Animal Names for Babies

Fierce meaning, gentle image. This name is very common in Israel, where an endearing pet form is Dubi.

A kestrel is a bird of prey. It has good potential as a strong girls' name, similar to Falcon for boys.

Baylor is a possible occupational alternative to the tired Taylor, especially for a horse lover.

The field of nature names is constantly expanding to include all species of flowers and trees and animals and birds and even fish. In addition to its appeal for anglers, Pike recalls Zebulon Pike, the explorer who discovered and gave his name to Pike's Peak.

Turkish boy name with an adorable meaning.

More common as a surname, Galvin is a possible alternative to Gavin and Calvin.

One of those slender names, like Lena or Etta, that's used in several cultures and carries a range of meanings. But by being so many things, it doesn't feel decidedly like anything.

Doe is a soft and gentle-eyed middle name possibility and, like Fawn, one of the few animal names open to girls.

Of all the astrological names —think Leo, Aries, Gemini— Scorpio probably has the most dramatically potent presence, which could prove something of a burden to a young boy.

An undiscovered surname possibility with upscale overtones, could be enlivened with nickname Ingo.

Conroy is one Con name that feels a bit dated, though perhaps it's so far out it's coming in? Worth consideration if you like Connor but feel it's too widely used.

The brightest star in Ursa Major, this is one of the major navigational stars used by ships.

Sounds like and is often confused with Asia, though it has an air of retro cool via the seminal Steely Dan album. Or, pronounced eye-ah, it can be an alternate spelling of the international favorite Aya.

The name of a small yellow bird that hasn't taken off in the way that some of its avian sisters – like Robin, Wren or Lark – have.

Several animal names, from Fox to Wolf and even to Tiger, ccan work, but Cougar should stay in its cage. Even John Mellencamp has dropped it.

This Latinate form of Bernard hovered in the lower regions of the US Top 1000 from the late 1940s until 2006, possibly inspired by the character in West Side Story. It remains popular in Portugal and it does have a little more flair than the grandpa style Bernard.

A modern version of the dated Betty. You might want to consider varying Elizabeth, too, to the Italian Elisabetta.

Fans of writer Paul Auster might consider this a worthy alternative to the trendy Austin.

Similar to the floral name Aster, this spelling derives separately from Old Provençal astur "hawk") and from the Icelandic name elements as ("god") and þor ("thunder").

While teasing about names is not as bad as it once was, the possibilities presented by this name would be difficult for any pubescent boy to resist.