What does the name Bear mean?

Bear is a boy name of English origin: bear animal.

When was the name Bear most popular?

In US Social Security records since 1890, Bear peaked in the 2020s.

What are names similar to Bear?

Names similar to Bear in origin and style include Cedar, Jett, Storm, Rain, River.

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Bear

boy name

Origin

English

Syllables

Peak era

2020s

Today

▲ Rising

Meaning

bear animal

The formal names behind Bear

Bear is an established short form of this name.

Barrett · Germanic origin · surname, traditionally "strong as a bear"

Why we verify every short-form relationship →

Popularity, 1890–2024

1890speak 2020s

Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Bear peaked in the 2020s.

When you meet Bear

Most people given the name Bear in the United States are children or teenagers today. The name belongs to this generation.

Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.

Names that fit alongside Bear

Cedar Jett Storm Rain River Stone

The Bear deep dive

Written for you · $1.99 →

Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Bear truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Bear fits with your family’s names and surname.

Both reports, explained →

Keep exploring

Short names

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