Animals & Their Famous Namesakes

01 of 11

BEYONCE

Currently gunning for the title of world’s smallest dog, Beyonce was the last of five puppies born to a rescue pup at The Grace Foundation of Northern California. Her beat-the-odds story resulted in her being named after the “Survivor” .

02 of 11

PRINCE WILLIAM

It’s a boy! Born at the London Zoo just days before the royal wedding, a baby Humboldt penguin was temporarily named Egg until its gender could be determined. Since then, the bird has been christened William, in honor of the .

03 of 11

KE$HA

Courtesy Kesha. Inset: Jen Lowery/Splash News Online

The pop star was rewarded for her work rehabilitating big cats at South Africa’s Ukutula Lion Park & Lodge by having a lion cub named in her honor. “[It] was one of the most amazing experiences of my life,” she said. “Being with animals re-energizes me, and this trip just reminded me how important it is for me to do everything in my power to help protect them.”

04 of 11

KYLIE MINOGUE

Wonder if she plays with Ke$ha! The Aussie songstress has a lion cub of her own at the Ukutula Lion Park & Lodge in South Africa. “Thank u Willi & Gillian at Ukutula.com for the honour of naming this little 2 day old lion cub after me,” Minogue Tweeted in June.

05 of 11

LEBRON JAMES

Thanks to popular fan vote, a male jaguar born at the Akron Zoo in March 2009 was given the moniker LeBron, in tribute to the city’s famous son and basketball superstar. Just like James, the jaguar eventually left Ohio for Florida, where he was placed in Melbourne’s Brevard Zoo to mate with its female.

06 of 11

BETTY WHITE

In honor of one of its longtime patrons, the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association dubbed a baby orangutan born in February Elka, after White’s Hot in Cleveland alter ego. “How appropriate that the most beautiful baby orangutan ever is named for my Hot in Cleveland character Elka Ostrovsky,” White said.

07 of 11

PRINCE HARRY

Tim Rooke/Rex Features/Rex USA ; Matthew Tabaccos/Barcroft Media /Landov

The faces serious cuteness competition from this South African pygmy hippo born in late March. The animal was named after Harry because “he shows true grit and is passionate about Africa,” said Rob Hall, the reserve manager at Cango Wildlife Ranch.

08 of 11

BOB BARKER

When he helped reopen California’s Pacific Marine Mammal Center in June 2011, Barker also scored a meet-and-greet with a rescued sea lion bearing his name. “I must confess, the most exciting thing is Barker,” he said of the launch experience. “I was astounded at the family resemblance.”

09 of 11

ANDERSON COOPER

Michael Tran/Filmmagic; Courtesy Katy Resnick

The CNN host shares a moniker with fan Katy Resnick’s feathered friend, Anders”hen” Cooper, whose trials, tribulations and travels are documented on Resnick’s Twitter feed.

10 of 11

JACK HANNA

Frederick M. Brown/Getty; Columbus Zoo and Aquarium/AP

When the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium welcomed a new python to its repertoire in December 2010, it chose a name that pays tribute to its most famous zookeeper, Hanna. After being preselected by the zoo, the name also scored the support of Facebook users, who voted it their No. 1 choice, and Hanna himself, who said having a namesake choked him up.

11 of 11

JACK BLACK

The Kung Fu Panda star christened a 3-month-old panda cub Po (the name of his animated alter ego) at Georgia’s Zoo Atlanta in February 2011. But while he wanted to get up close and personal with the little guy, Black was thwarted by a veterinarian. “I wanted to hold it in my arms, but the vet was like, ‘Be careful, this is a real bear, and they have real claws,’” the actor said. “ ‘They don’t like to be touched.’”