Names That Mean Hunter

Hunting names have an outdoorsy energy, and many of them started as English surnames for people who hunted for a living. Hunter is the most direct, and Huntley adds a place name meaning a clearing where hunters gathered. Chase began as a surname for a huntsman, from an old French word for the hunt, and its many spellings, including Chace, Chayse, Chayce and Chaise, reflect how popular the sound has become. Chasen is a newer variation.

Archer names someone skilled with the bow, and it carries a crisp, classic sound. Orion was a great hunter in Greek myth who was placed among the stars, and his constellation is one of the easiest to spot in the winter sky. Theron comes from a Greek word for a hunter, and Ramy is an Arabic name meaning archer or marksman.

Most of these names are used for boys, though several are shared with girls. Hunter and Chase are the most familiar, while Orion and Theron feel more distinctive with their Greek roots. The Chase spellings deserve a close look, since Chaise is also the name of a type of lounge chair and Chayse and Chayce may need spelling out often. Say your choice aloud with your surname and check how it looks written down before you decide.