Bear baby names 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, Fox and Wren make the most popular lists. But, despite a series of celebrity birth announcements, Bear remains beyond the current Top 1000. And, with figures from Bear Bryant to Bear Grylls answering to the name, it feels more mainstream that some animal options.
Still, plenty of bear baby names fly under the radar. We’d call them 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 son.
NAMES THAT MEAN BEAR
ARTHUR
Ever regal, lately Arthur feels fashionable and vintage, too. Selma Blair chose it for her son 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.
BERNARD
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 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. Or possibly girls, since Jeremy Renner’s daughter is Ava Berlin.
BJORN
A Scandinavian classic, Björn means bear. It’s also spelled Bjørn, depending on whether you’re in Norway or Sweden. Among the most famous bearers of the name is Swedish tennis champ Bjorn Borg, who racked up eleven Grand Slam titles before retiring at the age of 26. The name briefly appeared in the US Top 1000 during Borg’s heyday. Now it’s back, possibly thanks to Bjorn Ironside, from the History Channel’s historical drama Vikings.
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. We love that letter v, and short names for boys, like Jax, are having a moment. Dov could fit right in.
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.
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 – 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 might still make this list. In the 1950s, the Walt Disney studio 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.
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.
ORSON
Orson Scott Card and Orson Welles make this name familiar. 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.
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 will almost certainly 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.
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 young actor who played Ron in the Harry Potter franchise, might make this name feel more wearable.
TEDDY
This name could be short for Edward, but is most often associated with Theodore – a classic name rising rapidly today. 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.
HOW ‘BOUT BEAR?
BARRETT
Maybe it’s a stretch to call Barrett a Bear name. But the sound is almost, kinda-sorta there.
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.
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. 37 boys received the name in 2018 – a new high, but still very rare.
Would you consider any of these bear baby names for a son?
This post was originally published on January 27, 2012. It was substantially revised on August 26, 2016 and again on July 22, 2020.
I have friend who are major fans of Baylor University sports (mascot: bear). When they were pregnant with their son, they called him “baby bruin”. I thought it was the actual name they’d chosen for him, and it seemed perfect! Alas, it was only their fetus nickname, but I still think Bruin makes a fine bear name.
My favorites are Arthur, Rupert, Aloysius, Orson, and Theodore “Teddy” … though I also love another commenter’s suggestion of Beresford!
Beresford could go by bear for short. It’s an French/English surname. It was popular during the Gothic Victorian era.
I like bears. =) I like learning about them, drawing them, etc. I actually like the name “Bear”, but am not sure if it’s a good idea to use it….don’t think I am brave enough to, lol. Maybe as a middle name someday. I actually am not really fond of these names that mean bear, sadly.
Zev means wolf. Ara is lion.
We’re actually using Bear as a middle name for a son, in part as a nod to my grandfather who had the middle name Osborne. It’s also a bit because my husband is a huge football fan, with Bear Bryant and George “Papa Bear” Halas. 🙂
I’ve had Orson on the top of my list for boys for a long time, and even have been thinking of the name combo Orson Bear, but it’d probably be overkill…surpassing the “Superbear” status :D. Unless you think it’d be fine??
I had a little league coach whose last name was Baer but we all called him Coach Bear, mainly because he was as big and hairy as one! We loved him 🙂
I like Bear as a name option like Wolf, Fox, Griffin and Phoenix. They all call to mind animal qualities, hyper masculinity and a cool edge.
On a funny note. My grandfathers name was Ephraim Aloysius and he forbade any of us from passing his name on. I kind of like it, but probably wouldn’t use both. He went by Eph (eef).
It only sounds like Bruin, but Bruno “feels” like a bear name.
There’s also Knut, as in the little polar bear was at the Berlin Zoo.
My husband and I like to watch the British teen drama, Skins. In the 5th season there is a character named Aloysuis, but he is known as Alo, and I didn’t know his real name was Aloysuis until near the end of the 5th season.
This list is focused on boys, but I really love Ursula for a girl, and I heard the meaning has something to do with bears.
Correction: Zev means ‘wolf’ in Hebrew.
I love so many of these names. Teddy (Theodore) is my number one if I have anymore boys and Arthur is close behind. I could always go super bear :). Theodore Arthur, anyone?
Superbear – love it! And a great combination, too. Clio could’ve been Theo, except now Theodore is off our lists, obviously. 🙂
Theodore Arthur is WONDERFUL !
I love Arthur and Teddy as a nn for Theodore. Barney does bring to mind Barney Rubble firstly, and secondly NPH’s character Barney from How I Met Your Mother…but I’m probably to young to have heard of Barney Bear.
I have a friend who named her son Shemar – the O’odham word for bear! She, of course, is O’odham (Native American) but the name is adorable nonetheless!
I like Ursula for a girl bear.
Me too. Love that name, but I think the wicked witch from Little Mermaid has made it unwearable for a lot of folks
You didn’t mention Smokey or Fozzi! Like Yogi, not ones that I would imagine would get widespread use on a child. One of DH’s early memories is of seeing Smokey at the National Zoo.
If you’re in to central North Carolina indie rock, there’s a song by Bombadil called Oto the Bear. 🙂
I actually know a little boy named Yogi! I dont think he was named after the bear though – However, I never did ask his parents why they chose Yogi. It did seem like an odd choice at the time, now I can’t imagine him with any other name. Not my style though. (BTW, I live in rural Australia).
It’s possible he was named after baseballer Yogi Berra..I think he’s the one Yogi Bear was named after. 🙂
I’d love to have the guts to put Aloysius on my list (I have a penchant for boys’ names that begin with “Al”), but I think the name has too many drawbacks: a) it’s unusual, b) some might find it difficult to pronounce, c) it’s most famous for being the name of a bear owned by a gay literary character — not something you’d want your son’s classmates to find out! It’s a pity, since Brideshead Revisited is one of my favourite novels.
It would be an easier name to give a pet. I named my dog, Miles, after another of Waugh’s homosexual characters (from the novel _Vile Bodies_), but it’s a rather more common name and dogs don’t have to worry about potential teasing by mean classmates anyway.
Don’t forget Bjorn! It also means Bear in several Nordic languages. I went to school with a guy with the name too 🙂
My first ancestor who immigrated to the US was names Bj
I was going to suggesr Bjorn…I was ‘Clare Bear’ as a child so like the idea of a bear name, plus you also have a great musical reference if you’re a fan of ABBA!
Of course, Bjorn!