40 animal-inspired baby names and their meanings

Bear

Whether you’re going for cute and cuddly or strong and wild, Bear is an animal name that will suit any family.

Ava

With Latin origins meaning “birdlike” and “lively”, Ava is a sweet and unexpected animal name.

Bambi 

With Italian origins that mean “baby” or “child”, it’s the Disney connection that makes this a sweet deer name.

Bee

This adorable three letter name means “she who brings happiness” but also has a cute buzzy connotation too!

Birdie

This sweet vintage name has English and Swedish origins meaning, you guessed it … “bird”.

Brock

With English origins, this cute animal name means “badger”.

Bunny

This sweet old-lady name is often used as a nickname for names including Barbara and Bernice but its animal inspiration is obvious!

Cat

Often used as the short form of Catherine or Katrina, Cat is a purrrrfect example of an animal-inspired baby name.

Colt

Giddy-up, this strong sounding name is also the name for a young horse.

Dane

This unisex name typically describes someone from Denmark; it’s also a breed of dog.

Davina

The Hebrew origins of this animal name mean “little deer”.

Dove

This avian name is often associated with peace, which is a beautiful thing to bestow upon your sweet babe.

Drake

Meaning “male duck” or from the Old English name Draca or the Old Norse Draki meaning “dragon”, this rockstar name is an animal name too!

Fawn

This sweet animal name means “a young deer”.

Fia

Coming from the Irish name Fiadh, Fia means “wild deer”.

Finch

This sweet avian name means “songbird”.

Fox

Your little one bright eyed and bushy tailed? This might be the perfect animal-inspired them for them!

Griffin

This unisex name comes from the half eagle, half lion mythological creature.

Jaguar 

Looking for an original name? This feisty animal-inspired name might be for you.

Joey

Give a little nod to your Aussie roots with this cute Kangaroo-inspired name.

Kitty

Often used as the short form of Katherine or Katrina, Kitty is a purrrrfect example of an animal-inspired baby name.

Koko

This cute Japanese name has origins meaning “stork”.

Leo

Stemming from the Latin word for lion, this sweet name is all animal!

Lynx

This gender-neutral has Latin origins that means “wild cat”.

Marlin

A great name for water lovers, Marlin is the name of a fish and also means “land near the lake”.

Neko

A purrrrfect Japanese name that means “cat”.

Oisin

From the Irish os, “deer”, Oisin means “small deer”.

Phoenix

Derived from the mythological bird from Greek mythology that has become a symbol of renewal, regeneration and immortality.

Pipi

The name Pipi is girl’s name of Norse origin meaning “lover of horses”.

Raoul

Raoul has French origins meaning “wolf-counsel”.

Raven

A nature-inspired strong unisex name which, in any language, is derived from the glossy black-haired, crow-like bird.

Robin

Rockin’ Robin. This bright avian name comes from the red-breasted bird of the same name.

Sable

Sable is named for the adorable solitary mammal found in Russia and revered for its silky fur.

Sarika

Derived from a Sanskrit word, Sarika relates to the myna bird, which is known for its ability to mimic.

Shepherd

Meaning “sheep herder” this animal name is often shortened to Shep.

Sparrow

Another sweet avian name that evokes feelings of freedom and whimsy.

Starling

Known as a gregarious bird, Starling makes a great name for a sweet babe.

Tiger

As the name suggests, it means “powerful cat” and works as a gender-neutral name.

Wolf

This strong animal name is full of power and comes from the animal of the same name.

Wren

Alongside Sparrow and Hawk, Wren is proving that the cute avian name trend is one that is sticking around.