Names that mean animal carry a spark of the wild, from the quiet grace of a dove to the bold spirit of a wolf or bear. They let you hand your child a little of the natural world, whether you love the softness of a songbird or the strength of a lion.
This list gathers 135 animal-inspired names, sorted so you can skim right to what you need: 54 for girls, 62 for boys, and 19 gender-neutral picks that suit any little one. Each one nods to a creature by meaning, sound, or origin.
Scroll on to find the name that feels like your child’s, and check the FAQs at the end for the questions parents ask most.
54 Amazing Animal Names for Girls
Explore these beautiful animal-inspired names for your little girl.
- Alondra: A melodic Spanish girl name meaning “lark.”
- Alouette: A French name meaning “skylark” that offers gorgeous femininity.
- Arachne: A name from Greek mythology meaning “spider.”
- Ava: A pretty diminutive of “avis,” the Latin word for “bird,” serving as a great alternative to Eve or Eva.
- Bee: A breezy short form of Beatrice or Bridget that works just as well as a stand-alone animal name.
- Belinda: A feminine name meaning “beautiful” in Italian or “bright snake” in Germanic languages.
- Birdie: A sweet pet name derived directly from the English word for “bird.”
- Bunny: A cute, fluffy animal-inspired nickname that works well as a middle name.
- Cat: A fun animal name commonly heard as a short form for Catherine or Katya.
- Ceren: A graceful Turkish name meaning “gazelle.”
- Circe: A Greek girl name from mythology meaning “bird.”
- Darva: A pretty Slavic girl name with the sweet meaning of “honeybee.”
- Deborah: A Hebrew name meaning “bee,” carried by the prophetess and judge in the Bible, with friendly nicknames like Deb or Debbie.
- Deryn: A pretty Welsh girl name meaning “bird,” which is also spelled Aderyn.
- Dolphin: A rare yet fun name for a playful water baby.
- Dove: A pure and romantic bird name that serves as an international peace symbol.
- Echidna: The small, spiny anteater-like mammal makes a surprisingly pretty, feminine name.
- Eilir: A gorgeous name and symbol of change, this Welsh animal name means “butterfly.”
- Enara: A pretty Basque girl name inspired by the swallow bird.
- Fauna: The Roman goddess of nature and animals makes a fantastic name for a little wildlife lover.
- Fèngyīng: Pronounced “fung-yeeng,” this Chinese female name translates to “phoenix.”
- Filly: A young female horse that also works well as a cool nickname for someone from Philadelphia.
- Flutura: We adore this fluttery Albanian name meaning “butterfly.”
- Gallina: A pretty Spanish name for a plucky little hen.
- Hotaru: A radiant Japanese girl name meaning “firefly.”
- Iwalani: A unique choice among names that mean animal, this Hawaiian pick means “heavenly seagull.”
- Jemima: A sugary-sweet Hebrew girl name meaning “dove,” borne by one of Job’s daughters in the Bible.
- Kimana: A Native American girl name for a beautiful butterfly.
- Kimimela: An adorable Native American girl name meaning “butterfly.”
- Kitty: A short form of Katherine and a sweet name for a cute cat.
- Lagle: Meaning “goose,” this Estonian girl name sure is fun.
- Leona: Meaning “lioness,” this proud Latin girl name is the feminine form of Leon and the name of singer Leona Lewis.
- Mare: A horse-inspired option often heard as a nickname for longer names such as Meredith or Maria.
- Mariposa: Feminine and delicate, this Spanish girl name means “butterfly.”
- Mavis: A vintage-sounding girl name from the Old French “mauvis,” the word for the melodic song thrush.
- Melissa: A popular girl name as sweet as honey, meaning “bee” in Greek after the nymph said to have discovered honey.
- Neko: The Japanese word for “cat” makes a cute girl name to consider.
- Oonagh: A great Irish animal name choice meaning “lamb.”
- Paloma: Meaning “pigeon” or “dove,” this peaceful Latin-rooted name is famously worn by designer Paloma Picasso.
- Panda: A rare but cute bear-inspired name, also heard as an affectionate nickname for Pandora.
- Parvaneh: A romantic choice among animal names for babies meaning “butterfly” in Persian.
- Philippa: A British girl name meaning “friend of horses,” serving as a feminine variant of Philip.
- Piper: A cute musical surname and given name meaning “pipe player” and a type of wading bird.
- Porcia: Meaning “pig,” this Roman girl name is also commonly spelled Portia.
- Rachel: A timeless girl name from Hebrew meaning “ewe,” borne by one of the matriarchs in the Bible.
- Tabitha: A cute Aramaic name meaning “gazelle” or “gracious, beautiful.”
- Teter: A soft and delicate Armenian name meaning “butterfly.”
- Una: An elegant and modern-looking take on the Irish Oonagh meaning “lamb.”
- Ursula: A Latin-rooted girl name meaning “little bear,” from “ursa,” and tied to the legendary Saint Ursula.
- Vega: A powerful pick among animal names for girls, Vega means “swooping eagle” in Arabic.
- Yaelle: A romantic Hebrew name for girls meaning “ibex” or “mountain goat.”
- Yaen: With the unique meaning of “ostrich,” this rare Hebrew girl name is sure to stand out.
- Ylva: A great option if you love animal names of Viking origin, as Ylva means “she-wolf.”
- Zipporah: Meaning “bird” in Hebrew, this name belonged to the wife of Moses and carries a sense of flight and possibility.
62 Awesome Animal Names for Boys
Find a strong and adventurous animal name for your baby boy.
- Ant: A tiny but mighty insect name that often serves as a popular nickname for Anthony.
- Archippos: An ancient Greek boy name meaning “friend of horses.”
- Ari: A fantastic animal-inspired name meaning “lion” in Hebrew or “eagle” in Old Norse.
- Aries: From Roman mythology, this unique name, constellation, and zodiac sign means “ram.”
- Arthur: A medieval Celtic name often linked to the root “art,” meaning “bear,” and forever tied to the legendary King Arthur.
- Aslan: A Turkic name meaning “lion.”
- Atsadi: A fresh, watery name of Native American (Cherokee) origin meaning “fish.”
- Azio: A wise choice meaning “owl” in Italian.
- Babar: A Pashto and Persian name for boys meaning “tiger.”
- Bakr: A unique Muslim baby name meaning “young camel.”
- Bear: A fierce pick among animal-inspired names that seems cuddly on the inside.
- Billy: A common nickname for William meaning “resolute protector,” but a “billy” is also a male goat.
- Bjorn: A cool Scandinavian name meaning “bear,” worn by tennis great Bjorn Borg.
- Bradan: Meaning “salmon,” this Irish animal name may be ancient, but it sounds surprisingly modern.
- Brock: A friendly boy name meaning “badger” dating back to medieval England.
- Buck: A very masculine-sounding name inspired by the male deer.
- Colm: This strong, masculine Irish name holds the pure and delicate meaning of “dove.”
- Colt: Inspired by the name of a young male horse.
- Condor: A species of vulture and a badass-sounding given name and surname.
- Connor: A popular Irish male name meaning “lover of hounds,” great for a pup-loving baby.
- Corbin: Dark and mysterious, this English surname and given name means “crow.”
- Draco: A magical yet menacing Greek name meaning “dragon” or “serpent.”
- Drake: Great for R&B fans, meaning “dragon,” Drake is also the name of a male duck.
- Dustu: A Cherokee name meaning “spring frog,” great for a perky baby born in the springtime.
- Ezio: A spicy and modern-looking Greek name meaning “eagle.”
- Falcon: A badass regal name after the king of the birds.
- Felinus: A Latin male name meaning “cat-like,” cute for a feline-friendly family.
- Fox: A name with cunning connotations after the sly, red canine.
- Gallus: A cool Roman Latin name meaning “rooster.”
- Gosling: The word for baby geese makes a handsome surname and potential first name.
- Hahn: This German name meaning “rooster” would make an attractive male given name.
- Heron: A surname or cool first name after the elegant wading bird.
- Jistu: Another Cherokee animal name after the legendary trickster rabbit.
- Joey: A popular nickname for Joseph and the name for a baby kangaroo.
- Jonah: A handsome biblical Hebrew name meaning “dove,” carried by the prophet famously swallowed by a great fish.
- Jonas: A variant of Jonah, also with the bird-inspired meaning of “dove.”
- Karhu: A cool, woody Finnish name meaning “bear.”
- Kit: A short, cool nickname used for various baby animals, including squirrels, raccoons, and rabbits.
- Leo: A short, popular pick from Latin meaning “lion,” shared by saints, popes, and the summer zodiac sign.
- Leonard: A vintage Germanic name blending “lion” with “hardy,” for a child as brave as a lion.
- Lonán: A sweet Gaelic boy name meaning “blackbird.”
- Mayur: A charming Hindi name meaning “peacock,” great for a charming little lad.
- Nanuq: A chilly choice among animal names for boys meaning “polar bear” from Inuktitut.
- Oisín: A very popular Irish wildlife name meaning “little deer.”
- Ormr: From Old Norse, this slithery name means “snake” or “serpent.”
- Orson: A cool Latin name full of the animal spirit, with the cute meaning of “bear cub.”
- Oscar: A popular name traced to Old Irish roots meaning “deer lover” or “friend of deer.”
- Otso: A cuddly Finnish boy name meaning “bear.”
- Panther: A cool and slick choice among animal-inspired names.
- Philip: A Greek-rooted name meaning “friend of horses,” perfect for animal-loving parents.
- Poe: A Norse-rooted surname meaning “peacock” that could be a cool given name.
- Ronan: A handsome Gaelic male name with the sea-loving meaning of “little seal.”
- Rudolph: A German-rooted boy name meaning “famous, glorious wolf,” also associated with a festive reindeer.
- Simba: Popularized by Disney, this Swahili name means “lion.”
- Singh: A common Sikh surname and middle name meaning “lion” in Sanskrit.
- Tiger: A powerful pick among animal names for boys with fire and bite.
- Tipu: A sweet-sounding, safari-themed Indian male name meaning “tiger.”
- Todd: Soft and gentle like an animal protector, this English male name means “fox.”
- Wilbur: A strong, old-fashioned English name meaning “wild boar” or “resolute” in Old German.
- Wolf: An adventurous animal name for outdoorsy lads.
- Wolfgang: An earthy German name meaning “traveling wolf,” immortalized by composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
- Ze’ev: Sometimes spelled Zev, this hot Hebrew boy name means “wolf.”
19 Gender-Neutral Names Meaning Animal
These unisex animal names offer great options for any baby.
- Ariel: A strong biblical Hebrew name meaning “lion of God” seen often in popular culture.
- Chick: A chirpy pet name for your new baby chicken.
- Fiadh: A magical, fairytale-sounding Irish name meaning “deer” that has become one of Ireland’s most popular girls’ names.
- Gatti: Meaning “cat,” this Italian surname would make a fun given name for a curious kid.
- Griffin: A bold name after the mythical eagle-and-lion hybrid, also rooted in the Welsh name Gruffudd.
- Jay: Often heard as a nickname for “J” names, it is also a cute type of bird.
- Kamome: Meaning “seagull” in Japanese, Kamome is unique but majestic.
- Lark: A pretty and romantic bird-inspired name for a dreamy baby.
- Lenni: A sweet and friendly Finnish name meaning “brave lion.”
- Lynx: This big cat name sounds like it would make a highly stylish given name.
- Newt: This small amphibian name has been used for various characters in fantasy movies and pop culture.
- Peura: Great for a Christmas-born baby, this gender-neutral Finnish name means “reindeer.”
- Phoenix: A bold, gender-neutral name after the mythical bird reborn from its own ashes, climbing fast for modern babies.
- Raven: Dark and mysterious, we adore this ominous bird-inspired name.
- Ray: A gorgeous name for a new little sunbeam inspired by the type of fish.
- Robin: A sweet, gender-neutral name for the friendly red-breasted songbird, also linked to the legendary Robin Hood.
- Sable: An English and Slavic name referencing the small, forest-dwelling mammal known for its dark fur.
- Spider: A creepy-crawly animal name for the coolest kid on the block.
- Wren: A sweet, curious name after the tiny songbird, climbing in popularity for girls and boys alike.
Animal-Inspired Names FAQs
What Name Means Bear?
Names that mean bear include Arthur, Bjorn, Karhu, and Nanuq for boys, and Panda or Ursula for girls. They pull from Celtic, Norse, Finnish, Inuit, and Latin roots, giving each a strong, protective feel. Browse the complete set on our baby names that mean bear list.
What Are Some Unique Baby Animal Names?
Unique baby animal names borrow from the animal kingdom’s littlest members: Chick, Gosling, Colt, Joey, and Filly. Each names a baby animal directly, which makes them sweet, playful, and rarely used picks for a child.
What Baby Name Means Wolf?
Baby names that mean wolf include Ylva for girls and Ze’ev or Rudolph for boys, plus the bold, literal Wolf itself. Ylva is Old Norse for she-wolf, while Ze’ev is Hebrew for wolf, both strong, nature-inspired choices.
What Name Means Lion?
Names that mean lion include Leo, Ari, and Aslan for boys, and Leona, meaning “lioness,” for girls, while Ariel means “lion of God.” These fierce, courageous picks span Latin, Hebrew, and Turkish roots.
What Girl Name Means Bird?
Girl names that mean bird include Ava, Mavis, Deryn, Paloma, and Wren. Ava derives from a Latin word for “bird,” Paloma is Spanish for “dove,” and Wren and Mavis name specific songbirds, all elegant and light.
What Name Means Fox?
Names that mean fox include Todd, a classic English name meaning “fox,” and Fox itself, which works as a strong, modern first or middle name. Both suit parents drawn to the animal’s clever, spirited reputation.
What Baby Name Means Deer?
Baby names that mean deer include Fiadh, Oisín, Oscar, and Buck. Fiadh is Irish for “deer,” Oisín translates to “little deer,” Oscar means “friend of deer,” and Buck is a rugged option for a boy. All suit lovers of woodland creatures.
What Boy Name Means Eagle?
Boy names that mean eagle include Ari and Ezio. Ari translates to “eagle” in Old Norse, while Ezio is a modern-sounding Greek name carrying the same meaning. Both are strong, soaring choices for a baby boy.
What Name Means Butterfly?
Names that mean butterfly include Mariposa, Kimana, and Parvaneh. Mariposa is Spanish for “butterfly,” Kimana has Native American origins, and Parvaneh is a romantic Persian name for “butterfly.” Each carries themes of beauty and transformation.
What Name Means Cat?
Names that mean cat include Neko, Gatti, Kitty, and Cat. Neko is Japanese for “cat,” Gatti is an Italian surname meaning “cat,” and Kitty or Cat work as sweet, simple given names. All feel playful and fun.
