Animal Names for Babies
- Ákos
Origin:
Hungarian from TurkishMeaning:
"white eagle"
- Meena
Origin:
HindiMeaning:
"blue semiprecious stone, bird"Description:
Interesting multi-cultural option.
- Voss
Origin:
GermanicMeaning:
"fox"Description:
Voss is a German name, that is seen in Norway and Australia (in the former it is associated with a region, in the latter it is associated with the protagonist of Patrick White's novel by the same name). Voss is an interesting alternative to Fox.
- Orel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"light of God"Description:
Unisex name in Israel, ideal for a Hanukkah baby.
- Merope
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"bee-eater bird"Description:
This obscure name from Greek mythology (Merope was one of the Pleiades) is better known from J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter series, as the name of Tom Riddle's ill-fated mother.
- Tarvo
Origin:
FinnishMeaning:
"wild aurochs; energy"Description:
Tarvo has two potential origin stories. The first is that it derives from the Old Finnish word tarvas, meaning "wild aurochs," a wild species of cattle that is now extinct. The second possible derivation is from the Estonian tarv, meaning "energy."
- Oriole
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"golden"Description:
A bird name from the same Latin root as Aurelia, Oriole is extremely rare as a name: No babies were given the name in the US in 2022. But most people are aware of the Oriole bird, which makes this name uncommon yet possible.
- Eachann
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"keeper of horses"Description:
Authentic Gaelic name with pronunciation problems in the US. In Scotland Eachann has been anglicized as Hector, not because of its sound, but because the Trojan hero Hector had the reputation as a mighty horseman.
- Aja
Origin:
Spelling variation of Aya or HindiMeaning:
"goat"Description:
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.
- Galvin
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"a sparrow"Description:
More common as a surname, Galvin is a possible alternative to Gavin and Calvin.
- Feeny
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"little raven"Description:
Feeny and its alternative spelling Feeney have several origins in Irish. They are anglicised forms of the surnames Ó Fiannaidhe (descendant of Fiannaidhe, meaning warrior), and Ó Fidhne (descendant of Fidhne, from the word for tree or wood). Feeny is also a place name in Northern Ireland, meaning "the woods. Although many Irish surnames are in style, like Keegan and Sullivan, this is one you've probably never met on a person before.
- Fisk
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"fisherman"Description:
Unusual alternative to Fisher with a brisker surname appeal.
- Inali
Origin:
CherokeeMeaning:
"black fox"Description:
One of a handful of Cherokee names meaning "black fox," along with Enoli and Inola.
- Branigan
Origin:
irishMeaning:
"little raven"Description:
Branigan, also spelled Branagan or Brannigan, is an Irish name full of energy and cheer. It was the title of a 1975 John Wayne movie, and Zapp Brannigan is the antihero of the animated sitcom "Futurama." Branigan fans might also want to consider such related Irish names as Brennan and Breccan, Rafferty and Finnegan.
- Blanchard
Origin:
French surnameMeaning:
"white deer"Description:
This name is usually seen as a surname, but could be used as a first in the tradition of Cooper, Sawyer etc.
- Buckley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"meadow of the deer"Description:
Mama's boy.
- Canary
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"small bird"Description:
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.
- Dasan
Origin:
Native AmericanMeaning:
"son of bird clan leader"Description:
Name from legend that might be an interesting Jason alternative.
- Garcia
Origin:
Spanish and PortugueseMeaning:
"bear"Description:
This evocative Spanish surname would make an unusual but lively choice for a girl.
- Deryn
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"bird"Description:
This 1950s Welsh bird name sounds less dated than our fifties Robin.