DO YOU HAVE AN ANIMAL NAME?

Certain given names have animal meanings, though sometimes we cannot be completely certain of their derivations.  We give below a few of these names:

     Name                                               Meaning

     Arthur                                              ? bear (Celtic)

     Bjorn                                                bear (Norse)

     Caleb                                                dog (Hebrew)

     Deborah                                           bee (Hebrew)

     Dorcas                                             gazelle (Greek)

     Jemima                                            dove (Hebrew)

     Leo                                                  lion (Latin)

     Leon                                                lion (Greek)

     Melissa                                            bee (Greek)

     Orson                                               bear-cub (Norman French)

     Ossian                                              fawn (Celtic)

     Penelope                                          ? duck (Greek)

     Portia                                               ? piggish (Latin)

     Rachel                                             ewe (Hebrew)

     Rebecca                                          cow (Hebrew)

     Tabitha                                            gazelle (Aramaic)
     Ursula                                              little bear (Latin)

     Zipporah                                          bird (Hebrew)

In 2012, 96 boys in the United States were given the name of Fox, but this ws probably taken from the surname.  However, ten more were given the spelling Foxx.

From Greek mythology, 29 boys were given the name Ladon, the name of the serpent that guarded the Golden Apples of the Hesperides, while at least one was given the name Triton, a divinity who was half man and half dolphin.