Animal Names for Babies

Alternative for the ultrapopular Jamal.

This name of famed philosopher, mathematician and Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell becomes slightly more plausible with the French pronunciation, bare-TRAHN. Another noted bearer is French director and screenwriter Bertrand Tavernier.

This Biblical bird name, a variant of Ephron, suddenly feels like it could be usable thanks to actor Zac Efron. However, in reality, few if any parents seem to be using it yet.

A Navajo nature name with a cool, fresh sound.

A quetzal is a beautiful, brightly-colored bird found in Mexico and Central America. It is the national bird of Guatemala, as well as the name of their currency.

The name of a breed of Spanish sheep is hardly worthy of a child.

Farasha is butterfly in Arabic, which means that to English-speakers, it feels more like a soft feminine name and less like a fluttery animal. Pretty without feeling flighty.

In Nahuatl — a language spoken by indigenous people of Southern Mexico and Central America – Ocelotl both means "jaguar", and also refers to Jaguar Warriors of the Ancient Aztect empire. The name "Ocelotl" also refers to a day in the Aztec calendar. This day is associated with brave warriors and is a good day for battle.

Unusual alternative to Fisher with a brisker surname appeal.

While there are many who would certainly be put off by the association with spiders, Cavatica has a spirited and spikey feel and sounds enough like Cassia, Catalina, and Callista that it leans "name-y". Cavatica appears in E.B White's popular novel, Charlotte's Web about a spider called Charlotte. A. Cavatica.

While there are many who would certainly be put off by the association with spiders, Cavatica has a spirited and spikey feel and sounds enough like Cassia, Catalina, and Callista that it leans "name-y". Cavatica appears in E.B White's popular novel, Charlotte's Web about a spider called Charlotte. A. Cavatica.

Cool bearlike option, though Orson might be easier to embrace.

Connolly, an alternate spelling of Connelly, could make a livelier and less common substitute for Connor.

May be the most modern, stylish Catherine nickname: more unusual than Kate or Cate, with an animal and word name edge. Cat Power is a trendy folksinger.

A surname style choice that could get you nicknames Bear and Ozzy, which is pretty cool. It comes from the Old English variant of the Old Norse Ásbjǫrn, which was introduced to England after the Norman conquest and used occasionally as a given name ever since. Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell used the spelling variation Osborne in her final novel, Wives and Daughters.

This ancient Viking-era name is a fresh alternative to Raven.

Not the most obvious animal for a nature name, but perhaps for fans of Mr Toad of Toad Hall in The Wind in the Willows.Some may find the pronunciation too close to "baggage" for comfort.

An evocative ancient word that's used as a first name in the New Testament, among other places. It's also the name of an eagle-shaped constellation.

An attractive North Carolina unisex place name, Raleigh's soft sound is particularly appropriate for a girl.

Konan is a spelling twist on the more familiar Irish Conan, given to a few dozen baby boys in the US last year. In the Irish language, there is no letter K but Irish names such as Ciaran and Caitlin are often "Anglicized" with K spellings as in Kieran and Katelyn, so Konan is not a stretch.