Where does the name Hunter come from?

Hunter is a boy name of English origin.

Is Hunter a boy or a girl name?

Hunter is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 5% of children given the name Hunter are girls and 95% are boys.

How popular is the name Hunter in 2023?

Hunter ranks #806 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2000 with 13,252 babies.

How do you pronounce Hunter?

Hunter is pronounced HUN-ter (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Hunter?

Hunter is also written as Huntyr.

A name from English · Boy

Hunter

From the Old English hunta, an occupational surname for someone who hunted game. Rose sharply as an American given name from the 1980s as nature-and-occupation names took hold.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

256,625 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

3,478 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

HFrom the Old English hunta, an occupational surname for someone who hunted game. Rose sharply as an American given name from the 1980s as nature-and-occupation names took hold.

Variants & spellings

1 ways to spell "Hunter".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Huntyr Most common

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Hunter.

H
Hunter S. Thompson (Gonzo journalist)
H
Hunter Pence (MLB outfielder)
H
Hunter Biden

Quick answers

People often ask about Hunter.

What does the name Hunter mean?: Hunter means from the Old English hunta, an occupational surname for someone who hunted game. Rose sharply as an American given name from the 1980s as nature-and-occupation names took hold.
Where does the name Hunter come from?: Hunter is a boy name of English origin.
Is Hunter a boy or a girl name?: Hunter is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 5% of children given the name Hunter are girls and 95% are boys.
How popular is the name Hunter in 2023?: Hunter ranks #806 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2000 with 13,252 babies.
How do you pronounce Hunter?: Hunter is pronounced HUN-ter (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Hunter?: Hunter is also written as Huntyr.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.