by Carolyn Robertson posted in Pregnancy

Animal-inspired baby names have been around for so long it's a little misleading to call them a trend. This is one theme that's here to stay.
Hollywood parents have eagerly embraced the craze, though their take on animal names can be surprisingly literal. Alicia Silverstone and Kate Winslet both have sons named Bear. Nicole Richie and Joel Madden are parents to son Sparrow. Busy Philipps has daughters Birdie and Cricket. Erykah Badu's youngest child is named Puma. Zooey Deschanel and Jacob Pechenik chose Elsie Otter for their daughter: "We both love otters," she explained. "They're very sweet, and they're also smart. They use tools ... they hold hands while they sleep, there's so many amazing things about otters." The list goes on and on.
It's easy to see the appeal. Not only do animal-inspired names give a nod to mother nature and the world around us, they embody the characteristics of each creature. Bears are strong; lions are brave; owls are wise; eagles are free. All the kinds of things that most parents would wish for their little ones.
Read this: 25 adventurous, outdoorsy baby names you?ll love
The good news is, you can capture the magic of animal-themed baby names without having to call your kid Leopard or Peacock for the rest of his life. Here are some wonderful names that are a little more subtle.

Orson... This Latin name meaning "bear cub" landed at #1,873 on BabyCenter's popularity ranking ...