10 Names Inspired by Animals
by Ruth Fitzpatrick
There was a time when animal-inspired names were the reserve of hippies, celebrities and hippy celebrities only. But no more! Here are 10 of our favorite animal names, which won't look out of place on the class roll:
Bear With the very recent arrival of a particular One Direction cub, we predict this name is going to see a definite surge in popularity. Unlike other predatory animal names like Fox or Wolf, Bear sounds a lot less aggressive and a great deal more cuddly! Be careful about which middle names or surnames you combine with this, though: cuteness can quickly turn to a very heavy burden for your child to 'bear'!
Robyn Our favorite spelling of the many Robin-variants, Robyn is making somewhat of a comeback after a steep decline. Often associated with the winter months, this is a lovely name for a December or January baby. For boys, it's best to stick with the original spelling of 'Robin'.
Colt We definitely can't see this one becoming unisex any time soon! Lovers of football or old westerns may be particularly attracted to this name, or for people who simply appreciate the strength, power and grace of horses and want the son to be instilled with the same qualities.
Lark This one definitely keeps an element of hippy splendor ' especially when used as a boy's name ' but we love it. The name sounds happy, cheerful and full of joy, all wonderful aspirations for any child.
Leo Firmly placed in the top 100 boys' names, and we can see why! Meaning 'lion', Leo represents a ferocious animal while still managing to sound cute and cuddly. Lions have long been associated with royalty and bravery, and have been represented in artwork and culture for millennia. Leon and Leonard ' meaning 'brave lion' - are slightly less widespread variants on the classic, but we love Leo for its simplicity and sweetness. And we think Leonie and Leonora ' both meaning 'lioness' ' should definitely not be overlooked as potential names for your brave little girl!
Melissa Meaning 'honeybee', this name is just about as sweet as you can get! A name that always manages to look modern and fashionable, it has nevertheless been popular in America for more than 250 years. The first Melissa appears in Greek mythology as a beautiful nymph, making it a great choice for your gorgeous, graceful girl. Or for your busy-like-a-bee girl!
Ronan A popular boys name throughout Ireland and Britain, this Gaelic name has now broken into the US in a big way too. Meaning 'little seal' this could just be the name to give your future water-lover. Like lots of our other favorite Celtic names, Ronan is one found dotted through many ancient myths and legends. We love this added dimension of depth and meaning, and is certainly worth considering if you want to celebrate your links to the Emerald Isle.
Wren Another little song bird to make it onto the list! While still not as common in the US as Robin or even Lark, it's one which is consistently finding its way onto the name charts. This diminutive bird is associated with a rich folklore in Europe and is sometimes called 'the king of the birds', and is meant to bring good luck and fortune. In Ireland, people still celebrate 'Wren Day' on December 26, making this a particularly good choice for a winter baby.
Corbin From the Latin for 'crow', Corbin recently jumped into the top 250 for boys. Across the world and in many different cultures, crows have been associated with cunning, wisdom, knowledge and trickery. Sounds like a lot of little boys we know! Although Corbin could be used as a unique girls name too, it's probably better to stick with Raven.
Deryn Meaning 'blackbird' in Welsh, this is a new one for most Americans, but one which we predict is going to take off in a big way! Deryn is a Celtic name which is unlikely to present too many spelling or pronunciation difficulties stateside ' always a major plus. Even still, the name manages to preserve a sense of ancient mysticism and connectivity to nature that we absolutely love. A win-win on all counts!
