105+ Cute & Unique Animal Names (with Meanings)

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Plus, tips for choosing the perfect baby name!

Co-authored by Novalee Wilder and Bailey Cho

Last Updated: October 16, 2025 Fact Checked

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• For Girls
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• For Boys
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• Gender-Neutral
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• Choosing a Baby Name

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Looking for an animal-inspired name for your baby? We’ve got you covered! In this article, we’ve compiled the ultimate list of animal names for babies, whether you want options for boys, for girls, or something gender-neutral. We’ve also included the meanings behind each name, as well as tips for choosing the perfect baby name.

Animal-Inspired Baby Names

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Section 1 of 4:

Animal Names for Girls

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1. 
   Choose a cute and elegant animal name for your baby girl. From the classic cat to the graceful fawn, there are so many animals that symbolize positive qualities you may want in a daughter. Here are some of the prettiest options and what they mean:

   • Ari - Hebrew for “lion of God.”
   • Arva - Latin for “from the seashore.”
   • Ava - German or Latin for “birdlike.”
   • Ayala - Hebrew for “deer” or “gazelle.”
   • Birdie - German for “bright,” “famous,” or “bird.”
   • Brena - Old Norse and Celtic for “little raven.”
   • Brenda - Irish for “prince” or “little raven.”
   • Bunny - American for “little rabbit.”
   • Butterfly - Reference to the insect.
   • Calandra - Greek or “singing bird.”
   • Cat - Greek for “pure.”
   • Chenoa - Native American for “dove.”
   • Danuta - Hebrew for “God is judge.”
   • Delphine - French or Greek for “dolphin.”
   • Deborah - Hebrew for “bee.”
   • Dorcas - Greek for “gazelle.”
   • Dove - English for “bird” or “peace.”
   • Dyani - Native American for “deer.”
   • Everly - English for “wild boar in woodland clearing.”
   • Fauna - English for “young deer.”
   • Fawn - French for “young deer.”
   • Gazelle - Latin for “graceful deer.”
   • Hinda - Hebrew for “doe” or “female deer.”
   • Jemima - Hebrew for “dove.”
   • Jena - Arabic for “small bird.”
   • Kiara - Aboriginal Australian or Korean for “cockatoo” or “light.”
   • Kitty - English for “pure.”
   • Lark - British for “lighthearted songbird.”
   • Leandra - Greek for “lion man.”
   • Leona - Latin for “lioness.”
   • Loni - Greek or Latin for “lioness.”
   • Melissa - Greek for “honeybee.”
   • Merlyn - Welsh for “sea fortress.”
   • Mink - English for “cloud.”
   • Orpah - Hebrew for “fawn.”
   • Orsa - Italian for “little female bear.”
   • Paloma - Mexican for “dove.”
   • Penelope - Greek for “weaver.”
   • Roo - Short for “kangaroo.”
   • Rosalind - German for “gentle horse.”
   • Rosamond - German for “horse protection.”
   • Tabitha - Hebrew for “gazelle.”
   • Teal - American for “blue-green waterfowl.”
   • Una - Latin and Irish for “lamb.”
   • Ursula - Latin for “little she-bear.”
   • Zera - Hebrew for “seeds” or “beginnings.”
   • Zippora - Hebrew for “bird.”
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Section 2 of 4:

Animal Names for Boys

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1. 
   Select a cool and creative animal name for your baby boy. There are tons of fierce and edgy boy names inspired by animals, including Aries, Colt, Hawk, or Wolf. Here are some of our favorite options and their meanings:

   • Adelard - German for “old eagles.”
   • Adler - German for “eagle.”
   • Adolphus - German for “noble” or “majestic wolf.”
   • Andor - Greek for “thundering eagle.”
   • Aries - Latin for “a ram.”
   • Arno - Germanic for “eagle-wolf.”
   • Arthur - Celtic for “bear.”
   • Bear - Named after the animal.
   • Beckett - English for “bee hive.”
   • Bertram - German for “bright raven.”
   • Bram - English for “raven.”
   • Buck - Old English for “deer.”
   • Bull - Reference to the male cow.
   • Castor - Greek for “beaver.”
   • Chip - Short for “chipmunk.”
   • Colin - Gaelic and Old French for “cub.”
   • Colt - British for “young male deer.”
   • Conall - Irish for “strong wolf.”
   • Conan - Irish for “wolf.”
   • Corbett - English for “raven.”
   • Dolf - English for “raven.”
   • Drake - Middle English for “male duck,” or Old Norse for “dragon.”
   • Eeachan - Irish for “horseman.”
   • Hawk - English for “like the bird.”
   • Heron - Refers to the wading bird.
   • Jay - English for “to rejoice.”
   • Jonah - Hebrew for “dove.”
   • Leo - Latin for “lion” or “lion-hearted.”
   • Lev - Hebrew or Russian for “lion.”
   • Lobo - Spanish for “wolf.”
   • Lynx - Latin for “wild cat.”
   • Renard - French for “fox.”
   • Roebuck - Anglo-Saxon and British name for “roe deer.”
   • Roswald - German for “horse mighty.”
   • Rudi - German for “famous wolf.”
   • Orson - French and Latin for “bear cub.”
   • Oscar - English and Irish for “deer-lover.”
   • Seal - Refers to the sea animal.
   • Tiger - American for “powerful cat.”
   • Tod - English and Scottish for “clever or wily person.”
   • Ushi - Chinese for “the ox.”
   • Wolf - German for “a man of courage and cunning.”

Section 3 of 4:

Gender-Neutral Animal Names for Babies

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1. 
   Pick a gender-neutral name to let your child express their personal identity. Many gender-neutral names sound modern yet timeless, allowing your child to express their identity freely, without being confined to traditional gender norms. Here are some great animal-inspired options:

   • Ariel - Hebrew for “lion of god.”
   • Arden - English for “valley of the eagle.”
   • Callum - Latin for “dove.”
   • Deryn - Greek for “bird.”
   • Einan - Hebrew for “little bird.”
   • Ewe - English for “sheep.”
   • Finch - English for “songbird.”
   • Fox - Irish for “son of the fox.”
   • Lark - British for “a playful, lighthearted songbird.”
   • Merle - French for “blackbird.”
   • Raven - English for “dark-haired or wise.”
   • Robin - English for “famed,” “bright,” or “shining.”
   • Roe - Old English for “small deer.”
   • Sable - Slavic for “black.”
   • Sparrow - English for “small bird in the finch family.”
   • Ursel - Latin for “little bear.”
   • Wren - British for “small brown songbird.”
   • Yara - Arabic and Brazilian for “small butterfly.”
   • Yona - Hebrew for “dove.”
   • Zvi - Hebrew for “deer.”
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Section 4 of 4:

How to Choose the Perfect Name

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1. Choose a name with a special meaning that flows well with your surname. When naming your child, consider factors like family heritage, underlying meanings, preferred style, how easy it is to say and spell, and how popular you want it to be. Most parents look for something unique and timeless, but it’s totally up to you. Just make sure you and your partner agree on the choice, check that the initials don’t spell anything awkward or inappropriate, and try to choose a name that will age beautifully so your child will love it forever!

   • If you need help, ask your loved ones for suggestions or use our baby name generator.
   • You can check out the Social Security Administration’s annual list of the most popular baby names to see what names are trending.
   • Inserted in numerology or astrology? Professional numerologist and writer Novalee Wilder recommends “seeing a numerologist or astrologer” for guidance on choosing your child’s name.

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