Names That Mean Deer
- Riles
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"rye hill; roe deer hill"Description:
Riles is the coolest surname name that nobody's using. Seriously nobody — Riles (and the older version of the name, Ryles) have never been given to more than five American baby boys in a single year. But we're hoping to put Riles on the map. Its similarities to trendy names like Riley and Miles make it a great option if you're looking for a name that fits in but stands out.
- Harker
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"deer marshland"Description:
Harker sounds like an occupational name, but this surname actually derives from several English places, meaning either "male deer", "hare" or "gray" + "marshland". It can also be a nickname for an eavesdropper or busybody... or, to put a positive spin on it, someone who is a good listener or has keen hearing. Whichever origin you prefer, it's a cool-sounding and underused name with similar sounds to Harper, but without the mostly-feminine usage.
- Dyani
Origin:
Native AmericanMeaning:
"deer"Description:
Beautiful Indigenous name connected to visual artist Dyani White Hawk. Dyani was most popular in 2001, when it was given to 73 baby girls.
- Blanchard
Origin:
French surnameMeaning:
"white deer"Description:
This name is usually seen as a surname, but could be used as a first in the tradition of Cooper, Sawyer etc.
- Doe
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"a female deer"Description:
Doe is a soft and gentle-eyed middle name possibility and, like Fawn, one of the few animal names open to girls.
- Oshin
Origin:
ManxMeaning:
"little deer"Description:
This Manx form of the popular Irish name Oisín is perhaps a more intuitive spelling outside of Ireland.
- Fiadhnait
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"little deer"Description:
Sweet Irish saint's name related to the rising star Fiadh.
- Ryle
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"rye hill; roe deer hill"Description:
Ryle, rhymes with Kyle, was used by author Colleen Hoover for the neurosurgeon hero of her bestselling novel, It Ends With Us. Nineteen baby boys were named Ryle in the US in 2022, with many more named all variations of Riley, along with many spellings of Rylen, Ryler, and Rye.
- Hartford
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"deer ford"Description:
British habitational surname that calls to mind the Connecticut capital
- Ryles
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"rye hill; roe deer hill"Description:
Ryles may be one of the best-kept secrets in baby names. It has all the trappings of a hit — similarities to fashionable names like Miles and Riley, traditional surname history, that S ending! And yet, neither Ryles nor Riles has ever been given to more than five American baby boys in a single year.
- Buckley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"meadow of the deer"Description:
Mama's boy.
- Derby
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"park with deer"Description:
Derby might be considered a word name or a surname-name. In England, it would be pronounced darby, causing confusion with that similar name.
- Buckminster
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"monastery where deer dwell"Description:
Innovative architect, inventor, and thinker Buckminster (universally known as Bucky) Fuller makes this vaguely possible.
- Osian
Origin:
Welsh variation of OisinMeaning:
"little deer"Description:
Actress Milla Jovovich chose this uncommon but usable Welsh boy name for her daughter in 2020.
- Damona
Origin:
CelticMeaning:
"bull; deer"Description:
A Celtic goddess associated with hot springs.
- Shikamaru
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"as a deer"Description:
Shikamaru Nara is one of the most popular characters from Naruto, although this has not translated to any American or many Japanese babies being given the name.
- Hershey
Origin:
Diminutive of Hershel, German and YiddishMeaning:
"deer"Description:
Hershey is best-known in the US as a brand of chocolate, named after the company's founder, Milton Hershey. Hershey and its many variations, including Hersh and Hershkovitz, is most commonly a surname that may be either German or Jewish.
- Darton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"deer town"Description:
Obscure, though legitimate, name that could be used to honor a relative named Barton or Martin.
- Zibiah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"roe, deer"Description:
Compelling Z name mentioned in the Old Testament and one of the unique baby names still undiscovered from the Bible.
- Derby
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"park with deer"Description:
It's a hat, it's a race, and it's even been known to be a name. In Britain, it would be pronounced darby.