Names That Mean Bear

Orsola is chic in Italy in a way that Ursula is not in the U.S. And English speakers will inevitably hear this chic, sleek name as Ursula, condemned to purgatory as the name of the hideous sea-witch who terrorized Disney's Little Mermaid.

Berengaria was one of the medieval queens of England - married to Richard I (also known as Richard the Lionheart). She was originally from Navarre (in modern northern Spain) and despite being the Queen of England, she only lived in England after her husband had died. Despite its royal roots, Berengaria is one of the less attractive medieval names, although it gets points for having an unusually strong meaning for a feminine name.

Rhythmic and powerful, if you don't mind the nickname Vern.

Cornish Arthek is closely related to Arthur, as both derive from the Celtic arto, meaning "bear." It would make a distinctive choice for a child with Cornish heritage.

Berold is one of the more obscure boy names meaning bear, which also include Arthur, Orson, and (in a different vein) Teddy.

Hip short form of Bernard, also Swiss place-name.

This evocative Spanish surname would make an unusual but lively choice for a girl.

Cornish form of the Welsh name Arthen, meaning "bear".

The name of a sixth century Welsh saint who founded abbeys in Brittany, reconstituted for a modern girl.

If you're looking for a girl's name that honors an ancestral Arthur, try Artis.

Mathúin means "bear" in Irish Gaelic. As Mathghamhain, this was the name of a brother of the Irish king Brian Boru.

As dated as the old Pat Boone song.

This ferocious and fuzzy animal name has started to see some use among baby girls, particularly as a middle name. Reporter Katy Tur has a daughter named Eloise Judy Bear.

Artio is a Celtic bear goddess, whose name relates to the Celtic word artos, meaning "bear" — related to the name Arthur.

A dapper English surname derived from the Old English personal name Hunwine "bear friend", which comes with winning nickname Win.

A possible hero name inspired by notables from Spanish poet/playwright Federico Garcia Lorca to writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez to the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia.

Once a diminutive for Arthur, now used in its own right. Tuur is a Top 100 name in Belgium and a Top 300 name in the Netherlands.