Names That Mean Hunter

Theron is best known these days as the surname of actress Charlize, but it does have a long history as a first name, ranking in the Top 500 in the early part of the 20th century and only dropping out of the Top 1000 in the early 1990s. Theon is a similar name made familiar by the popular series Game of Thrones: Might it and Theron rise in tandem?

Name bestowed on Choctaw men after a hunting achievement.

In Greek mythology, Zagreus was a god of the underworld and the son of Persephone and either Hades or Zeus. The word zagreus refers to a hunter who catches (and dismembers) live animals — the mythical Zagreus is often considered the "first Dionysius," as Dionysius was dismembered as an infant.

A softer take on Hunter. Huntley could be considered a truly neutral name in the US, where it was given to 102 girls and 98 boys in 2024, making the split 51:49. Borrowed from a place name in South West England, Huntley could be considered cool, tough, and preppy at the same time, or, it may remind some of a a high-profile English murder case.

Huntley was best known as Brinkley's fellow news anchor back in the 60s and 70s, while in the UK, it might still be linked to a high profile murder case. Nevertheless, this surname style choice feels tough, trendy, preppy, and outdoorsy at the same time and may fit in with the likes of Hunter, Wesley, and Bentley.

Once strictly a surname--Chasen's was an old Hollywood hangout--it's now catching on as a first name, both as an elaboration of the popular CHASE, and in following the pattern of popular two-syllable boys' names.

A name that originated in Rwanda, rhythmically evocative.

Huntley is among the most evenly-split gender-neutral names, while Huntleigh is virtually all girl. Huntleigh is actually more common than the original.