Names That Mean Bear

  1. Baer
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "bearlike, dweller at the sign of the bear"
    • Description:

      Reversed vowels make it seem less fierce.
  2. Urso
    • Origin:

      Italian from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "bear"
    • Description:

      Cool bearlike option, though Orson might be easier to embrace.
  3. Dov
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "bear"
    • Description:

      Fierce meaning, gentle image. This name is very common in Israel, where an endearing pet form is Dubi.
  4. Armel
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "bear prince"
    • Description:

      This Welsh name, also used in France, is the name of a 6th century saint who went to Brittany and established abbeys. Armel has a pleasant and familiar sound, making it easily used outside of Wales and France.
  5. Osborn
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "divine bear; divine warrior"
    • Description:

      A surname style choice that could get you nicknames Bear and Ozzy, which is pretty cool. It comes from the Old English variant of the Old Norse Ásbjǫrn, which was introduced to England after the Norman conquest and used occasionally as a given name ever since. Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell used the spelling variation Osborne in her final novel, Wives and Daughters.
  6. Artis
    • Origin:

      Celtic
    • Meaning:

      "bear"
    • Description:

      Unusual multicultural choice that may appeal to the artistically inclined. The bear meaning gives it a new trendy edge as an animal name.
  7. Artis
    • Origin:

      Celtic
    • Meaning:

      "bear"
    • Description:

      Unusual multicultural choice that may appeal to the artistically inclined. The bear meaning gives it a new trendy edge as an animal name.
  8. Orsino
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Orson
    • Meaning:

      "bearlike"
    • Description:

      Orson is being rediscovered and Orsino is every bit as attractive.
  9. Arturs
    • Origin:

      Lativian form of Arthur
    • Meaning:

      "bear"
    • Description:

      Also spelled Artūrs, this is one of many international forms of the classic Arthur. Both spellings of the name are popular in Latvia and ranked in the Top 100 in a recent year. Notable bearers include Latvian ice hockey players Artūrs Irbe and Artūrs_Šilovs, Olympic rower Artūrs Garonskis, and chess player Arturs Neikšāns. In Latvian, the sounds are just slightly gentler than they are in the English pronunciation.
  10. Orsa
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Ursula
    • Meaning:

      "little female bear"
    • Description:

      The advantage of Orsa over the arguably-more-attractive Ursula is that it breaks the tie to the hideous she-witch of The Little Mermaid. Orsa definitely feels more ready for modern life now that brother name Orson is on the rise.
  11. Vernados
    • Origin:

      Greek from German
    • Meaning:

      "courage of the bear"
    • Description:

      Rhythmic and powerful, if you don't mind the nickname Vern.
  12. Bernadine
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "brave as a bear"
    • Description:

      As dated as the old Pat Boone song.
  13. Berold
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "bear rule"
    • Description:

      Berold is one of the more obscure boy names meaning bear, which also include Arthur, Orson, and (in a different vein) Teddy.
  14. Orsu
    • Origin:

      Corsican
    • Meaning:

      "bear"
    • Description:

      Corsican form of Ursus
  15. Orsola
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Ursula
    • Meaning:

      "little female bear"
    • Description:

      Orsola is chic in Italy in a way that Ursula is not in the U.S. And English speakers will inevitably hear this chic, sleek name as Ursula, condemned to purgatory as the name of the hideous sea-witch who terrorized Disney's Little Mermaid.
  16. Bern
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "bear"
    • Description:

      Hip short form of Bernard, also Swiss place-name.
  17. Bernarda
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "brave as a bear"
    • Description:

      Too close in sound to the so-far-out-it-will-always-be-out Bernard.
  18. Berengaria
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "bear spear"
    • Description:

      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 Queen of England, she only lived in England after her husband had died. Despite its royal roots, Berengaria is one of the less attractive medieval names, although it gets points for having an unusually strong meaning for a feminine name.
  19. Cristobal
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Christopher
    • Meaning:

      "bearer of Christ"
    • Description:

      The first name of famed designer Balenciaga, was also the birth name of Christopher Columbus--aka Cristobal Colon. A name still well used in the Hispanic community.
  20. Auberon
    • Origin:

      English from German
    • Meaning:

      "noble, bearlike"
    • Description:

      With the growing popularity for girls of such names as Aubrey and Audrey, Auberon feels like a fresh and viable option.