Animal Names for Babies

Striking Italian surname associated with luxury fashion house Roberto Cavalli.

Cavalli

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.

Cavatica

Ceren is an excellent cross-cultural Turkish choice, bearing resemblance to names like Serena and Seren. In Turkey, it refers to a baby gazelle and was most common among Gen Z. At its height, Ceren ranked at Number 15 on the Turkish charts in 2006.

Ceren

Lovely, international, tea-scented possibility undiscovered by baby names.
 
Ceylon may ultimately be derived from the Sanskrit siṃhala, meaning "island of lions" or "abundance of lions."

Ceylon

Cheever has a nice, cheery sound, literary ties to novelist and short writer John Cheever and also, sideways, to the Edward Arlington Robinson narrative poem "Miniver Cheevy," as well as a subliminal association with the desirable word achiever: all strong pluses.

Cheever

Colombe is a delicate French feminine name meaning 'dove,' symbolizing peace, purity, and gentleness. Derived from the Latin 'columba,' this name has been used in France since medieval times, often associated with Christian symbolism as the dove represents the Holy Spirit. Saint Columba was a notable 6th-century Irish missionary. The name gained particular significance in France after World War II when the dove became an important peace symbol. Though never extremely common, Colombe carries an elegant, refined quality that appeals to those with French heritage or an appreciation for French culture. The name remains a timeless choice that balances traditional roots with a distinctive, melodic sound that's recognizable yet rarely encountered.

Colombe

Grandmas will remember the old TV detective show; playmates won't.  This is a name that has many variations in different cultures, from Columbus to Columba to Colum to Colm.

Columbo

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

Connolly

Corvina sounds quite similar to a car model, although it has a gorgeous meaning and could be an interesting dramatic full name for the nickname Cora.

Corvina

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.

Cougar

This elegant surname has great potential to turn into an unusual first name, especially with its literary associations to both Stephen and Hart Crane.
 Crane is a surname that originated for a tall man with long, thin legs. It can now be seen as one of the newly stylish bird names, like Wren and Lark, and could fit in well with future classmates Zane, Kane, Dane, Lane, Rain--and Jane.

Crane

Csongor

In the currently popular solid, serious, two-syllable mold. 

Culver

Obscure, though legitimate, name that could be used to honor a relative named Barton or Martin. 

Darton

Once associated with the first bride on "Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire", Darva is a Slavic name with a strong sound and sweet meaning.

Darva

An interesting unisex possibility, with an air of mystery connected to the Delphic Oracle, the most important oracle in ancient Greece; it was also a major site for the worship of the god Apollo.
 
While the ancient city of Delphi likely derived from Greek delphys meaning "womb", as a name. Delphi could also link to the Greek delphínion meaning "dolphin", and therefore to the flower genus, delphinium, giving it two separate nature connections.
 
Also used as a short form for Delphine and Delphia, the name appears in the stage play, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child and is borne by Lady Delphi Primrose, a Scottish model and influencer.

Delphi

Derby might be considered a word name or a surname-name. In England, it would be pronounced darby, causing confusion with that similar name.

Derby

This 1950s Welsh bird name sounds less dated than our fifties Robin. 

Deryn

Destry rides again, this time as a Western flavored baby name. Derived from the French surname Destrier, from an Anglo-Norman word meaning "warhorse", this rugged name was popularized by the 1930 novel Destry Rides Again by Max Brand, subsequently adapted for the big screen. 

 It has only ranked in the US Top 1000 once, in 1964 at #637, after a popular TV series based on the novel was aired that year. It was given to fewer than 10 baby boys in the latest year on record.

 Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw named their daughter Destry in 1996.

Destry

These wild dogs eat babies, they do not inspire baby names. 

Dingo

Animal names for babies include the obvious, such as Robin or Fox, and names with secret animal meanings, such as Paloma (which means dove) or Arthur (bear).

Animal names have become wildly fashionable for babies

, especially in their blatant form. Bear, Fox, Hawk, and Wolf are all bounding up the charts for boys, while 

 Wren, Birdie, and Lark are reaching new heights for girls.

Animal names are a subset of the ever-widening world of 

. While many traditional names carry animal meanings -- the Old Testament Rachel means ewe, for instance, while the royal Philip means horse lover -- the newest and arguably 

 are unique choices such as Wolf, Birdie, and Bear.

 contains both those that announce themselves clearly and those whose animal meanings are more hidden. This range of animal baby names would be perfect for your wild child.

Animal Names for Babies - boy names and girl names with animal meanings, including Wolf, Bear, and Wren (Page 18)