Names associated with hunting are found mostly in mythology and stories from a bygone era. These kinds of names bring to mind images of strong, powerful, people who are at one with their surroundings.
To be a successful hunter, you need to have a certain set of skills and these names imply that they do.
In this article
Boys Names That Mean Hunter
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Actaeon – With its origins in Greek mythology, this is the name of the hunter who transformed into a stag. He later went on to devour his own hounds after seeing the goddess Artemis taking a bath.
Apsat – The name is derived from the Abkhaz word a-psaaf which means ‘bird.’ He is a male deity of birds and animals in the mythology of the peoples of the Caucasus.
Arawn – The name means ‘king of the otherworld’ and is of Welsh origin.
Aristaeus – He was the son of Apollo and Cyrene. He’s one of the Greek gods of hunting and is also credited with the discovery of arts such as beekeeping.
Artemas – This is the male version of the name Artemis and means ‘goddess of the hunt.’
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Canowicakte – It means ‘forest hunter.’ This is another name that may present some pronunciation problems but you could always shorten it to Canoe.
Cernunnos – This is the traditional name for the horned God of the hunter depicted in Celtic mythology. It is a little bit of a mouthful but worth the struggle.
Chase – The meaning is ‘the hunt’ and was used extensively in the last decade. The name is extremely popular in Canada and holds a high position in Saskatchewan too.
Chasen – This was a popular surname and is now given as a first name. Its essence is the same as Chase.
Cocidius – Its meaning is ‘mythical hunter God.’ This is a bold choice for any parents.
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Fowler – A surname that was commonly used for wild bird hunters. It has now made its way into the chic baby name genre.
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Gahiji – It originated in the Rwanda language and means ‘a hunter.’ It is not a common name choice so could be a good option if you are looking for something unique.
Grosvenor – This means ‘great hunter’ and was obtained as a surname from one of the Norman-French families. It has a very upper-class tone to it.
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Hearne – It means ‘mythical hunter’ and is quickly growing in favor. The appeal of this name is that it will work with almost any surname.
Holter – Means ‘hunter.’ This is a perfect choice for any parents who want to keep the ‘hol’ sound but don’t want to use the name ‘Holmes.’
Hunt – This name is very straightforward, some may say a little blunt. It was a popular choice but has now been overtaken by Hunter. Hunt can be kept as a nickname.
Hunter – A name that is leading the way in super macho boys’ names. The name was connected to the journalist Hunter S. Thompson for many years.
Huntingden – Means den of the hunter. This is a cute but old fashioned way. Although it is also a bold name for a little boy.
Huntington – It means hunter settlement and offers your baby boy a real grown-up name for his birth certificate. But still gives the option of some super cute nicknames.
Huntley – Hunter of the meadow is the meaning of this name and is best known for its association with Brinkley’s news partner a few decades ago. The name also has some popular namesakes such as Huntley Wright the English actor, Huntley Gordon the Canadian actor, and Huntley Nowel Spaulding the American manufacturer and politician.
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Jaecar – With German origins and means hunter. This is a strong choice for a little boy but is still a very unique choice as it has not made its way into the mainstream.
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Khonvoum – This is the name of God if the hunt in Banbuti Pygmy. He holds a bow made from snakes and would make a very bold choice by any parents.
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Lelantos – The name of the son of Ceous and Phoebe. He is the God of air and hunters caliber for stalking prey. The name comes from the Greek word ‘lentho’ which means escape unnoticed.
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Makya – This is a short name that means ‘an eagle hunter.’ The name is very popular among American communities.
Mixcoatl – In Mesoamerican cultures, this name means ‘the god of hunt identified with the stars, heavens, and the milky way.’ He is also the patron deity of Otomi, the Chichimecs, and all the groups claiming descent from the Chichimecs. Currently an unusual and unique name for your little one.
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Nodens – This is the name of a Celtic god who is mostly associated with hunting. It is a name associated with Roman gods – Mercury, Mars, Neptune, and Silvanus.
Nyyrikki – Is the name of the God of cattle and hunt and has Finnish origins. He was the son of Tapio. The name is also associated with Nimrodm, a mighty hunter featured in the Bible.
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Odin – The name of Thor’s father. It has Norwegian origins and was used as a given name at the beginning of the 10th century and still is today.
Opochtli – This is the name of the god of fishing and hunting in Aztec mythology. This is definitely a unique name that would do well in the 21st century.
Oringo – A name with African origins and means ‘he who likes to hunt.’ It is a relaxed name that is ideal for parents looking for a more informal name choice.
Orion – In Greek mythology, it was the name of a hunter who pursued the daughters of Atlas. He was later killed by Artemis and was then placed as one of the brightest constellations in the sky by Zeus. The name was used occasionally in the 10th century but burst into popularity in 1995.
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Rigel – The name of the blue star, which marked the hunter’s left foot in the Orion constellation. This is a great option if you’re looking for an unusual hunt related name.
Rudra – With its origins in the Hindu Rig Vedic deity associated with the storm, wind, and hunt. Rudra means ‘roarer.’ He is praised as the mightiest in the Rigveda and there is even a hymn of Yajurveda dedicated to Rudra.
Rundas – A name with Anatolian origins. It’s the name of the god of the hunt and good fortune in the Hittite mythology. The emblem of this God is a double eagle with hares in each talon.
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Sidon – Greek origins and means ‘fish hunting.’ The name is derived from the Phoenician port city Sidonia.
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Tapio – Finnish origins and is the name of an East Finnish hunting god and features prominently in Kalevala. Hunters would pray to him before every hunt so that they could have a successful hunt.
Theron – Theron means ‘hunter.’ It’s best known as the surname of Charlize. But the name does have a long history of use as a first name. It’s the early 20th-century ranked in the top 500 list but then dropped out of the top 1000 list at the turn of the 20th century.
Todd – This was once a surname used for fox hunters. But today this is a common name given to little boys.
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Woodman – With English origins and used as a surname, it means ‘hunter.’ It is a very masculine name and brings to mind images of a little boy who loves the outdoors.
Girls Names That Mean Huntress
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Artemis – This is the name of one of the crucial figures in Greek mythology. It is the name of the goddess of hunt, animals, and wilderness. She is also Apollo’s twin sister. Artemis means the ‘goddess of the hunt.’
Arnakuagsak – This is the name given to the goddess who had the responsibility of ensuring that the hunters caught enough food to sustain themselves. She is mainly worshipped in Greenland.
Atalanta – It is the name of a virgin huntress. The story goes that her father wanted a son and was devastated with her birth, so he left her on a mountain top to die. She didn’t die though and grew up in the wilderness and took the oath of being a virgin. She turned out to be a famous huntress.
Auryon – This is a recent American Huntress girl’s name.
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Bendis – It is the name of the Thracian goddess of hunt and moon, identified with the Greek goddess Artemis. She was a huntress but is accompanied by maenads and satyrs on a red stemless cup.
Brielle – The name means ‘hunting grounds.’ The name is very popular in Mexico but is now used more outside of this country.
Britomartis – Was a Minoan mythology figure who passed through the Mycenaean culture into classic Greek mythology. She’s the goddess of hunting and mountains. Britomartis is also the mountain nymph whom the Greeks recognize as the invisible patroness of Aegina.
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Chace – This is an unusual variation of the name Chase. It was first used by Chase Crawford from Gossip Girl.
Cyrene – She was the daughter of Hypseus. She was a fierce huntress. She was referred to as a “deer-chasing second Artemis, the girl lion killer,” by Nonnus. It’s believed that she was not mortal but a nymph.
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Dali – This is a short name associated with the goddess of the hunt, Dali. She is also associated with the horned beast of the mountain.
Devana – The Slavic goddess of the hunt. She’s the equivalent of the Roman goddess Diana. The name Devana is derived from the Slavic word that means ‘virgin or maiden.’
Diana – This name is associated with the Roman goddess of the moon and hunt. It’s also the name of Prince William’s mother. The name was quite popular in the 90s but has now dropped in popularity.
Diane – A variation of the name of the Roman goddess of hunting. This variation has not gained popularity as Diana has maybe due to the ‘e’ ending as it has an old fashioned feel to it. There are several famous bearers of the name such as Diane de France the daughter of France’s Henry II and Diane Sawyer American TV journalist.
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Fianna – If you’re not keen to stick to current naming trends, you could this unique name that means ‘warrior huntress.’
Flidais – Is the goddess of animal, hunting, and woodlands. She is similar to the Roman goddess Diana and Greek goddess Artemis. Flidais rode a deer chariot and possessed the magical Cow of Plenty.
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Kacela – The meaning of this name is ‘hunter’ and would make an interesting choice for a little girl.
Kainda – It means ‘the hunter’s daughter’ and is sure to keep the boys away from your little girl.
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Mielikki – The Finnish God of the hunt and forest, often referred to as the wife or daughter in law of Tapio. She was a skilled healer and could heal the paws of animals that had escaped traps or fallen from nests. The name is derived from the Finnish word ‘mielu‘ and means ‘luck.’
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Neith – The name of the Egyptian goddess of the hunt and mentioned in Rick Riordan’s Kane Chronicle’s Series. Neith means ‘divine mother.’
Nerrivik – From Inuit mythology, she is the sea mother, the patron of hunters and fisherman, and also the provider of food for the Inuit people. It is believed that she married the storm god who had conjured sea storms when Nerriviks relatives had been hunting. While saving her people, she lost one of her hands.
Nujalik – In Inuit mythology, she is the goddess of hunting on land. This is a popular name in Canada.
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Pakhet – The goddess of war and hunt. She is associated with those who hunted near the water present at the boundary of the desert. Pakhet is depicted as a feline headed woman, killing snakes with her sharp claws.
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Sedna – In Inuit mythology, she’s also known as the Mistress of the Sea or Mother of the sea. She is also the goddess of marine animals and sea hunting.
Skaoi – Or Skade. She’s the goddess associated with skiing and bowhunting. She married Njoror who was one of the gods, as a part of the compensation for killing her father.
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Winda – The meaning of Winda is ‘a hunter.’ It is a very cute name that fits perfectly for any parents looking for that hunter inspired baby name.
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Zarola – It means ‘hunter’ and is not a very common name. Personally, I think it would make a great name for a little girl.
Zambadi – The name means ‘hunter’ but is quite an unusual sounding. You also have the option to shorten it to Zamb.
The Final Thought
Many, if not most of these names, are unique and you can be pretty certain that they’ll be the only one with that name in their class. If you’re going to choose a name with a hunter theme, be prepared that it will be a bold choice!
