Names for pets (male)

Teddy is in some ways one of those midcentury boys' nicknames -- like Jimmy or Bobby or Billy -- yet because it was never that popular, it feels timeless too. The preferred short form of Theodore these days may be Theo and of Edward may be....Edward, but Teddy can work adorably for either and grows up to Ted. And of course, let's not forget the inevitable teddy bear.

Botanical choice that can work for either gender. Simple and straightforward. Caveats: rue means "regret" in English, and "street" in French. Now in the Top 1000 in England and Wales for girls and trending upwards in the US, it is nevertheless still given to a handful of boys each year. It could equally work as a nickname for a Ruben, Rudy, or a Rupert.

Just the kind of casual, flippant nickname that upscale Brits are putting on their sons' birth certificates, but few U.S. parents are.

Many may associate Mario with the popular platform game - unsurprising when it's the 5th best-selling video game worldwide, and was voted the 2nd best game ever by IGN in 2024. The titular plumber was apparently named after American businessman, Mario Segale, who rented a warehouse to Nintendo, and this in itself reflects that Mario is much more established than just a name for a video game character.

For as long as we all shall live, Harry Potter's sneering nemesis.

Like Marvin and Melvin, Sheldon has been perceived as about as far out as you can get, though there are very pretty towns in Devon and Derbyshire that inspired it. Sheldon Lee Cooper is the lead nerd character on the TV hit The Big Bang Theory, giving the name a brainy image. Nickname Shel (as in Shel Silverstein, author of Where the Sidewalk Ends) could, in the modern world of nature name love, be seen as beach evoking.

Traditional African name made cartoonish by the Disney character in The Lion King. In Shona it means "strength".

Forever Lucy's.

In The Hunger Games series, Cinna is the influential costume designer for Katniss. In ancient Rome, one Cinna was the father-in-law of Julius Caesar and another was a conspirator against Caesar.

For 007 fans, a great middle name choice -- or even a first.

Rossi is a masculine name with Italian origins, primarily known as a surname meaning 'redhead' or 'red-haired.' As a first name, it carries the distinctive melodic quality characteristic of Italian names while remaining short and accessible. Rossi has gained some popularity as a given name in recent decades as parents seek names with cultural significance or family connections. The name's association with Italian heritage makes it particularly appealing to those with Italian ancestry or appreciation for Italian culture. It may also appeal to sports enthusiasts familiar with famous bearers of the Rossi surname. With its appealingly simple yet distinctive sound, Rossi bridges traditional heritage with contemporary style.

Giovanni is the Italian form of John, and Gio is its dashing nickname. A lot cooler than Johnny, no?