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.
- Hartford
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"deer ford"Description:
British habitational surname that calls to mind the Connecticut capital
- 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. Twenty-nine baby boys were named Ryle in the US in 2023, with many more named all variations of Riley, along with many spellings of Rylen, Ryler, and Rye.
- 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.
- Damona
Origin:
CelticMeaning:
"bull; deer"Description:
A Celtic goddess associated with hot springs.
- Osian
Origin:
Welsh variation of Oisin, IrishMeaning:
"little deer"Description:
Actress Milla Jovovich chose this uncommon but usable Welsh boy name for her daughter in 2020. Oisin is very popular in its native Ireland.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Roebuck
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"roe deer"Description:
A roebuck is the male of the roe deer species, native to Europe. Prior to its adoption as a surname, Roebuck was used as a nickname for people thought to look like the deer.
- 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.