Bear Names
Bears have been naming inspiration for thousands of years. The Old English hero Beowulf may carry a riddling bear name (“bee-wolf”), Norse warriors called themselves Björn, and the word “bear” itself likely began as a taboo nickname meaning “the brown one,” used so hunters wouldn’t speak the animal’s real name.
This list of more than 110 bear names covers every kind of bear you might be naming: a teddy bear for a new baby, a character in a story, a mascot, or a big fluffy dog that simply looks like one. You’ll find famous bears, real names that mean “bear” in other languages, and plenty of puns. For similar wild-animal lists, see wolf names, fox names and lion names.
Famous bears from books, film and history
Many of the world’s most loved characters are bears, and their names make instant, recognizable picks.
| Name | Where it’s from | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Winnie | Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne | Named after Winnipeg, a real black bear at London Zoo |
| Pooh | Winnie-the-Pooh | Short, sweet and honey-loving |
| Paddington | Michael Bond’s marmalade-loving bear from “darkest Peru” | Named after the London station |
| Baloo | Kipling’s The Jungle Book | From the Hindi bhālū, “bear” |
| Smokey | Smokey Bear, US Forest Service mascot since 1944 | “Only you can prevent wildfires” |
| Yogi | Yogi Bear cartoon | “Smarter than the average bear” |
| Boo-Boo | Yogi’s sidekick | Tiny and adorable |
| Fozzie | The Muppets | For comedians |
| Corduroy | Don Freeman’s picture book | The bear missing a button |
| Rupert | Rupert Bear comic strip | Classic British choice |
| Fuzzy Wuzzy | The nursery rhyme | “Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear…” |
| Kenai | Brother Bear | Also an Alaskan peninsula |
| Koda | Brother Bear | Lakota, “friend” |
| Iorek | His Dark Materials | Armored polar bear king Iorek Byrnison |
| Beorn | Tolkien’s The Hobbit | A shape-shifting bear-man; Old English “warrior, bear” |
| Ted | Ted (2012 film) | The foul-mouthed teddy |
| Lotso | Toy Story 3 | Short for Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear |
| Bungle | Rainbow (UK children’s TV) | Friendly and clumsy |
| Wojtek | Real Syrian brown bear who served with Polish soldiers in WWII | Officially enlisted as a private |
| Knut | Real polar bear cub at Berlin Zoo | A 2007 celebrity |
Names that mean “bear”
These real given names carry the meaning “bear” in their language of origin, which makes them lovely for a baby’s first teddy, too.
| Name | Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bjorn | Old Norse | “Bear” |
| Torbjörn | Old Norse | “Thor’s bear” |
| Esben | Danish | “God-bear” |
| Osborn | Old English / Norse | “God-bear” |
| Bernard | Germanic | “Brave as a bear” |
| Bernadette | French, from Bernard | “Brave as a bear” |
| Ursula | Latin | “Little female bear” |
| Ursa | Latin | “She-bear,” as in Ursa Major |
| Orson | Old French | “Bear cub” |
| Arthur | Brythonic (possibly) | Often linked to Welsh arth, “bear” |
| Artio | Gaulish | Celtic bear goddess of Switzerland |
| Arktos | Greek | “Bear”; gives us the word Arctic |
| Otso | Finnish | Poetic name for the bear, honored in folklore |
| Mato | Lakota | “Bear” |
| Nanook | Inuit (nanuq) | “Polar bear” |
| Kuma | Japanese | “Bear” |
| Misha | Russian | Nickname for Mikhail; the classic Russian bear name |
| Ursel | German / Dutch | Form of Ursula, “little bear” |
| Bera | Old Norse | “She-bear” |
| Orsola | Italian | Form of Ursula |
| Barend | Dutch | Form of Bernard |
| Bernhard | German | “Brave as a bear” |
Cute teddy bear names
A teddy bear is often a child’s first best friend. Names like these are soft, easy for little mouths and a bit old-fashioned in the best way.
| Name | Why it’s cute | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Teddy | After Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt | The origin of the teddy bear in 1902 |
| Honey | A bear’s favorite snack | Sweet and golden |
| Cuddles | What it’s for | Classic |
| Buttons | Button eyes | Timeless |
| Snuggles | Bedtime companion | Perfect for babies |
| Biscuit | Warm and tan | Brown bears |
| Hugo | Germanic, “mind, spirit” | Hug-go |
| Barnaby | Aramaic, “son of consolation” | Storybook feel |
| Cocoa | Chocolate brown | Dark plush bears |
| Nutmeg | Warm spice | Tan bears |
| Pudding | Soft and squishy | Very plump teddies |
| Maple | Syrupy and sweet | Reddish-brown bears |
| Clementine | Old-fashioned and sunny | Girls’ teddies |
| Mabel | Latin, “lovable” | Vintage charm |
| Theodore | Greek, “gift of God” | Teddy’s full name |
| Bramble | Brambles hide berries bears love | Country feel |
| Hunny | Pooh’s spelling on his honey pot | Playful |
| Toffee | Chewy caramel sweet | Light brown bears |
Strong grizzly and brown bear names
Big, rugged names for a mascot, a character or a giant dog with bear energy. See also big dog names.
| Name | Meaning / idea | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kodiak | The huge Alaskan brown bear subspecies | Rugged and wild |
| Grizzly | The North American brown bear | Obvious but mighty |
| Bruno | German, “brown” | A classic bear name in Europe |
| Bruin | Dutch, “brown”; Bruin the bear in Reynard the Fox tales | Old word for a bear |
| Atlas | Greek titan who held up the sky | Massive |
| Titan | Greek race of giant gods | Unstoppable |
| Tank | Heavy and sturdy | Tough |
| Boulder | A huge rock | Unmovable |
| Moose | Another North American giant | Fun contrast |
| Samson | Hebrew, “sun”; biblical strongman | Strength |
| Goliath | Biblical giant | Ironic or literal |
| Thor | Norse god of thunder | Bold |
| Magnus | Latin, “great” | Norse royal favorite |
| Jasper | Persian, “treasurer” | Rugged mountain name |
| Timber | Forest wood | Woodsy |
| Yukon | Canadian territory and river | Wilderness |
| Denali | Koyukon, “the high one” | North America’s tallest peak |
| Sequoia | The giant redwood tree | Enormous |
Polar bear and white bear names
Snowy names for polar bears, white teddies and pale fluffy dogs. For more, see names that mean snow.
| Name | Meaning / idea | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Frost | Ice crystals | Crisp and cool |
| Blizzard | A snowstorm | Big and wild |
| Aurora | Latin, “dawn”; the northern lights | Arctic skies |
| Glacier | A river of ice | Massive |
| Snowball | Classic white pet name | Cute |
| Tundra | The frozen Arctic plain | Where polar bears roam |
| Juneau | Alaska’s capital | Unique |
| Nord | Scandinavian, “north” | Short |
| Yeti | The mythical snowman | Fun and big |
| Everest | The world’s highest peak | Grand |
| Oslo | Norway’s capital | Nordic |
| Sitka | Alaskan town | Soft sound |
Funny bear names and puns
Bear puns practically write themselves, which is why they’re great for mascots, cartoons and group costumes.
| Name | The joke | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bearyoncé | Beyoncé | Queen bear |
| Chewbearca | Chewbacca | Furry and loyal |
| Bear Grylls | The survival TV host | Adventurous |
| Bearnard | Bernard | Distinguished |
| Bearnie | Bernie | Folksy |
| Gummy | Gummy bears | Sweet |
| Barry | Sounds like “beary” | Everyday hero |
| Care Bear | The 1980s cartoon | Kind-hearted |
| Fuzz Aldrin | Buzz Aldrin | Space bear |
| Pawl McCartney | Paul McCartney | Musical |
| Bear-y Manilow | Barry Manilow | Crooner |
| Grizz Lightyear | Buzz Lightyear | To infinity |
| Teddy Mercury | Freddie Mercury | Rock legend |
| Bearoness | Baroness | Fancy lady bear |
Bear names for pairs
Twin teddies, zoo cubs or a mascot duo? Themed pairs are easy to remember.
| Pair | Theme | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Honey & Bee | Sweet treats | Golden pair |
| Ursa & Major | The constellation | Big and small |
| Pooh & Piglet | Hundred Acre Wood | Best friends |
| Yogi & Boo-Boo | Jellystone Park | Classic cartoon duo |
| Salt & Pepper | Seasonings | Black and white bears |
| Bjorn & Bera | Old Norse bear names | Boy and girl |
| Cocoa & Marshmallow | Hot chocolate | Brown and white bears |
How to pick a bear name
- Think about who will say it. A toddler’s teddy needs one easy word, like Honey or Teddy. A story character can carry more, like Iorek or Torbjörn.
- Look to the bear’s look. Brown bears suit Bruno and Cocoa; white bears suit Frost or Nanook; black bears suit Onyx or Smokey.
- Use a meaningful name. A real name that means “bear,” like Bjorn, Ursula or Orson, makes a thoughtful gift paired with a baby’s first teddy. Browse baby names for more.
- Borrow from the wild. Place names like Yukon, Denali or Sitka evoke real bear country.
- Keep puns for fun contexts. Chewbearca is great for a mascot or a dog; less so for a keepsake you’ll pass down.
Frequently asked questions
What names mean “bear”?
Real names meaning bear include Bjorn (Old Norse), Ursula and Ursa (Latin), Orson (Old French, “bear cub”), Bernard (“brave as a bear”), Otso (Finnish), Mato (Lakota), Kuma (Japanese) and Nanook (Inuit, “polar bear”).
Why is it called a teddy bear?
The teddy bear is named after President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, who refused to shoot a tied-up bear on a 1902 hunting trip. A Brooklyn shop owner then sold a stuffed “Teddy’s bear.”
What is the most famous bear name?
Winnie-the-Pooh is arguably the most famous bear in the world, followed by Paddington, Smokey Bear, Yogi Bear and Baloo.
What was Winnie-the-Pooh named after?
Christopher Robin Milne named his teddy after Winnipeg, a Canadian black bear at London Zoo, and a swan called Pooh.
What is a good name for a bear-like dog?
Big fluffy breeds like Newfoundlands, Chow Chows and Bernese Mountain Dogs suit bear names such as Kodiak, Bruno, Baloo, Bear, Moose or Grizzly.