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Home › Baby Names Directory › Hunter

Hunter

♂ Boy

Pronounced HUN-tur /ˈhʌn.tər/High

Meaning: One who hunts; a hunter — from Old English huntian (to hunt) + -er (agent suffix)High

In 30 seconds: A transparent Old English occupational name simply meaning 'one who hunts.' Hunter has the rugged American outdoors feel that made it one of the top boys' names of the 1990s.
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Origin HighOld English
MeaningOne who hunts; a hunter — from Old English huntian (to hunt) + -er (agent suffix)
U.S. rank (2025)#130 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births2,761 boys (0.16% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2000
Total births (all-time)≈ 262,156

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200018802025

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

Hunter is an Old English occupational surname for someone who hunted, from huntian (to hunt). Like many occupational surnames, it became a given name in 20th-century America.

Hunter climbed into the U.S. top 50 boys' names in the 1990s and has remained popular. It is associated with outdoors, country, and hunting culture in the American South and West.

Did you know? Hunter S. Thompson (1937–2005), the American author and creator of Gonzo journalism, gave the name a distinctly counterculture literary edge.

Variations

HuntyrHuntr

Nicknames

Hunt

Famous Bearers

  • ★Hunter S. Thompson (1937–2005)
    American journalist and author, creator of Gonzo journalism, known for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

If you like Hunter…

Walker— occupational Old English surname with the same sturdy country character
Tucker— occupational English surname name with the same rugged American vibe
Cooper— occupational English surname name with the same strong all-American appeal
Alder— shares Hunter's Old English roots
Wilmer— another Old English name

Frequently Asked

What does the name Hunter mean?

Hunter is an Old English occupational surname meaning 'one who hunts,' from huntian (to hunt).

How do you pronounce Hunter?

It is said HUN-tur /ˈhʌn.tər/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Hunter a boy or girl name?

Hunter is used primarily as a boy's name, though it is occasionally given to girls.

How popular is Hunter?

Hunter was in the U.S. top 50 boys' names in the 1990s and remains a top-100 name today.

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