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Each animal on this planet has an inspirational quality that we wish to possess, whether speed, beauty, intelligence, or strength. One way to acquire such traits is by selecting animal-inspired baby names for babies. Choosing such names not only pushes them towards attaining the exceptional abilities of the particular animal, but it also serves as a basis to nurture the fauna and nature lover in them. To help your baby attain this perspective on the world, here are a few baby names inspired by animals.
Key Pointers
- Animal-inspired baby names encourage children to adopt qualities like intelligence and bravery.
- These names are unconventional and a great way to make your child stand out.
- Leo, Ralph, Marshall, and Ariel are some animal-inspired names that have existed for centuries.
Animal Inspired Names For Boys
1. Bear
Whether you like grizzly, polar, black, or sun, Bear would make an adorable name for your son. This name has lumbered into the baby name world, perhaps being inspired by Bear Grylls, the British adventurer.
2. Buck
Buck, as in the male antlered animal would make a strong name for your boy. In the 18th century, this name was used to describe a fashionable and well-dressed man.
3. Hawk
Here’s another potentially great name for your son. But Hawk is usually heard as a surname, as represented by Tony Hawk, the skateboarder. You can opt for its variation Hawke too!
4. Drake
Many people know this name via the famous R&B artist, but before Drake was a term used by male ducks. Drake currently ranks #399.
5. Fox
This one is fun and unconventional, though not entirely unheard of. It was popularized via Fox Mulder, David Duchovny’s character in “The X-Files”.
6. Fawn
Fawn, the name of the young deer, would make a super cute name for your daughter. It limped at the bottom of the top 1000 in the 1960s and 1970, but it’s on the roll again.
7. Finch
The name of the lovely bird would work for both boy and girl. It has literary ties as well. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Finch was the surname of Atticus, Jem, and Scout.
8. Colt
Colt, inspired by the baby horse, would make a cute baby boy name. This macho name has risen over 600 places in a decade.
9. Wolf
If we were to pick our favorite, we would choose Wolf for sure. This name is used widely in the German and Jewish families as a diminutive for Wolfgang.
10. Lynx
Lynx is the name of the medium-sized wild cat. This fierce animal name is favored widely because of its strong x ending. Lynx is also the name of a character in a video game.
11. Channing
Channing is a sophisticated English surname, ranking solidly in the top 1000 list. It gained popularity via its association with model-turned-actor Channing Tatum, who was voted as the sexiest man alive in the year 2012.
12. Raoul
Raoul is an attractive French boy name that means ‘wolf counsel.’ This three-vowel name just rolls off the tongue in a very appealing way. Raoul Dufy, the French painter, would be the worthiest namesake.
13. Leo
Leo as the name suggests is a lion boy name. It was a highly popular baby boy name among the Romans and has been used for more than ten popes until now. This moniker is on an international roll right too!
14. Pike
This robust and straightforward name of a type of fish would be ideal for no-nonsense parents. This moniker also recalls Zebulon Pike, the discoverer, and explorer.
15. Rosamund
Rosamund, the ancient name, meaning ‘horse protection’ has several notable bearers, including actress Rosamund Pike. Despite its female association, Rosamund is used more for boys than girls.
16. Rowel
This upstanding name, meaning ‘young wolf’ brings to mind the patrician families of 19th century England. Its namesake is noted reporter Lowell Thomas.
17. Ralph
The name Ralph has been around for over a thousand years and was one of the top 30 names from 1870 to 1920. This boy’s name means ‘wolf counsel.’
Trivia18. Auberon
Auberon, meaning ‘bearlike’ has a gentle feel to it, which is quite rare in a boy name. It’s surprising that this handsome name had just give takers last year.
19. Corbin
Corbin is a Latin name, meaning ‘crow.’ It’s also the name of a castle where the Holy Grail is supposed to be hidden.
20. Hector
The Scottish name Hector, meaning ‘horse’ has reached new levels of popularity over the past few years.
21. Marshall
Marshall, or ‘the one who looks after horses’ could also make a pick for your son. It’s currently at #319 spot.
22. Otter
Until now, Otter was the name of Tim Matheson’s character in “Animal House’. But Zooey Deschanel went out of the way and named her baby after the animal Elsie Otter.
23. Lionel
This name is on the rise throughout the Western world. And we love it for its association with the footballer Lionel Messi.
24. Orson
Orson is a distinctive baby name, meaning ‘bear cub.’ Orson Bean, the comic actor, is its most famous bearer.
25. Madigan
This one is for dog lovers. Madigan is an Irish name, meaning ‘little dog.’
Animal Inspired Names For Girls
26. Sable
Sable is the name of an animal from the marten family. This moniker says luxury and refinement to us. It’s also associated with a soap opera from the “Dynasty” days.
27. Lark
This moniker is getting some well-deserved attention now as a baby girl name after being obscure for over a century. This animal-inspired name means “something done for fun”.
28. Anemone
We are referring to the cute, pokey sea creature here. We think Anemone would make a cute name for your little girl. Its literal meaning is ‘daughter of the wind’.
29. Puma
If you’re seeking an ultra-cool name for your daughter, go with Puma. It was recently chosen by singer Erykah Badu for her daughter.
30. Yara
Yara, the sleek and distinctive name of the butterfly, is loved by the Hispanic community. It is fashionable in South America and Spain as well.
31. Raven
The bird with black plumage has a name that would sound great on a black-haired girl. It may not be as prominent as it was in its heyday, but it’s still popular with African-American parents.
Trivia32. Kitty
The adorable moniker Kitty has a vintage ring to it, which makes it oh-so-appealing. After being out of favor for years, Kitty is sounding cuddly and cute again. It made a comeback in the U.K. list at #199.
33. Tora
Tora, the Japanese name for Tiger, is used more for girls than boys. It stands apart from other ‘ora’ names like Flora and Nora via its association with the Jewish Holy Book Torah.
34. Cat
Cat is the chicest and stylish Catherine nickname for girls. It’s uncommon that Cate and the animal association give this name a certain edge.
35. Birdie
This is the cutest of the lot. With the 50s vibe to it, Birdie would make a fun throwback for a baby girl. Busy Philips named her daughter Birdie, and so did Maura West.
36. Ursula
This saint’s name with a literary background means ‘little female bear.’ Surprised? Don’t be! It has also featured in a number of literary works, including Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Two Gentlemen of Verona”.
37. Panda
Whether you believe it or not, but even Panda saw a brief usage as girls’ name in the 1960s. Kimya Dawson, the Indie musician, named her daughter Panda.
38. Beverly
Beverly meaning ‘beaver’ is a relatively uncommon name with just five girls receiving this name in the year 2014.
39. Deborah
Deborah, the English name, meaning ‘bee’ was the fourth most popular baby girl name in the 1950s. Debby would make the best nickname for Deborah.
40. Paloma
Baby-names meaning ‘dove’ carry a peaceful symbolism. And out of all the dove names, Paloma is our favorite. It’s become one of the top 1000 names for two decades.
41. Vanessa
This ultra-feminine name is associated with a species of butterfly. This moniker was invented by Jonathan Swift for his novel.
42. Poe
Poe is a literary name, meaning ‘peacock.’ This name was used for just five baby girls last year, which makes it a unique pick for your daughter.
43. Adolfa
Adolfa is a German girl name meaning ‘noble wolf.’ Luise Adolpha Le Beau, the German composer of classical music, is its famous bearer.
44. Arachne
Arachne is the name of a young woman who was turned into a spider in Greek mythology.
45. Ariel
The Biblical name Ariel, meaning ‘lion of God,’ enjoyed popularity in 1989 following the release of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.”
46. Faline
Faline is a Latin name meaning ‘catlike.’ It’s the name of the sweet doe Bambi fell in love with.
47. Mesilande
Mesilande, a French name, meaning ‘animal strength’ would make a mellifluous name for your daughter.
48. Kimana
Kimana is a Native American name, meaning ‘butterfly.’ Besides, it’s also the name of a resort in Mount Kilimanjaro. Kimana also comes with the option of the exotic nickname Kim.
49. Leona
Leona, meaning ‘lioness’ reach an all-time high #72 in the year 1921. Since then, Leona is sparsely used. Currently, it’s at the #683 spot.
50. Deryn
Deryn is a Welsh name, meaning ‘blackbird.’ Deryn Lake, the English historical novelist, is its most famous bearer.
Discover More Names
When you have to choose a name for your baby, a few hundreds of names may not be just enough. Keep digging our mine of baby names until you find that one precious gem.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are some animal-inspired baby names related to insects?
The name Bella is derived from the name ‘bella moth’ or the ‘rattlebox moth.’ Tyria is taken from ‘Tyria jacobaeae,’ also known as the ‘cinnabar moth.’
2. What are some animal-inspired baby names related to mythical creatures?
Griffin is a half-eagle, half-man creature believed to exist in ancient Egypt. Daphne is the name of a nymph who was chased by the Sun God, Apollo, in Greek mythology. Callisto is the name of a nymph that could transform into a bear and later a constellation.
3. What are some animal-inspired baby names related to water animals?
The Greek name Delphine means ‘dolphin.’ The Hindi boy’s name, Anyang, means ‘crocodile.’ The Sanskrit name, Meena, refers to ‘fish.’
4. What are some unisex names inspired by animals?
You have several unisex animal-inspired names to choose from. For example, Billee means ‘cat,’ while Buqu means ‘deer.’ Another option is Chichiton, which means ‘little dog’ or ‘puppy.’ You might also like Diera, meaning ‘deer,’ Popoki, which means ‘cat,’ or Qimmiq, meaning ‘dog.’
5. What are some tips for choosing the right animal-inspired name?
When choosing an animal-inspired name, consider its meaning, the qualities associated with the animal, and any cultural significance it might have.
Animal-inspired baby names can showcase your love for animals and nature. Further, they can inspire your child to be compassionate to animals and protect them. Animal-inspired baby names are also uncommon and will give your child a unique way to introduce themself when they are older. Traditionally, names inspired by lions or foxes are considered suitable for baby boys, while those of birds or butterflies are more suitable for baby girls. However, you can choose to ignore this stereotype and focus on giving your child a meaningful name. You may also choose animal names from various origins depending on your interest.
Infographic: Animal-Inspired Names For Boys And Girls
Majestic, beautiful, and cute animals can be your inspiration to give your baby a unique and captivating name. You may have heard of some of these names with fascinating meanings, while others can make your little one stand out with pride. So dive into this infographic to explore the names. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Illustration: Amazing Animal Inspired Baby Names For Girls And Boys
Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team
Watch this video to discover unique animal-inspired baby names! Let’s explore some creative and unique names for your little one.
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