151 Names That Mean Hunter, With Origins and Rankings

53 Cool Hunter Names for Boys

These 53 names run from Greek hunting gods to gun brands, and a few of them are climbing the charts fast.

1. Actaeon: A hunter of Greek myth who learned the craft from the centaur Chiron. It has never appeared in U.S. birth data, so it stays firmly in the storybook category.
2. Apollo: The Greek god of archery, sunlight, and music, and one of the few myth names parents actually use. SSA data ranked Apollo #445 for U.S. boys in 2025.
3. Apsat: From Georgian mythology, where Apsat looks after birds and animals, this short name is unusual but easy to say once you’ve heard it.
4. Arawn: A ruler in Welsh mythology known for his magical hounds and his skill in the hunt. Two syllables, no nickname required.
5. Aristaeus: The Greek protector of hunters and herds, with a name meaning best. It is a mouthful for everyday use. Ari makes an easy nickname for daily wear.
6. Arrow: A word name that goes straight to the point. It’s off its 2018 high of #1,122, now at #1,976 for boys in 2025.
7. Bow: Short, blunt, and named for the hunter’s oldest tool, it stays rare at #6,506 for boys in 2025.
8. Cayde: A nod to the hunter vanguard Cayde-6 from the Destiny games. Gaming picks tend to move fast, and this one reached #1,409 for boys in 2025.
9. Chase: A French name meaning to hunt or pursue, and the most wearable option here. It peaked at #61 in 2009. Now it sits at #192 for boys in 2025.
10. Chasen: A spin on Chase or Jason that reads as huntsman. Rare now, at #4,273 for boys in 2025.
11. Chiron: The wise centaur who taught the Greek heroes the art of the hunt, it stays barely used at #8,380 for boys in 2025.
12. Cocidius: An ancient Celtic hunter god the Romans lined up with Mars. It has never charted in the U.S., which is part of the appeal.
13. Colt: Rugged and Western, whether you hear the young horse or the firearms maker, it ranked #285 for boys in 2025.
14. Connor: An Irish classic meaning lover of hounds. It sat at #38 in 2004 and still holds a comfortable #166.
15. Davy: A friendly short form of David, carried by the frontiersman Davy Crockett. The pioneer image still clings to it. It’s a throwback now, ranking #5,078 for boys in 2025.
16. Draven: Dark, modern, and often tied to the Old English word for hunter. It peaked at #637 in 2005 and sits at #1,217.
17. Eros: The Greek god of love, pictured as a winged archer, this name sits at #1,324 for boys in 2025, just off its 2022 best of #1,310.
18. Esau: A Hebrew biblical name meaning hairy, given to Jacob’s brother, a skilled hunter. It has been listed as far back as 1880 and ranks #3,205.
19. Firas: An Arabic name meaning lion, with the fierceness built in, it ranked #6,577 for boys in 2025.
20. Fowler: An occupational surname for someone who hunted wild birds. Rare, at #7,339, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
21. Fred: Short for Frederick, and worn by Fred Bear, a pioneer of bowhunting. It was a top 30 name back in 1915. Today it sits at #1,936.
22. Gahiji: An Egyptian name meaning hunter, with a rhythm most surnames cannot match. Federal birth data has never recorded it.
23. Grosvenor: A French surname read as great hunter or master huntsman, this formal, rare pick probably works better in the middle spot.
24. Holter: A rare surname-style pick for someone who hunts in the woods. It only entered the U.S. data in the last decade or so, ranking #11,168 for boys in 2025.
25. Huntington: An English surname meaning hunter’s settlement. It last showed up in SSA data in 2023 at #8,495, and Hunt does the everyday work.
26. Ivar: A Norse name read as yew warrior or archer. It has climbed steadily for a decade. That run brought it to a best-ever #1,384 in 2025.
27. Jaeger: German for hunter, and a sharper alternative to Jagger. It ranked #4,452 for boys in 2025.
28. Kanati: The First Man of Cherokee stories, remembered as the guardian of the hunt. It has never been listed in U.S. birth data.
29. Khonvoum: A Pygmy god of the hunt who carries a bow made of snakes, it’s unusual by any measure and unrecorded in the SSA files.
30. Lelantos: The Greek Titan of air and the unseen, which is the stalking half of hunting. Big, strange, and untouched by the U.S. charts.
31. Leo: Latin for lion, the apex predator of the naming world right now. It ranked #19 for boys in 2025, just off its 2023 best of #18.
32. Niabi: A Native American name understood as fawn spared by the hunter, it has a soft sound and a quiet story, with no chart presence at all.
33. Nimrod: The biblical figure called a mighty hunter before the Lord. It last appeared in U.S. birth data in 2012, so it reads as a deep cut.
34. Nodens: A Celtic god linked with healing, the sea, and hunting dogs. It has never charted in the U.S.
35. Nyyrikki: The Finnish god of the hunt and cattle, son of the forest god Tapio. It has never appeared in U.S. birth data. With double letters this unusual, it may work best tucked into the middle spot.
36. Oden: A spelling of Odin, the Norse Allfather who leads the Wild Hunt. It ranked #2,033 for boys in 2025.
37. Odysseus: The Greek king remembered for his bow and his long way home. Homer’s epic keeps the name in circulation for adventurous parents. Boys’ rank landed at #2,870 in 2025.
38. Oringo: An African name meaning he who likes to hunt. Warm, bouncy, and unrecorded in U.S. birth data.
39. Orion: The hunter of the night sky, and the easiest celestial name to explain to a kid. It ranked #334 for boys in 2025.
40. Ranger: An occupational name for a forest guardian, outdoorsy without trying too hard. It has gained ground steadily over the past decade. It ranked #1,582 for boys in 2025.
41. Rudra: A Vedic deity of storms and the hunt whose name is read as the roarer. It reached its best mark yet, #1,289, in 2025.
42. Sidon: A biblical place name drawn from a word for hunting or fishing, it’s barely used and was last listed in 2022 at #14,037.
43. Theron: A Greek name that simply means hunter, one letter away from Theon. It ranked #452 back in 1914 and now sits at #2,474.
44. Thimba: A Swahili name meaning lion hunter. Two syllables, plenty of character, and no U.S. chart history.
45. Todd: An English name for a fox, first given to fox hunters. It was a top 30 name back in 1964. Today it has faded to #1,618.
46. Trapper: A plain word name for an outdoorsman who works with traps. Boys’ data puts it at #6,768 in 2025.
47. Tyoma: A diminutive of Artemy, the name that traces back to Artemis. Unlisted in U.S. data, so it would be a first at most schools.
48. Ullr: The Norse god of archery, hunting, and skiing. It has been listed in U.S. data exactly once, in 2019.
49. Wallace: A Scottish surname, and the Wallace tartan is a familiar hunting plaid. It was a top 100 name back in 1923. After a long dip, it has climbed back to #964.
50. Wepwawet: An ancient Egyptian wolf god whose name means opener of the ways. A bold pick, and one that has never charted here.
51. Wesson: A preppy gun-brand name that sits well beside Colt or Remington, it ranked #919 for boys in 2025.
52. Woodman: An English surname for a forester or a hunter living in the woods. No U.S. chart record, so it reads as a family name rather than a trend.
53. Wylder: A trendier spelling of Wilder with the wild built right in. It is the fastest riser on this list, more than tenfold up on the previous decade of births, at #671 for boys in 2025.

49 Elegant Huntress Names for Girls

These 49 huntress names run from goddesses of the hunt to sharpshooters and modern chart climbers.

1. Aala: A rare name understood as she who hunts, simple and sweet. It last appeared in U.S. birth data in 2023.
2. Abnoba: The Gaulish goddess of the hunt and the forest. Distinct, historical, and never listed in U.S. records.
3. Aife: A warrior woman of Irish legend known for her fighting skill, it has been listed here only once, in 2021.
4. Airmed: A Celtic healer goddess tied to foraging and herbs. Quiet and green, with no chart presence.
5. Alcyone: A Greek figure turned into a kingfisher, a bird that hunts fish. Long, musical, and unlisted in U.S. data.
6. Alessia: An Italian name for a defender, ready for a small protector. It has risen sharply in recent years. It ranked #326 for girls in 2025.
7. Andromache: A Trojan princess whose name means battle of a man. It is a mouthful, which may be why the U.S. charts have never held it.
8. Annie: For Annie Oakley, the most famous sharpshooter in American history. It ranked #182 for girls in 2025, up on the previous decade.
9. Arduinna: The Celtic boar goddess of the Ardennes forest and its hunting grounds. Unrecorded in U.S. birth data and unlikely to be shared.
10. Artemis: The Greek goddess of the hunt, the wild, and the moon. Use has grown sharply in recent years. She ranked #1,017 for girls in 2025.
11. Atalanta: The swift Greek heroine who would only marry a man who could outrun her. It has appeared in U.S. data just once, in 2000.
12. Aurora: The Roman goddess of dawn, the hour hunters know best. She is the highest ranked name on this list, at #15 for girls in 2025, her best year on record.
13. Auryon: A feminine twist on Orion, modern and invented. No U.S. chart record yet.
14. Belisama: A Gaulish goddess the Romans matched with Minerva, her name read as brightest one, she has never been listed in U.S. birth data.
15. Bendis: A Thracian moon goddess and huntress in the mold of Artemis. Short, blunt, and absent from U.S. records.
16. Brenda: A Norse name meaning sword, which suits a determined kid. It was #11 in 1961 and has fallen the furthest of any name here, down about two thirds on the previous decade, to #1,527.
17. Brielle: French for hunting ground, and a short form of Gabrielle, it ranked #143 for girls in 2025.
18. Britomartis: A Cretan goddess of mountains and hunting nets. Unrecorded in U.S. data, so treat it as a middle name with a story.
19. Camilla: A Roman warrior maiden raised in the woods to hunt. It ranked #361 for girls in 2025.
20. Cynthia: An epithet for Artemis, after her birth on Mount Cynthus. It was #7 back in 1957. Now it sits at #1,014, far enough away to feel fresh again.
21. Cyrene: A nymph who wrestled a lion and ran with Artemis. It has fallen far from its 1916 high of #4,571 to #12,196 in 2025.
22. Dali: The Georgian goddess of mountain animals, this two-syllable pick has an artistic edge and ranked #12,204 for girls in 2025.
23. Devana: The Slavic goddess of the wild hunt and the forest. It last appeared in U.S. data in 1997.
24. Diana: The Roman answer to Artemis, goddess of the hunt and the moon. It ranked #244 for girls in 2025, well off its 1946 high of #42.
25. Diane: The French form of Diana, vintage and neat. It was #14 back in 1955. Today it has slipped to #2,620.
26. Divana: A variation on Devana that keeps the wilderness link, never listed in U.S. birth data. The soft ending gives it an airy, uncommon sound.
27. Enda: An Irish name understood as bird-like, suggesting freedom and speed. Its last U.S. listing was in 1973.
28. Fianna: The legendary Irish warrior bands led by Fionn mac Cumhaill. It ranked #12,329 for girls in 2025.
29. Flidais: The mistress of the beasts in Irish mythology, associated with deer and cattle. The spelling will need explaining, and it has no U.S. chart history.
30. Guinevere: The legendary queen whose early Welsh roots point to white phantom, it reached its best rank yet, #899, in 2025.
31. Jameka: A modern American name often tied to loyal or hunter. It peaked in 1978 and last appeared in 2016.
32. Kainda: An African name often translated as hunter’s daughter. U.S. birth records have no listing for it.
33. Katniss: The aquatic plant made famous by the archer in The Hunger Games. It spiked in 2014 alongside the film series, and has since faded to #12,531 from its 2014 peak of #3,960.
34. Kenzleigh: A modern invented name linked to royal meadow or hunting ground. It ranked #3,678 for girls in 2025.
35. Lara: A nod to Lara Croft, the fictional tomb raider who made the name an action hero, it ranked #693 for girls in 2025.
36. Makaya: A Hopi name meaning one who hunts for eagles. It peaked in 2002 and has slid to #11,540.
37. Merida: The archery-loving princess from Disney’s Brave, this name ranked #2,677 for girls in 2025.
38. Neith: The ancient Egyptian creator goddess of war and weaving, shown with arrows. One syllable, and no U.S. chart record.
39. Pakhet: An Egyptian lioness goddess whose name means she who scratches. Fierce, obscure, and unlisted here.
40. Scout: A punchy word name that To Kill a Mockingbird made famous, it ranked #997 for girls in 2025, off its 2022 best of #691.
41. Sedna: The Inuit goddess of the sea and the animals in it. It reached its best rank, #14,655, in 2025.
42. Sylvanas: A ranger general from the Warcraft games. Sylvanas first showed up in the data in 2016. Among the names here that still chart, it’s the rarest, sitting at #14,739 for girls in 2025.
43. Teresa: A classic that may come from a Greek word for harvest or hunt. It was #18 in 1961 and now sits at #911.
44. Tessa: The short form of Teresa, quick and warm. It has stayed a steady midrange pick for years. Girls’ rank for 2025 was #311.
45. Valda: A German name meaning rule or power, long attached to strong leaders. It has not been listed since 1982, which puts it in revival territory.
46. Venatrix: It has never been listed in U.S. birth data, yet the Latin word for huntress carries its meaning without any translation needed.
47. Winda: A Swahili name meaning hunter. Its last U.S. listing was in 1975.
48. Zada: An Arabic name meaning lucky or prosperous, handy on any hunt. Its sound is close enough to Zayda and Zara to feel familiar. Girls’ rank landed at #4,754 in 2025.
49. Zarola: A rare name tied to hunting in naming dictionaries. No U.S. chart record at all.

49 Unisex Hunter Names

These 49 names suit any child, from plain word names to the stars in the hunter’s own constellation.

1. Alex: Short for Alexander or Alexandra, read as defender of men. It works for either child and ranked #232 for boys in 2025.
2. Archer: A clean occupational name for a bowman, it broke into the top 100 for the first time in 2025, at #98.
3. Aris: A snappy short form of Aristaeus or Aristotle. It reached its best rank yet, #1,333, in 2025.
4. Asp: A snake name with a dangerous edge. No U.S. birth record exists for it.
5. Bear: An animal name that says power and survival without wasting a syllable. It works as a nickname or a full name on its own. Boys’ rank in 2025 was #853.
6. Betelgeuse: A bright star in the Orion constellation and a bold celestial pick. Federal birth records have never listed it.
7. Cain: A biblical name read as spear or possessed. The Old Testament story gives it weight beyond the sound. Boys’ rank landed at #1,142 in 2025.
8. Caliber: A gun term for the diameter of a bullet, now used as a name. It sits at #8,366 for boys in 2025.
9. Canowicakte: A Sioux name meaning forest hunter. It has no U.S. chart record, and a nickname could make it easier for everyday use.
10. Cernunnos: The Horned God of Celtic myth, lord of the wild things. Unlisted in U.S. data, and a big one to carry.
11. Falcon: A predatory bird name that sounds fast. It reads as bold without stretching into invented territory. At #12,623 for boys in 2025, it’s rarely used.
12. Fiagai: The Irish word for hunter, said FEE-uh-guy. It has never been recorded in U.S. birth data, so expect to spell it out.
13. Fisher: An occupational name that fits the outdoorsy trend perfectly. Boys’ rank in 2025 was #791.
14. Fletcher: An English surname for an arrow-maker. It hit its high of #456 back in 1917. More than a century later it still sits close, at #547 in 2025.
15. Forager: A nature word for someone who gathers food. No chart history, so it reads as a pure word name.
16. Forest: The hunter’s whole domain in one word. It is the biggest revival on this list, running about 8.7 times its 2006 low. It ranked #750 for boys in 2025.
17. Gauge: A shotgun measurement turned first name. It peaked in 2009 and has dropped to #4,073.
18. Gwyn: A Welsh name meaning white or blessed, borne by a mythical hunter king. The short form works well if Gwyneth feels like too much. Girls’ rank landed at #9,681 in 2025.
19. Hawke: A sharp, one-syllable bird name. Its last listing was in 2024, at #10,273.
20. Herne: The ghostly English hunter associated with Windsor Forest, this name has never charted in the U.S.
21. Hunter: The most direct name in the category. It peaked at #35 in 2000 and ranked #130 for boys in 2025.
22. Huntingden: A refined surname spelling for a formal touch. There is no U.S. chart record for it.
23. Huntley: A preppy surname meaning hunter’s meadow, currently ranked #2,065 for boys in 2025 after peaking at #1,703 in 2024. The surname style pairs easily with a short natural nickname like Hunt.
24. Jaecar: A phonetic take on the German Jaeger. It has never been listed in U.S. data.
25. J’onn: A sci-fi reference to J’onn J’onzz, the Martian Manhunter. The apostrophe is a commitment, and the name has no chart record.
26. Lubdhaka: A Sanskrit name meaning hunter that appears in Hindu texts. It stays off the SSA charts entirely.
27. Lynx: A wild cat known for stealth and sharp eyes. It carries the same crisp sound as Lux or Knox. Boys’ rank landed at #2,823 in 2025.
28. Meadow: The open field a hunter watches at dawn. It hit its best rank, #286 for girls, in 2025.
29. Mixcoatl: The Aztec Cloud Serpent and god of the hunt. It has never appeared in U.S. records.
30. Nujalik: The Inuit goddess of hunting on land. No U.S. chart history, and worth a middle spot.
31. Nullah: An Australian Aboriginal term for a war club or hunting stick. The SSA has no record of it.
32. Oakley: Oak meadow by meaning, and Annie Oakley by association, it ranked #156 for girls in 2025 after growing quickly in recent years. The surname style works equally well tucked in as a middle name.
33. Oceane: A French name meaning ocean, the hunting ground for fishermen. Girls’ rank landed at #9,929 in 2025.
34. Pager: A rare French surname with a modern, techy sound. No U.S. chart record.
35. Paris: The Trojan prince whose arrow struck Achilles’ heel. Girls’ rank for 2025 was #592.
36. Pyro: Greek for fire, and a familiar class in hunting games. It has never been listed in U.S. data.
37. Rama: A heroic avatar in Hinduism, usually shown with a bow. Girls’ data puts it at #11,699 for 2025.
38. Raven: A dark, mysterious bird name associated with Odin. At #404 for girls in 2025, it stays a solid pick.
39. Remington: A distinguished surname and a famous firearms brand. In 2025, boys’ rank came in at #307.
40. Rigel: The bright star at Orion’s foot. Boys’ rank sits at #5,158 in 2025.
41. Robin: The name of the legendary outlaw archer Robin Hood. It was #25 in 1962 and sits at #704 for girls in 2025.
42. Sabre: A sword name with an edge to it. At #14,610 for girls in 2025, it’s barely used.
43. Sage: A herb name that suggests foraging and calm. Girls’ data has it at #160 in 2025.
44. Sig: Short for Sigurd, or a nod to the Sig Sauer brand. Its last U.S. listing was in 2020.
45. Skade: The Norse giantess and goddess of skiing and bowhunting. No U.S. birth record has ever counted it.
46. Talon: The claw of a bird of prey, and about as edgy as a name gets. It peaked in 2006 and now sits at #1,181.
47. Walton: A surname linked to Izaak Walton, the famous writer on fishing. In 2025, boys carrying it ranked #2,449.
48. Wilde: A surname that carries the untamed part of the outdoors. At #8,871 for boys in 2025, it stays rare.
49. Wolfe: A fierce animal name finished with a sophisticated e. Boys’ rank for 2025 landed at #2,879.