Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Bear
BoyEnglish· “bear”
- Meaning
- bear
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- BEHR
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #853
- US babies 2025
- 286
- Best rank
- #760 (2022)
- Peak year
- 2022
Meaning and origin of Bear
Bear is an English name that means “bear”.
Bear comes straight from the English word for the animal, from the Old English bera. The bear has long symbolized strength and courage in many cultures, and names like Bjorn and Bernard share similar roots. As a given name, Bear is a recent choice and fits the trend for short, bold nature names. It sounds warm and rugged. Bear can also be a nickname for longer names such as Barrett or Bernard. The name pairs well with more traditional middle names.
Other spellings with the same sound: Behr.
Popularity over time
Bear first appears in US Social Security records in 1975. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 8 different years, starting in 2018. Its best national rank was #760 in 2022, the same year it reached its highest count of 332 babies. In 2025, 286 babies were named Bear, and it ranked #853 nationally. That is 113% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #9,204 in 2000, #2,357 in 2010, and #853 in 2025. Of the 3,356 US boys named Bear since records began, 52% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 1,405 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Rey, Gian, Kiaan, Kenji, and Kaiser.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Bear ranked highest in Utah, Oregon, and Colorado.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | #380 | 12 |
| Oregon | #439 | 8 |
| Colorado | #471 | 12 |
| Washington | #507 | 14 |
| Oklahoma | #507 | 8 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Bear is usually pronounced BEHR, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with B and ends in “-ar”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Behr.
Middle names for Bear
A few middle names that flow with Bear: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Bear
Similar names
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Lists that include Bear
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Bear mean?
Bear is an English name that means “bear”.
What is the origin of the name Bear?
Bear has English roots. Bear comes straight from the English word for the animal, from the Old English bera.
Is Bear a popular name?
Yes. Bear ranked #853 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Bear a boy or girl name?
Bear is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Bear?
Bear is usually pronounced BEHR. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings