Baby Name Meanings
Names That Mean Bear
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About this list
Baby names meaning bear are newly fashionable and always fierce in every sense of the word. The name Bear itself is stylish now too.
Many of the names on this list literally mean bear or carry another bear-related meaning. And then there are the names that relate to famous bears, such as Teddy, or even Christopher, as in Christopher Robin, friend of Winnie the Pooh.
Arthur is the top baby name that means bear on the US popularity list today. Along with Arthur, other names meaning bear that rank in the US Top 1000 include Christopher and Bear itself.
Teddy does not make the Top 1000, but long form Theodore ranks among the Top 10 boy names. Many Theodores who aren't called the trendy Theo will be nicknamed Ted or Teddy.
If you're looking for names that mean bear for baby boys or baby girls, let this list be your guide.
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The names
Christopher
Greek and Latin
"bearer of Christ"
Christopher derived from the Greek Christophoros, which is composed of the elements Christos , referring to Christ, and phero , meaning "to bear." The name was originally used figuratively, to…
Arthur
Celtic
" bear"
Arthur, once the shining head of the Knights of the Round Table, is, after decades of neglect, now being polished up and restored by stylish parents, inspired perhaps by the new generation of royals.…
Barrett
German
"bear strength"
Barrett is one of many surname names that are up and coming for boys in recent years. Barrett joints Bennett, Beckett, and others in the trend of "-tt" ending boy names taking over the charts.…
Winnie
English diminutive of Winifred
"holy peacemaking, gentle friend"
This pet form of such names as Winifred and Edwina and Gwendolyn has loads of vintage charm, a la Millie and Maisie, with a decidedly winning vibe. And it just got celebrity cred as the baby daughter…
Arturo
Spanish, Italian and Portuguese form of Arthur, Celtic
"bear"
Italian, Portuguese and Spanish variation of Arthur that makes the original feel more romantic and dashing.
Teddy
Diminutive of Theodore or Edward
"gift of God or wealthy guardian"
Teddy is in some ways one of those midcentury boys' nicknames -- like Jimmy or Bobby or Billy -- yet because it was never that popular, it feels timeless too. The preferred short form of Theodore…
Bjorn
Swedish, Icelandic, German
"bear"
Bjorn is one of the most recognizable Scandinavian names , thanks in large part to tennis great Björn Borg, winner of five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French opens and something of a…
Bear
Animal name
"bear"
Bear has suddenly lumbered onto the baby name landscape. Perhaps inspired by British adventurer Bear Grylls (born Edward Michael), first celebrity chef Jamie Oliver used it as the middle name for his…
Arthurine
Feminine form of Arthur, Celtic
"bear"
If you're looking for a girl's name that honors an ancestral Arthur, try Artis.
Baer
German
"bearlike, dweller at the sign of the bear"
Reversed vowels make it seem less fierce.
Arthurina
Feminine form of Arthur, Celtic
"bear"
If you're looking for a girl's name that honors an ancestral Arthur, try Artis.
Art
Diminutive of Arthur
"noble one; bear man"
Though short and brisk, no nickname name could have a more creative image. Comic actor Chris O'Dowd named his son Art, as in his native Ireland it's used as a name on its own, separate from Arthur.,…
Auberon
English from German
"noble, bearlike"
With the growing popularity for girls of such names as Aubrey and Audrey, Auberon feels like a fresh and viable option.
Benno
German
"bear"
Benno is a cool name in its own right -- there was a tenth century Saint Benno -- though it is also used as a lively nickname for Benjamin. Saint Benno of Meissen is the patron saint of anglers and…
Auberon
English, French, German
"elf ruler, bright elf; noble bear"
Rarely heard in the US, Auberon has a gentle autumnal feel rare in a male name. A Shakespeare-adjacent choice, Auberon started out as as a pet form of Auberi, the French form of German Alberich.…
Arthurette
Feminine form of Arthur, Celtic
"bear"
If you're looking for a girl's name that honors an ancestral Arthur, try Artis.
Bernadette
German
"brave as a bear"
Although feminizations ending in "ette" are not particularly popular now, Bernadette is a pleasant, feminine, but strong name that doesn't feel prohibitively dated. And though strongly associated…
Bern
German
"bear"
Hip short form of Bernard, also Swiss place-name.
Bernadine
German
"brave as a bear"
As dated as the old Pat Boone song.
Berengaria
Latin
"bear spear"
Berengaria was one of the medieval queens of England - married to Richard I (also known as Richard the Lionheart). She was originally from Navarre (in modern northern Spain) and despite being the…