Where the Wild Things Are

Here's a trend for you all: babies with animal names. I don't mean just Tiger (though the birth name of Tiger Woods was Elias Tont Woods), or even Puma (like the daughter of Erykah Badu, who also has a son named Seven). If you're going to give your child an animal-inspired name, it seems to me that big cats would be the way to go; Tiger or Puma give an immediate mental image of strength and power.

But what about other animal families--like birds? Oriole, for instance, is the name of the daughter of '60s songster Donovan Leitch. Orioles are lovely birds, to be sure, but it's certainly an interesting choice for a baby's name. Melanie B., formerly known as Scary Spice, has a daughter named Phoenix Chi. Then there's Dove, a good choice if you're looking for a "peaceful" name. On the other end of the spectrum, there are Falcon and Hawk. And finally (though this is a stretch), there's always Robin and all its variants.

In the end, then, if you're looking at a nature-inspired name for your baby, it seems safe to stay within the confines of large cats or birds. But if anyone knows of a child named, say, Elephant or Llama, please do let me know!