All the Best Baby Names That Mean Bear

Names that mean bear range from the mainstream to the completely unexpected. 

Odds are that this list includes a name or three that you might consider – whether or not a name with ursine origins matters to you.

Fuzzy Wuzzy didn’t make the cut, and neither did Yogi. (Though fans of Yogi Berra – who got his nickname from a teammate – might argue that one works.)

Just Bear is on the list. After all, Wren and Colt rank in the US Top 1000. So does Bear, thanks to a string of celebrity birth announcements, as well as public figures from Bear Bryant to Bear Grylls answering to the (nick)name.

Plenty of other bear baby names keep things more subtle. They read current or classic, edgy or antique. But they’re all united by ties to that sometimes fierce, sometimes cuddly creature.

Read on for the bear baby names that you might consider for a child.

ARDAL

A rare name with Old Irish roots, the second element means valor. The first probably means high, but could be yet one more name related to artos and art, meaning bear.

ARTAI

Found in northern Spain today, Galicia offers an intriguing history. Instead of Spanish, the language and culture claims Celtic roots. The Artabri tribe were one of several Celtic peoples who lived in the region as far back as the Roman Empire. Galician mythology makes Artai the older son of Brigo, and the founder of the Artabri tribe. Once again, Artai could come from the word artos, meaning bear. For an old school name, it fits nicely with modern favorites ending with -ai.

ARTEMAS, ARTEMIS and ARTEMISIA

Artemis is the ancient Greek goddess of the hunt. The masculine Artemas and feminine Artemisia are both names related to the mythological figure. The meaning and origin of her name proves elusive, but it’s possible it ties to arctos, meaning bear. After all, she’s the goddess of the hunt. Bears were particularly significant to the goddess, and worshippers sometimes dressed as bears in rituals at her shrines. Worth noting: Artemis might come from a phrase meaning “bear sanctuary.” 

ARTHUR

Ever regal, lately Arthur feels fashionable and vintage, too. It was surprising when Selma Blair chose it for her son way back in 2011, not long after Courteney Cox’s character mentioned it as a favorite on Cougar Town. It’s slowly, but steadily, climbed the popularity charts ever since.

BEAR

Legendary football coach Bear Bryant – born Paul William – might inspire some parents. Alicia Silverstone named her son Bear Blu, Jamie Oliver opted for Buddy Bear Maurice, and Kate Winslet’s Bear followed in 2013. Parents also likely think of outdoorsman and television host Bear Grylls – born Edward Michael Grylls.

BEARETT, BARRETT

Surname Barrett has become a popular given name in recent years, along with Everett and Emmett and other -T ending picks. Just like Bennett shortens naturally to Ben, the sound is there for Barrett to become Bear. There’s no etymological connection between bears and Barrett, but the sound is undeniable. And yes, the spelling Bearett is gaining in use. 

BERENGER

Another surname name, Berenger – pronounced with a soft G – comes from medieval name Berengar. Together, the elements mean bear spear. It’s a little bit feisty, but sophisticated and smooth, too. 

BERNARD and BERNADETTE

The Germanic bern means bear. Plenty of saints answer to this name, and lately Bernadette seems to be on the verge of a comeback. But is classic Bernard ready for revival? Maybe … after all, Arthur seemed stuck in the attic just a few years ago.

BENNO

Benno sounds like a cousin to Biblical Benjamin, but that’s not quite right. Instead, Benno comes from the same family as Bernard. If Milo and Leo (another animal kingdom favorite) are white hot, wouldn’t Benno fit right in?

BERLIN

The city’s name may – or may not – come from the German word for bear. But since a bear appears in the city’s coat of arms, and the Goldener Bär – the Golden Bear – is bestowed during the Berlin International Film Festival, it’s safe to say that Berlin fits with bear names for boys. And possibly girls, too, since Jeremy Renner’s daughter is Ava Berlin.

BJORN

A Scandi classic, Björn means bear. It’s also spelled Bjørn, depending on whether you’re in Norway or Sweden (Denmark too). Among the most famous bearers of the name is Swedish tennis champ Björn Borg, who racked up eleven Grand Slam titles in the late 1970s and early 80s before retiring at the age of 26. The name briefly appeared in the US Top 1000 boy names during Borg’s heyday. Now it’s back, possibly thanks to Bjorn Ironside, from the History Channel’s historical drama Vikings. Worth noting: the Danish spell it Bjørn. It’s familiar elsewhere in northern Europe, with some variations. Both Björn and Bjorn are used in the Netherlands, but the Dutch seem to prefer just Bjorn.

CALLISTO, CALISTA

Look up in the night sky for Ursa Major – the bear – and her cub, Ursa Minor. The constellations are named for the tale of Callisto. A nymph seduced by Zeus, she was turned into a bear by a wrathful goddess. (Who and exactly why vary.) To spare her life from hunters, Zeus placed her and her son into the night sky as stars. It’s a bear-adjacent baby name. Calista is a more familiar form of the name.

DOV

Dove is the bird of peace, but Dov is the Hebrew word for bear. Other Hebrew animal names, like Zev – wolf, have also seen some use. Parents love that letter v, and short names for boys, like Jax, are having a moment. Dov could fit right in.

EDEN

The Garden of Eden in the Book of Genesis has a different origin and meaning. But the Old English Eadhun belongs with names that mean bear. It comes from ead – wealth, just like Edward – and hun – bear cub. Eadhun served as the bishop of Winchester Cathedral during the 9th century. Doubtless there are a few others, too. 

ESPEN

It looks an awful lot like ESPN, the sports channel. But Espen has its roots in Scandinavian languages. The original looks more like Asbjorn. It sounds a lot like Aspen, too. But this name means, roughly, “bear of God.” So that’s quite powerful, and rather nicely on trend – even if it takes some repeating and spelling in the US.

GARCIA

It sounds like a Spanish-language surname, and that’s half true. It comes from the medieval personal name Garsea. In turn, Garsea comes from a Basque word, hartz meaning bear.

HUMBERT

Just like Robert and Gilbert, the -bert ending means bright. Hum is one more hum/hun element referring to bears. Humbert seems like a bit of a non-starter circa 2025, but it fits on this list of names that mean bear.

HUMPHREY

Most sites indicate that Humphrey means “peaceful warrior,” and that’s accurate. But the first syllable of the name can mean warrior, strength, or bear/bear strength – all of which seem almost interchangeable. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources lists bear cub as the origin of the first syllable. Even without that detail, Humphrey would still make this list. In the 1950s, the Walt Disney Studios created a series of shorts about Humphrey the Bear. He continues to cameo in Disney productions to this day. Other bears bear the name, including Humphrey B. Bear, a long-running children’s television series – and beloved cultural figure – in Australia. 

KARHU

Just like the English word name bear is sometimes heard, in Finland parents are choosing Karhu, their word for bear – at least in tiny numbers.

KOALA

Okay, a koala is a sweet-looking, eucalyptus-eating marsupial native to Australia. It comes from an aboriginal word for the country’s unofficial national symbol. While it’s not in use as a given name in the English-speaking world, Koala fits in nicely with bear-inspired choices. 

KODIAK

Kodiak is both an Alaska place name and a type of brown bear native to the region. The name comes from a Russian pronunciation of a native word for island.

MCMAHON, MACMAHON

There’s an old Celtic root, matus, that means bear. It’s why Math is sometimes listed as a Gaelic given name. Or not – it gets complicated, because it can also come from a figure of speech that refers to a bear. While these surnames are not typically used for first names, they could work. 

MISHA

If you know your Russian diminutives, you’ll associate Misha with Mikhail – Michael. But turns out that Misha has, for ages, been used as a Russian equivalent of bear, too. That’s because the word for bear – medved – sounds similar. The animals loom large in Russian folklore – and they’re quite populous in the country, too. The popular mascot of the 1980 Moscow Olympics was a cuddly bear named Misha, cementing the connection beyond Russia.

OBERON, AUBERON

In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare named his fairy king Oberon. It comes from Auberon, which is typically said to mean “elf king.” But some suggest the second syllable is from bern – bear, and the first from adal – noble. That would make Oberon the noble bear. It’s a stretch, but it’s enough to make this list. 

ORSON

Orson Scott Card and Orson Welles kept this name familiar during the 20th century. It started out as a surname, derived from the French ors, ultimately from the Latin ursus. It saw sparing but steady use in the late nineteenth century, but we’ve overlooked Orson for years.

OTSO

A Top 50 favorite in Finland for at least a decade, Otso means bear – just like Karhu. Though this is an old school word for bear, one that you wouldn’t necessarily hear in conversation. Fun fact: Otava is the Finnish name for Ursa Major. The Germanic Otto is popular in much of Scandinavia, too, but it lags behind Otso in Finland. 

PANDA

Like Koala, Panda is definitely more bear than name. But it has been used in small numbers in the US, at least for girls, during the 20th century.

TORBEN

An Old Norse name, Torben means something like thunder bear. No really – Thor means thunder, a name we all know thanks to Norse myth and/or the Avengers. The second half is bear. Torben is the form used in Danish; Swedes prefer Torbjörn. 

URSULA

If you hear Ursula and think sea witch, then that just means you know your Disney blockbusters. But Ursula comes from the Latin word ursa, referring to a female bear – as in the constellation, Ursa Major. During the first half of the 20th century, Ursula was a go-to name in Germany; it was slightly more common in the US during the same era, but it’s always been rare.

NAMES OF FAMOUS BEARS

ALOYSIUS

In Brideshead Revisited, Aloysius was the beloved bear of Sebastian. An obscure form of Louis, this name was used in steady numbers through the early twentieth century.

BARNEY

An animated bear from a 1930s and 40s series, sleepy Barney looked everywhere for a good spot to nap. Today parents might think of Barney Rubble, the big purple dinosaur, or How I Met Your Mother, which makes this less of a fit for a bear baby names list.

BEN

A children’s novel turned television series, Gentle Ben was the story of an Alaska boy who befriends a bear named Ben. 

BRUNO

A logical name for a brown bear. One real life example? The bear who played Ben in the television adaptation during the 1960s. Brown University also has a mascot called Bruno, but they no longer keep a live bear on campus. 

ERNEST

An animated bear in a series of children’s books, Ernest is a gentle soul who prefers to entertain others rather than pursuing a career in law. His friendship with the mouse Celestine is at the heart of his adventures.

FREDDY

As in Freddy Fazbear from Five Nights at Freddy’s. Possibly not the most cuddly inspiration for a child’s name, but Frederick feels like it’s ready for revival and nickname Freddy is sweet.

KENAI

From Disney movie Brother Bear.

KODA

Another name inspired by Disney movie Brother Bear. 

RUPERT

A British comic strip staple, Rupert also appears in books and television. He inspired the name of Stewie’s teddy bear on Family Guy. In the US, the association isn’t well known. Rupert Grint, the actor who played Ron in the Harry Potter franchise, might be the most familiar reference for American parents.

TEDDY

This name could be short for Edward, but is most often associated with Theodore – a classic name currently ranked in the US Top Ten. Teddy makes this list of bear names thanks to former President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. When Roosevelt declined to shoot a defenseless bear cub, it prompted a political cartoon. A sharp-eyed toymaker spotted the cartoon, crafted a bear – and the rest is history.

THEODORE

If Teddy qualifies thanks to Theodore Roosevelt, surely Theodore belongs on this list, too.

WINNIE

As in the iconic Winnie-the-Pooh, the creation of AA Milne based loosely on a very real bear. 

In a nutshell, Milne often took his son Christopher Robin to the London Zoo to visit a female black bear called Winnie. Christopher loved the bear so much that his father bought him a stuffed bear, who was named for the real one. 

As for the original Winnie? Her full name was Winnipeg, and she traveled to London with a Canadian veternarian named Harry Colebourn, who bought the young, orphaned bear and sailed with her across the ocean when he came to volunteer to fight in the first World War.

While Winnipeg is probably a non-starter for a child’s name, lots of longer choices shorten to Winnie. 

Would you consider any of these names that mean bear?

This post was originally published on January 27, 2012. It was substantially revised on August 26, 2016; July 22, 2020; and September 11, 2025.