Hey berries!
I’m crushing on [name_m]Fox[/name_m] and [name_u]Raven[/name_u]… and it got me thinking… what animal names are actually both awesome and acceptable on a boy??
What are your favourites? What can’t you stand??
Or do you think animal names are just a huge no?? Why??
Let’s discuss!! 
Xx
I actually really am not a fan of [name_m]Fox[/name_m], so that would be in my “don’t like” category. I’d probably place [name_m]Buck[/name_m], [name_m]Bear[/name_m], [name_m]Wolf[/name_m], [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u], [name_m]Brock[/name_m], and [name_u]Robin[/name_u]. I’m not sure why I don’t like them so much. I guess, in some cases ([name_m]Fox[/name_m], [name_m]Bear[/name_m], [name_m]Wolf[/name_m]), they just aren’t very “nice” animals that I’d want to name my kid after? I picture these animals, while often beautiful, tearing apart other animals…and bleck.
There are very, very few animal names that I actually like. They are [name_u]Finch[/name_u], [name_f]Lark[/name_f], and [name_u]Wren[/name_u]. I know the last two can be considered unisex but I prefer them on boys. I think the sounds are pleasing and I really like birds…lol.
[name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] is one I’m torn on. On one hand, I think it is a bit much and might be hard to wear, but I do like the sound.
I like [name_u]Larkin[/name_u], [name_u]Raven[/name_u] and [name_u]Wren[/name_u] as names, and for some reason I really dislike [name_m]Bear[/name_m].
I can’t think of any that I really like for a boy’s first name…
I don’t hate [name_m]Drake[/name_m] or [name_m]Wolf[/name_m]
I like the sound of [name_u]Finch[/name_u], [name_m]Fox[/name_m], and [name_m]Bear[/name_m] but personally could only picture using as a middle name or nickname
I associate [name_u]Raven[/name_u] and [name_u]Robin[/name_u] more as girls names
I like [name_f]Lark[/name_f], [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] and [name_u]Wren[/name_u] for girls… but again realistically more as a middle name
I also think [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] is a sweet nickname… trying to use it for my daughter whose middle name is [name_f]Brigid[/name_f] but it’s not catching on LOL
I actually love animals names like that but
of course you could always find a name that has an animal meaning as opposed a word name like [name_u]Madigan[/name_u].
I do like [name_m]Fox[/name_m], but I think if I ever decided to use it, then it would be a middle.
I just personally would have a hard time using an animal name as a first name. I think partially because it might come across as more cute-sy and not really substantial. I think also as well there may be the potential for teasing. Or you might get the relative that then ONLY buys you fox related stuff and you could grow to resent that because your personality is more than that or whatever. So thats why I personally dont think I would ever use it as a first, but maybe as a middle.
However, as for other animal names that could work on boys. There is [name_m]Bear[/name_m], [name_m]Wolf[/name_m], [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f], [name_u]Robin[/name_u], [name_m]Hawk[/name_m], [name_m]Lynx[/name_m], [name_u]Jay[/name_u] (as in blue [name_u]Jay[/name_u])…
I’m not a fan of animal names in general. They fall into a nickname category for me (which i usually like a formal/long form name for too) or surname type names (I.e [name_m]Fox[/name_m]) which I also tend to dislike.
I agree with the previous poster re using names that have an animal meaning and using the nickname. I love [name_m]Bernard[/name_m], with nickname [name_m]Bear[/name_m], for instance.
I like names like [name_m]Bear[/name_m] or [name_m]Wolf[/name_m] for a boy, and [name_u]Wren[/name_u] for a girl, but I feel like it does limit the name a little bit, if that makes sense? In the same way that calling a girl [name_f]Mercy[/name_f] is kind of setting her up either to be the Most Merciful person ever or to be teased whenever she acts less-than-merciful, I feel like there are traits associated with animals that might be difficult to shake. Also I do think that individuals form their own natural affinities for certain animals: for myself, song birds, elephants, and whales. I identify with animals who display gentleness and care. And seeing the animals that my sons identify with is extremely interesting and satisfying, and totally an expression of their own personalities. 
That said, there are lots of subtle ways to bring in earthy, natural, even animalistic vibes to a name. [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] and [name_m]Bjorn[/name_m] are two favourites that, while they mean [name_m]Bear[/name_m], also carry their own impressions, history, culture, and possibilities for wear by varied individuals, simply because they are more subtle and have been removed from the animal kingdom by a degree.
Most of the time, I tend to prefer animal in the middle spot for boys, but they can often work as a first name too. I love [name_m]Fox[/name_m], [name_m]Wolf[/name_m], [name_u]Robin[/name_u], [name_u]Finch[/name_u], and [name_m]Colt[/name_m]. Most others, even gender neutral ones, I prefer on girls.
I like [name_m]Fox[/name_m]!
[name_u]Raven[/name_u] is cool for a girl, [name_u]Robin[/name_u] for either but I prefer a boy.
[name_u]Love[/name_u]/Like:
[name_u]Kit[/name_u]
[name_f]Mariposa[/name_f] (butterfly)
[name_f]Lark[/name_f] (boy)
[name_f]Cat[/name_f]/[name_f]Kat[/name_f]
[name_u]Falcon[/name_u]
[name_f]Sable[/name_f]
[name_u]Corbin[/name_u] (crow)
[name_f]Kitty[/name_f]
[name_f]Fawn[/name_f]
[name_m]Colt[/name_m]
Dislike:
[name_m]Tiger[/name_m]
[name_u]Wren[/name_u]
[name_m]Wolf[/name_m]/Wolfie
[name_f]Birdie[/name_f]
[name_f]Alouette[/name_f]
[name_m]Hawk[/name_m]
[name_m]Bear[/name_m]
Coyote
[name_f]Sparrow[/name_f]
[name_m]Newt[/name_m]
My favorites for boys:
Otter
[name_m]Fox[/name_m]
[name_u]Kit[/name_u]
Eider (duck)
Fennec (fox)
[name_f]Kodiak[/name_f] (bear)
[name_m]Peregrine[/name_m]
Koi
[name_m]Hawk[/name_m]
[name_u]Wren[/name_u]
[name_m]Lion[/name_m]
The only two I am likely to use would be Otter and [name_m]Fox[/name_m] but I would use them as nicknames for other names ([name_m]Otto[/name_m] and [name_m]Felix[/name_m]). Other examples are [name_u]Kit[/name_u] as a nickname for [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] and [name_m]Christian[/name_m], [name_m]Bear[/name_m] as a nickname for [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] (as in a [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] bear) or any name that starts with [name_m]Bear[/name_m] sounds i.e. [name_u]Barrett[/name_u], [name_m]Berenger[/name_m], [name_m]Berend[/name_m], Barold, etc., and [name_u]Wren[/name_u]/[name_u]Ren[/name_u] as a nickname for [name_m]Clarence[/name_m], [name_u]Lawrence[/name_u], [name_m]Terrence[/name_m], [name_m]Warren[/name_m], etc.
For boys I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_u]Finch[/name_u], [name_m]Fox[/name_m], [name_u]Robin[/name_u], [name_m]Bear[/name_m], [name_m]Wolf[/name_m]/[name_m]Wolfe[/name_m], [name_u]Raven[/name_u] and [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f]. For girls I love [name_f]Robyn[/name_f]/[name_u]Robin[/name_u], [name_u]Raven[/name_u], [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] and [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f].
Absolutely [name_m]Fox[/name_m], [name_m]Wolf[/name_m], [name_m]Dov[/name_m] (“bear” in Hebrew), [name_m]Bear[/name_m], Fennec, [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m], [name_u]Robin[/name_u], [name_u]Jay[/name_u], [name_u]Finch[/name_u], [name_f]Lark[/name_f]/[name_u]Larkin[/name_u], [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u], [name_m]Drake[/name_m], Aderyn (“bird” in Welsh), Kestrel, and [name_u]Teal[/name_u].
I never got [name_m]Bear[/name_m] or [name_m]Fox[/name_m]. They are both completely animal to me, not names. However I adore [name_m]Wolf[/name_m] (as a middle name). They are my all time favorite animal, they are so magestic and smart and fascinating to watch. Also wolf has history as a short form of [name_m]Wolfgang[/name_m] (think [name_m]Mozart[/name_m]!) I also like [name_u]Wren[/name_u] as a middle name.
I really like [name_u]Robin[/name_u], [name_m]Hawk[/name_m] and Coyote. Coyote has been growing on me lately because of Coyote [name_m]Peterson[/name_m] (he’s a youtuber that makes me think of [name_m]Steve[/name_m] [name_m]Irwin[/name_m]), and I’ve always thought [name_m]Hawk[/name_m] was an awesome name.
It looks like just about all of them have been listed!
I personally love [name_m]Fox[/name_m], [name_u]Finch[/name_u], [name_u]Wren[/name_u], [name_u]Robin [/name_u] and [name_f]Lark[/name_f] (I also like the longer Meadowlark). I like [name_f]Fawn[/name_f] and [name_u]Kit[/name_u], and [name_m]Bear[/name_m] isn’t bad but I like it better as a middle.
I really dislike [name_m]Wolf[/name_m] for some reason. I think it actually has more to do with experiences with people who like/have used this name more than the name itself though. I dislike [name_m]Newt[/name_m] and [name_m]Colt[/name_m] for similar reasons.
I agree with this. I believe that animal word names can be perfectly usable if you truly feel that they are best for your child, but on the whole I prefer subtler nods to the animal kingdom.
One issue with animal names is that they strongly point to the double-standard in our views towards animals; why is [name_m]Wolf[/name_m] so cool when Dog is unthinkable, and [name_m]Bear[/name_m] adorable but Boar out of the question? It’s clear that we gravitate towards the names of animals which are generally considered elegant and powerful (foxes, wolves…), or gentle and appealing (birds, most notably), but I personally think that no animals are more equal than others (;)).
As for names with animal meanings, I love:
[name_m]Bernard[/name_m]
[name_m]Everard[/name_m]
[name_m]Arnold[/name_m]
Wolfram
Leonide
[name_m]Leonard[/name_m]
[name_m]Brock[/name_m]
[name_m]Conan[/name_m]
@[name_f]Alyssa[/name_f]
I can see where you’re coming from with names like [name_m]Fox[/name_m] and [name_m]Bear[/name_m]. I find them quiet magical, but I get that the predatory nature might turn some off.
I love all those bird names too. So charming. I agree on [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f]. It’s sweet… but they are considered pests here, so I don’t know that it has the nicest connotations…
@renee seance
I hadn’t thought of [name_u]Larkin[/name_u], although I’m familiar with [name_f]Lark[/name_f]. I’m not feeling it… I think it makes me think of larrikin…
@mbak
Hmm, I was wondering if [name_u]Raven[/name_u] was more of a girls name… but then I guess animal words aren’t a specific gender, so I don’t know how strictly gendered the terms are. I mostly think of animal names as unisex.
@thenameprincess
[name_u]True[/name_u]. Name’s that reference animals are always an option!
@mrs_anton
I have thought about the substantial side of things too. I do agree that most animal names are quite short. I think I am preferring animal names as middle names for that reason.
I hadn’t considered teasing… or the family jokes… but sadly, that’s a valid point.
@tenderfoot garden
That’s true! I hadn’t thought of that. It would be amusing if a child’s spirit aligned with an animal that was vastly different to the one they were named after!
@chelsann22
I find myself struggling to get on board with [name_m]Colt[/name_m]. I don’t know why. I adore horses, but this word just seems harsh to me.
@lyssxrjq
Loooove [name_f]Sable[/name_f]!! [name_m]How[/name_m] gorgeous! Although is it an animal name really?? It’s a colour…
Personally, I think [name_f]Alouette[/name_f] is precious, but I love long flouncy names.
I agree on [name_m]Newt[/name_m]… so awful!
@shanade213
Otter is very cute! I love your collection of animal NNs for traditional names. Gorgeous!
@lee_augusta
Aderyn is magic! [name_u]Love[/name_u]!
I also love [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u], but I prefer it for a girl.
@kipperbo1
I agree - wolves are incredible creatures!
@oneofthetrio
I’ve never considered Coyote… I think the multiple syllables annoys me, and feels clunky. It’s an odd word in English. But that’s just me.