Hunter
Hunter is a unisex name of English origin meaning “one who hunts; huntsman.” It ranked #130 in the United States in 2025. An English occupational surname for someone who hunts.
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how do you pronounce Hunter?
HUN-ter
where does the name Hunter come from?
An English occupational surname for someone who hunted, from the Old English hunta. Like most occupational surnames it recorded an actual trade rather than a pastime — a huntsman was a household servant with a defined role.
It crossed over as a given name in the late 20th century and remains a popular choice evoking the outdoors and rugged self-reliance.
how popular is this name?
Hunter has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 126 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 20. It peaked at #35 in 2000, and ranked #130 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #130 |
| 2024 | #128 |
| 2023 | #115 |
| 2022 | #101 |
| 2021 | #86 |
| 2020 | #68 |
| 2019 | #66 |
| 2018 | #56 |
| 2017 | #53 |
| 2016 | #45 |
| 2010 | #58 |
| 2000 | #35 |
| 1990 | #219 |
| 1980 | #548 |
| 1970 | #776 |
| 1960 | #897 |
| 1950 | #989 |
| 1920 | #805 |
| 1910 | #755 |
| 1900 | #743 |
| 1890 | #739 |
| 1880 | #526 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Hunter fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Hunter
Hunter is a long-established Scottish and English surname, and Clan Hunter held lands in Ayrshire from the twelfth century. Its conversion to a given name is a twentieth-century American development, rising sharply from the 1970s into the top hundred for boys, with lighter but persistent use for girls.
who are famous people named Hunter?
- Hunter S. Thompson (journalist)
- Hunter Biden (lawyer)
- Holly Hunter (actress)
what are the nicknames and variants of Hunter?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Hunter?
what names go well with Hunter?
Sibling names that share Hunter's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Hunter
What does the name Hunter mean?
Hunter means “one who hunts; huntsman”.
What is the origin of the name Hunter?
Hunter comes from the English naming tradition. Related forms include Huntter and Huntar.
How popular is the name Hunter?
Hunter ranked #130 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2000, at #35, and it has spent 126 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Hunter a boy or girl name?
Hunter is a unisex name, used for both boys and girls.
How do you pronounce Hunter?
Hunter is pronounced HUN-ter, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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