Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Hunter
BoyEnglish, Old English· “hunter”
- Meaning
- hunter
- Origin
- English, Old English
- Pronunciation
- HUHN-tur
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #130
- US babies 2025
- 2,761
- Best rank
- #35 (2000)
- Peak year
- 2000
Meaning and origin of Hunter
Hunter is an English and Old English name that means “hunter”.
Hunter comes directly from the English word and from an occupational surname for a person who hunted game, from the Old English huntian, "to hunt". In medieval England and Scotland, hunters were often officials who managed game on noble estates. The surname was carried by John Hunter, an eighteenth-century Scottish surgeon regarded as a founder of scientific surgery. As a first name it grew in the late twentieth century in the United States, fitting an outdoorsy, rugged style. It is used mostly for boys, with occasional use for girls. Hunter feels energetic and adventurous.
Popularity over time
Hunter has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 126 different years. Its best national rank was #35 in 2000, the same year it reached its highest count of 12,538 babies. In 2025, 2,761 babies were named Hunter, and it ranked #130 nationally. That is 67% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #808 in 1920, #994 in 1950, #548 in 1980, #35 in 2000, #58 in 2010, and #130 in 2025. Of the 262,238 US boys named Hunter since records began, 36% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 74,919 babies. Since 2010, 96,260 more have been named Hunter.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Cameron, Samuel, Christian, Dylan, and Carlos.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Hunter ranked highest in Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Montana.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | #55 | 17 |
| West Virginia | #60 | 28 |
| Montana | #72 | 16 |
| Wyoming | #75 | 6 |
| Alaska | #80 | 10 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 96% of US babies named Hunter over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Hunter is usually pronounced HUHN-tur, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with H and ends in “-er”.
Middle names for Hunter
A few middle names that flow with Hunter: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Hunter
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Lists that include Hunter
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Hunter mean?
Hunter is an English and Old English name that means “hunter”.
What is the origin of the name Hunter?
Hunter has English and Old English roots. Hunter comes directly from the English word and from an occupational surname for a person who hunted game, from the Old English huntian, "to hunt".
Is Hunter a popular name?
Yes. Hunter ranked #130 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Hunter a boy or girl name?
Hunter is mainly a boy's name. About 96% of US babies named Hunter over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Hunter?
Hunter is usually pronounced HUHN-tur. 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