Hawk

♂ Boy

Pronounced HAWK /ˈhɔk/High

Meaning: The bird of prey; from Old English hafoc, used as a sharp-eyed nature nameHigh

In 30 seconds: A raptor on the roll call: Hawk names the keen-eyed hunter that gave English 'hawk-eyed' and 'watch like a hawk'. One syllable, full wingspan.

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Origin HighEnglish

MeaningThe bird of prey; from Old English hafoc, used as a sharp-eyed nature name

U.S. rank (2025)#5099 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births19 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2017

Total births (all-time)≈ 989

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

Hawk is Old English hafoc, the falconer's bird whose vision became proverbial; as a byname it marked sharp-eyed men for centuries before the modern animal-name wave (Bear, Fox, Wolf) returned it to first-name service. Pop culture stocked it well: Tony Hawk, M*A*S*H's Hawkeye, and the Avenger archer.

American use is very rare and unmistakably bold. It pairs a wild meaning with bring-to-the-DMV brevity.

Did you know? Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk made the surname a synonym for vertical daring — and parents of the 2010s began giving the bird itself as a first name.

Overall data confidence 92%

Oxford English Dictionary — hawk — word etymology

Variations

HawkeHawkins

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Hawk Koch
American film producer and former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

If you like Hawk…

Fox— a fellow one-syllable predator name

Wolf— the pack-leader companion of the same trend

Bear— the gentle giant of the animal-name wave

Haze— the same nature feel

Wren— a fellow English choice

Explore names like Hawk

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Hawk mean?

Hawk is the English bird of prey, from Old English hafoc, used as a nature name for keen vision and daring.

How do you pronounce Hawk?

It's said HAWK /ˈhɔk/ — a single syllable.

Is Hawk a boy or girl name?

Hawk is a boy's name.

How popular is Hawk?

Hawk is a very rare animal name in the U.S.