certain je ne sais quoi to names. But most people in English speaking areas will still pronounce this the same as the -an ending form. The French pronunciation is more like "dah-mee-u(n)".

Damien

Hendrix is one of those hip rock and roll names, like Lennon, Jagger and Presley, that have been used by fellow celebs and others, to honor the seminal guitarist/singer/songwriter Jimi. And this one has the trendy 'x' ending, as well, helping to propel it up the charts and into the spotlight.

Hendrix

Having only entered the US Top 1000 in 2012, Briggs is yet another ends-in-s surname name for boys currently on the rise, along the lines of Brooks and Hayes.

Briggs

This spelling of Brice relates the name to Utah's spectacular Bryce Canyon -- and is much more popular for both genders than the original Brice. Basketball's LeBron James named his son Bryce Maximus James, and in one of his early movies, John Cusack played a Bryce in Sixteen Candles.

Bryce

A doubly Presidential name, via Pierce and Roosevelt, Franklin was given an initial boost via the fame of Benjamin Franklin. It also has a literary tie to the main character of the Wilkie Collins classic The Moonstone.
 Franklin was a Top 100 name at the peak of the FDR period. But will Franklin get a boost from the pro-Fran-name feeling evidenced since the ascension of Pope Francis? Time will tell.

Franklin

Both Christian and Cristian rank in the US Top 500 names for boys, and while the classic "Ch" spelling is used more than four times as often, Cristian is still given to more than 1000 boys each year, and is often used in the Hispanic community.
 
A popular choice in Italy, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Romania, and Uruguay, this spelling is notably borne by footballers Cristian Romero and Cristian Tello and by Mexican pop singer, Cristian Castro
 
In the US, Cristian may be viewed as a sleeker, more modern twist on the classic name, with a degree of separation between it and the name of the religion, which may appeal to some parents.

Cristian

Rugged and tough, Anderson shot up quite a bit on the pop list in the 2000's, no doubt in large part due to the prominence of white-haired cable newsman Anderson Coopers, more recently, it has featured in the US Top 400, given to 943 boys in the latest count.
 
A surname relative of Andrew, Anderson means "son of Anders", Anders being a Scandinavian form of the classic name. More literally, the name means "son of the masculine, manly one", though nicknames Andy and Sonny soften it a little. 
 
 Actress Edie Falco was ahead of the trends when she named her son Anderson in 2005, but now it fits in with the likes of Judson, Harrison, and Emerson. It may also hold appeal as a fresh way to honor an Andrew, Andreas, or Andre, though Sanderson and Anders itself could be rarer alternatives.

Anderson

While Eric - or Erik - may feel more 'classic' and familiar, Erick has ranked consistently in US Top 1000 since 1945. It rose up the charts during Eric's heyday in the 70s, but peaked in 2007 as Eric fell. The name has received less attention in recent years, but is nevertheless still given to 1100 boys.

Some parents may prefer the Erick spelling as a relative or an honor to a Frederick (or even to Rick or Richard). Plus it does lead more directly to short form Rick, and brings a little contemporary edge to Eric, in the spirit of Maverick. 

The Erick spelling is also favored by Spanish speakers, who pronounce it eh-REEK, and it has ranked highly in Brazil and Spain in previous years. In the US, Erick is less popular than Eric but more popular than the native Scandinavian Erik - though all three rank in the Top 500.

Erick

Andre is one of the international forms of Andrew that has been familiar in the English-speaking world for decades without any need to be overly Anglicized - though round the world, it is more likely to be written as André.

With its hint of flair, Andre has in fact been in the US Top 1000 names for boys for a century now, reaching the Top 200 in the 70s and 80s. Now, use of Andre has declined, but it is still in the Top 400 and given to more than 1060 babies each year.
 
Globally, Andre remains a popular choice in Brazil and Portugal, though it is also used in England, Mexico, Germany and France.

Andre

Following in the footsteps of popular brother Brady, Grady is another lively, ebullient Irish surname name. The O'Gradys (originally O Gradaugh) were an ancient clan that produced an impressive number of bishops.
 Perhaps the most remarkable O'Grady descendant is Muhammad Ali, whose mother's maiden name was Grady.
 Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Grady Sizemore was born Gradius.

Grady

Forrest is one of the earliest appealingly sylvan, outdoorsy choices, borne by newsman Sawyer, actor Whitaker, and football Hall of Famer Gregg. Forrest Gates was a character on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
 Forrest was steadily on the US popularity list until 2003, reaching a high of Number 175 in 1913, and then received a somewhat surprising blip after the release of "Forrest Gump." It started rebounding again in 2013, when it reentered the Top 1000 as one of the fastest-rising names on the list.
 Early Forrests were named in honor of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, head of a famous cavalry force, who advised 'Git there fuster with the mostest men.'

Forrest

Desmond is a sophisticated and debonair name, with noble ties to 1984 Nobel Peace Prize-winning Bishop Desmond Tutu, and with some great nicknames: Des/Dez, Desi/Dezi.
 Another notable Desmond is British zoologist and anthropologist Desmond Morris, author of The Naked Ape and other popular books.
 The character Desmond David Hume on Lost was named in tribute to philosopher David Hume, and the name also appears on Oz. Desmond Harrington plays Detective Joseph Quinn on Dexter. Desmond Miles is the protagonist in video game series Assassin's Creed.
 And we can't forget all the references to Desmond in the Beatles song "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"—possibly used in tribute to reggae singer Desmond Dekker.

Desmond

Clark seemed to have been Gone with the Wind, but parents looking for a short, strong boy's name are now beginning to appreciate its cool combination of Gable charm with Superman power. 
 Clark has been steadily on the popularity list—it was Number 176 in 1881 and well used in the 1940s and 50s, and is now on another upswing.
 Long-term Hollywood heartthrob Clark Gable was born William Clark—his middle name was the maiden name of his maternal grandmother.