Names That Mean Bear

I’ve collected over a hundred names that mean bear or are related to bears. From gods and goddesses to our favorite cartoon bears from childhood, you’ll find it here! 

Names That Mean Bear for Boys

Adalbern

Adalbern is ancient German for “noble bear.” I love the medieval feel to it!

Arkadios

In ancient Greece, Arkadios was a variation on the name Arcadia. Arcadia was a mythical land whose name means ” bear.” It’s associated with natural splendor and harmony.

Arctos

Arctos is the ancient Greek word for bear. It’s also associated with the Arctic and Antarctic, because of the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear, in the northern sky.

Arcturus

Arcturus is a constellation, its name means “guardian of the bear.” It comes from the Greek myth of Arcas and his mother, Callisto.

Armel

Armel is an old Breton and French name that means “bear prince.”

Arthur

Dating back to the early days of England, Arthur may mean “bear king.”

Arshaka

Arshaka is an Old Persian name meaning “bear.”

Artagan

The Scottish name Artagan means bear.

Barrett

Barrett means “bear strength.” The element “ber” or “bar” in many of these names refers to bears!

Bauto

This Ancient Roman name means “strong as a bear.”

Benno

Benno is a German nickname for Bernhard

Bern

The name Bern is derived from the German word for bear

Related post: Names that mean Hunter

Bernard

And here’s another name starting with “Ber.” It means “brave bear.” Plus, Bernard has great nicknames, like Bernie and Barney

Bernardino

A fun take on Bernard, Bernardino is used in Spain and Portugal. It gives the name a fresh feel!

Benat

This male Basque name actually is a form of Bernard!

Bessel 

Bessel is a rare Dutch name that may mean bear.

Bjorn

Bjorn is Swedish for “bear.”

Dennis

Technically, Dennis and its nickname Denny have nothing to do with bears. But it may make you think of bear dens.

Dagborn 

Dagborn is Norwegian for “day bear”

Datua 

This rare Georgian name may mean “bear.”

Dubi 

Fun fact- Dubi means “teddy bear” in Hebrew

Enapay 

This male Sioux name means “roars bravely in the face of danger” 

Hania 

Hania is a male Hopi name meaning “bear.”

Holborn 

Holborn is an Ancient Scandinavian name meaning “island bear”

Related: Exploring the outdoors? Check out these names that mean Beast.

Humbert 

The vintage name Humbert is possibly Germanic for “bright bear cub”

Karhu

The boy’s name Karhu means “bear” in Finnish.

Khursi

This ancient Georgian name means “bear”

Kolborn

Kolborn is Swedish for “bear as black as coal.”

Kuma

This simple and easy to pronounce name is Japanese for “bear”

Kumakichi

And Kumakichi is Japanese for “fortunate as a bear.”

Kuruk

The Pawnee word for bear is Kuruk.

Liwanu 

Liwanu means “bear growl” in Miwok

Mato 

Continuing our Native American theme, Mato means “bear” in Sioux

Misha

Misha is Russian for bear.

Nalle

Nalle means “teddy bear” in Finnish 

Nano, Nanoq 

Related post: Names that mean Guide

Nano and Nanoq mean “polar bear” in Greenlandic

Nanook 

Similarly, Nanook means “polar bear” in Inuit.

Nita 

The name Nita means “bear” in Choctaw

Orson 

Orson comes from the French word for bear. It’s actually related to the names containing Urs below, which is the Latin root word for bear.

Osborn 

Along the same lines, Osborn and alternate spellings like Osborne comes from an Old Norse name meaning “bear god”

Oso 

Oso is Spanish for “bear”

Otso 

And Otso means bear in Finnish 

Ours 

The French word for “bear” is also used as a male name occasionally. 

Swithin 

Here’s a unique find! Swithin is Old English for “strong bear cub”

Urs 

Urs is a Swedish male name meaning bear.

Volos 

Volos is the name of a Russian god often depicted as a bear

Related post: The perfect names for teddy bears

Names That Mean Bear for Girls

Amdarta

Amdarta is a Celtic goddess whose name may mean “great bear.”

Arcadia

According to legend, Arcadia is an Ancient Greek land whose name means “bear.” It’s occasionally used as a girl’s name.

Armelle

Armelle means “she-bear.”

Artemis

The bear was sacred to this Greek goddess of the hunt.

Artio

Celtic bear goddess Artio was worshiped in Switzerland.

Artula

Artula is Celtic for bear and makes a gorgeous girl’s name.

Asaka

Asaka is a female Japanese name meaning “bear”

Bernadette, Bernadetta

Bernadette and Bernadetta mean “brave as a bear.” 

Bernadine

This gorgeous girl’s name is a form of Bernard and means “brave as a bear.” It’s a classic name due for a comeback. 

Bernadita

Likewise, Bernadita, the Spanish and Portuguese form of Bernadette, is a fun and fresh twist on a classic.

Bernarda

Bernarda is the Croatian feminine version of Bernard. 

Calista, Calisto 

In Greek mythology, Calisto transformed into a bear. Lantern she became the constellation Ursa Major, also known as the great bear. Rarely, her name is spelled Calista.

Ildiko

Hungarian bear goddess Ildiko was the lady of the hunt and held many forest animals sacred, including the bear. This Germanic name means “warrior,” and is even the name of Atilla the Huns last wife [Source]

Mielikki 

Finnish bear goddess Mielikki is associated with healing, the forests, and wildlife. She’s said to have created the bear. Her name comes from an old Finnish word meaning luck.

Related post: Names that mean Forest

Sacheen 

Actress Sacheen Littlefeather claims her name means “little bear” in Navajo.

Ursa

Ursa is the Greek word for bear

Ursula 

And Ursula means “little bear”

Vetle 

The unique name Vetle is Norwegian for “bear cub.”

Yona 

Yona means “bear” in Cherokee 

Related post: Names that mean Wolf

Last Names that mean Bear

Arzamendia

In Basque, Arzamendia means “mountain bear.”

Baehr

This German surname might mean bear or boar. Sometimes, it’s spelled without the h.

Biernacki

In Polish, this surname means “bear strong.”

De Beer

This Dutch and South African name means “the bear.”

Garcia

No one actually knows the origin of the name Garcia. It might come from the Basque word for bear.

Hinckley

This English name ultimately comes from words meaning “bear cub’s woods.”

Kumagi

Kumagi is a Japanese surname that means “bear valley.”

Lacis

Lacis means “bear” in Latvian.

Medved

Medved means “bear” in several Slavic languages. 

Okuma

One of the translations of this Japanese name is “great bear.”

Orsini

The Italian surname Orsini means “little bear.”

More Bear Name Ideas- Famous Bears

Baloo

First up we have Baloo, the bear from The Jungle Book. His name means bear in Hindi and Urdu.

Bonkers

Did you know that bears can be actors? Bonkers is the black bear who portrayed Baloo and Gentle Ben in the movies.

Banjo

Of Banjo and Kazooie fame

Bruin

Bruin the bear appears in the tales of Reynard the Fox, a collection of Dutch, French, English, and German fables.

Carlton

Mascot of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Clark

Clark, the mascot of the Chicago Cubs, is named after Clark Street, where he greets fans entering Wrigley Field. Back in 1916, the Cubs actually had a live bear mascot named Joa.

Chen Stormstout 

Panda and Brewmaster Chen Stormsnout originally appeared in Warcraft III, and then again in World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria. 

Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Corduroy 

Author Don Freeman wrote his famous story about Corduroy,  the teddy bear with green overalls, in 1968. It’s still considered one of the top 100 children’s books today!

Fozzie Bear

Wocka wocka! Comedian and Muppet Fozzie Bear is known for his pink and white necktie and pork pie hat.

Fuzzy Wuzzy

Have you heard the tongue twister Fuzzy Wuzzy? It definitely reminds me of fluffy bears!

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear

Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair

So Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t fuzzy, was he?

Gentle Ben

Walt Morey authored Gentle Ben in 1965. This classic book tells the story of lonely Alaskan teenager Mark Andersen who befriends a brown bear. 

Iorek Byrnison

Prince Iorek Byrnison is an armored polar bear from His Dark Materials.

Lil Jon

Lil Jon is the bear from Disney’s 1973 Robin Hood film. 

Maxie 

A polar bear who is penguin Chilly Willy’s best friend

Paddington

British author Michael Bond tells the tales of the beloved marmalade- loving, suitcase-toting spectacled bear.

Peter the Panda

Secret Agent Peter the Panda from Phineas and Ferb hails from Seattle. 

Radar 

Big Bird’s teddy bear, Radar, is his prized possession. Mr Hooper gave Radar to Big Bird.

Related post: Falcon Names

Rupert

Cartoon bear Rupert is a beloved character from many of our childhoods,  and for good reason!  He’s brave, trusty, good spirited, and considerate. 

Smokey Bear

Smokey Bear, mascot of the US Forest Service,  is famous for his slogan “Remember… Only you can prevent forest fires.”

Teddy Ruxpin

Bestselling toy Teddy Ruxpin reenacts stories for children. Although the original version used a cassette player, modern versions use a digital cartridge. 

You might also enjoy and get name inspiration from stuffed dog name ideas!

Whopper

Do you remember the bear fight in the movie Anchorman? That bear actor is named Whopper.

Winnie the Pooh

Did you know Winnie was named after a real bear in the London Zoo named Winnipeg? Winnie could also be short for Winnifred.

If you’re willing to branch out, consider these options. English author A. A. Milne (Alan Alexander) wrote these tales for his son, Christopher Robin Milne.

Yogi, Boo Boo, and Cindy 

Remember Yogi the Bear and his friends Cindy and Boo Boo?

Related post: Names that mean earth are perfect strong names for bears

Names that sound like bear or have bear as a nickname

1. Barnabas 
2. Barney 
3. Barrett
4. Barry
5. Bernard
6. Bertram
7. Berwyn
8. Jacob (cub)
9. Oberon

Wrap up- Names That Mean Bear

Thanks for bearing with us! We hope you’ve enjoyed this huge list of names that mean bear!