Animal Names for Babies

An animal related name, associated with strength, Fahadah is the feminine form of Fahad, derived from the Arabic fahd which can refer to a variety of big cats. It may indicate someone who owns or trains panthers, leopards, or cheetahs, or the animals themselves. Fahada is an alternative spelling, while Fahda is a related form.

Fahadah

A surname-style choice, Tench is derived from the Old French word tenche, which is the name for a type of freshwater carp. It likely originated as nickname, perhaps for someone who was a keen angler or who made their living catching tench. Rarely used as a given name, perhaps because of the possible rhymes, it could make an unusual middle name option to honor someone who enjoys fishing or who's into naval and military history, as a reference to Tench-class submarines.

Tench

An (understandably) rare word name, Kite nevertheless has the sounds of two favorites — Kai and Kit. The word kite possibly derives from Proto-Indo-European roots and means "screech", however, it is better known as the name of a bird of prey and a toy designed to be flown in the wind. It might also be used to describe a fraudulent bill, cheque, or receipt.
 
Kite has been given to a number of fictional characters including Missouri Kite "Kite" from Natasha Pulley's novel The Kingdoms, the main character from the .hack franchise, and to a character in the anime and manga series Hunter x Hunter — also called Kaito in Japanese.

Kite

Associated with a 16th century Gunpowder Plotter and a phoenix in the Harry Potter series, Fawkes, also spelled Vaulx, Vaux, and Faulks, comes from the Norman name Faulques, which in turn came from a Germanic nickname meaning "falcon". Theoretically, it could fit into the "last names as first names" trend, and with the rise of boy names ending in -s, such as Brooks and Banks, however, many might link it too closely with Guy Fawkes and in English-speaking countries it might sound too much like a piece of cutlery (or a swearword, perhaps).

Fawkes

A rare nature name and an interesting way to familiar nicknames like Libby, Lula, Lulu, and Bel, Libelula (or Libélula) comes from the Spanish word for "dragonfly". The name itself comes from the Latin word for "level" and "balanced" (libella and liberatum), in reference to the horizontal wings of the insect. 
 
Only very occasionally given as a name, it has nevertheless been used across South America.

Libelula

An Albanian word name with spiky yet playful sounds, Bilbil ultimately derives from the Arabic bulbul, meaning "nightingale". It is used as a masculine name in Albania, however in the Philippines, it is used as slang for love handles.

Bilbil

A cute-sounding name from Iceland with an equally cute animal meaning: "bliki" is the Icelandic word for "drake", a male duck.

Bliki

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

A name with evocative imagery, Mrignayani combines the Sanskrit elements mriga meaning "deer" with nayani meaning "eyes" to create a name which can be inteperated as "one with eyes like a deer" or "one with eyes as beautiful as a deer or gazelle".
 
Within Hindu tradition, deer are associated with nature's interconnectedness and appear in the Hindu epic, the Ramayana, adding extra significance to the name.
 
Also appearing as Mrignaini, the name has featured in a 2023 song by singer Karun and in the name of a government-owned fashion store in India which sells traditional crafts and clothes. Historically, it was borne by the wife of the 15th century ruler of Gwalior (a major city in the central province of India), for whom he built the Gujari Mahal, a fortress now turned museum.

Mrignayani

An intriguing and rare name with a familiar sound, Artleus has been used by the Romani people as both a Latinized form of Arthur, and as a masculine form of Saint Arthelais, the patron saint of the exiled, the sick, and for kidnap victims. It could appeal to those who want an unusual form of the classic, or those who enjoy Atlas, Atticus, and Artemis. 

Artelus

Derived from the Gaulish and old Celtic word artos meaning "bear", Artula shares its roots with the classic boy name Arthur. Some sources also suggest it could be linked, or even part of the inspiration behind the Latin name Ursula, which has the same meaning, but from the Latin Ursa. 
 
The name has also been recorded among in Romani communities, possibly deriving from the same Gaulish root, however, it might also be inspired by by the Saint name Arthelais and by the Latinized form of Arthur, Artelus.
 
A rare name, Artula could appeal to those who want to honor an Arthur, who like boyish nicknames for girls (Artie, Tully), and those who like Artemis and Aria, but also Tallulah and Lola.

Artula

While English speakers might think of the fermented milk drink (kefir) and Arabic speakers might be reminded of kafir (meaning "infidel"), Kfir is a Hebrew name with a leonine meaning. Sometimes appearing as Kfeer, it is a familiar choice in Israel. 

Kfir

This Old English name feels as if it could have stepped out of a fantasy novel, but it may be just similar enough to Everett and Elliot that it could work in the real world. Derived from the elements elfitu meaning "swan" and either ēa meaning "stream, river" or ēg meaning "island", it is a nature related option name, given to an area in the city of Durham in England.
 
Another possible origin is from the medieval Welsh poem, Y Gododdin, about a hero king who fights and dies at the Battle of Catraeth in the 7th century. Known as Madog Elfed or Madawc Elvet, it is suggested that readers are meant to interpret Madog as King of Elvet, Elvet possibly referring to a place in Wales, the aforementioned Durham area, or to Elmet, an old independent kingdom in what is now Yorkshire. In this case, Elvet or Elfed could be a poetic Welsh word for "autumn", though this is speculation rather than certain.

Elvet

Also transcribed as Kreios or Crius, Krios is an animal related name that could work well for an Aries baby (though they are not etymologically related), or perhaps for those who want an alternative to Kris or Kassius. 
 In Greek mythology, Crius was a Titan and the god of constellations, though this is debated. The extended form, Kriasos, means "he who saves rams".

Krios

Derived from the Greek moschos meaning "calf, young bull", this unusual name could work particularly well for a Taurus baby. Borne by an Ancient Greek tragic poet and by a 1st Century physician, it's not to be confused with Italian Moschino, meaning "fly".

Moschion

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 28)