Home › Baby Names Directory › Cougar

Cougar

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Cougar

Pronounced KOO-gar /ˈku.ɡər/Medium

Meaning: Cougar is used as a given name straight from the English word for the cougar, also called the mountain lion, puma, or panther, a large wild cat of the Americas. The word reached English through French and Portuguese from a Tupi-Guarani source. As a name it reads as a bold, rugged animal word rather than a traditional personal name.Low

In 30 seconds: Cougar is used as a name straight from the word for the American wild cat. It stayed very rare, peaking around 2007 (said KOO-gar).

💕 Browse more names

Origin LowEnglish

MeaningCougar is used as a given name straight from the English word for the cougar, also called the mountain lion, puma, or panther, a large wild cat of the Americas. The word reached English through French and Portuguese from a Tupi-Guarani source. As a name it reads as a bold, rugged animal word rather than a traditional personal name.

U.S. rank (2011)#11097 ↘ Falling

2011 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2007

Total births (all-time)≈ 206

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Cougar is a word-name taken directly from the name of the large American wild cat, also called the mountain lion or puma. The word came into English by way of French and Portuguese from a South American language. As a boy's name it is bold and modern, chosen for the animal's power and grace rather than for any older personal meaning.

Cougar was always very rare as a given name, recorded for only about twenty boys a year around its high point near 2007. A boy named Cougar then is in his late teens today.

Did you know? Cougar as a name draws on the animal's strong, athletic image, the same reason it is a common mascot for American schools and sports teams.

Overall data confidence 30%

References - Cougar — English word/animal name; cougar/mountain lion

Variations

CougerKougar

Nicknames

CougCougs

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Cougar…

Hunter— a like rugged nature word-name for boys

Fox— another animal word-name

Wolf— a similar strong animal name

Bear— a comparable wild-animal name

Explore names like Cougar

By thememodern rare word-name animal

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Cougar mean?

It is a word-name taken from the English name for the cougar or mountain lion, a large American wild cat.

How do you pronounce Cougar?

It is said KOO-gar /ˈku.ɡər/, two syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Cougar a boy or girl name?

Cougar is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Cougar?

It has always been very rare, given to only about twenty boys a year at its peak in the late two-thousands.