Bear
Gender: Boy
Meaning: Bear, the animal
Origin: English
Popularity: Ranked #853 in 2025 with 286 babies born.
History: An English word name from the animal. Once considered exclusively a nickname, it has gained acceptance as a given name, partly through celebrity usage (Bear Grylls, whose real name is Edward, helped popularize it).
Name length: 4 letters
How common is Bear? About 1 in 11,638 babies born in 2025 were named Bear, or roughly 0.8 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Bear
What does the name Bear mean?
Bear means “Bear, the animal” from English roots.
What is the origin of the name Bear?
Bear has English origin. The traditional meaning is “Bear, the animal”.
How popular is Bear?
Bear ranked #853 in 2025 — given to 286 babies that year.
When was Bear most popular?
Bear peaked in 2022 with 331 babies registered that year.
Is Bear a boy or girl name?
Bear is predominantly a boys' name — over 90% of Bears in registered births are male.
Is the name Bear rising or falling in popularity?
Bear has risen 48 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #901 in 2020 to #853 in 2025.
How long has Bear been recorded?
Bear appears in birth records across 29 years — from 1975 through 2025.