Rising since 2010, #5,861 for boys today.
Popularity of Baer since 2007
Babies named Baer per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 23 |
| 2010s | 131 |
| 2020s | 102 |
Meaning & origin
Baer is a rare German-derived name meaning 'bear', ranking 5,861st in the U.S. in 2025. It has been in use since 2007 and has shown a rising trajectory since 2010, reaching its peak popularity in 2022. Approximately 1 in 113,872 boys received the name in 2025. As a surname-turned-first-name, Baer fits a modern trend of distinctive, strong-sounding single-syllable names. While it does not rank in any states' top lists, its steady increase reflects growing interest in nature-inspired and classic Germanic names.
Baer is a German surname derived from the Middle High German 'bër', meaning 'bear'. As a given name, it likely originated as a nickname for someone with bear-like qualities such as strength or fierceness, or from a house sign bearing a bear. It has been used as a first name in the United States since the early 2000s, partly influenced by the trend of using surnames as given names.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Bear, Bär
Sibling names for Baer
Names that share Baer's style, for a brother or sister.
