Hunter is primarily a boy's name in the United States and the United Kingdom. The meaning of Hunter is pretty straightforward: "someone who hunts." In the Middle Ages, Hunter was an English and Scottish last name for hunters and bird catchers.
These types of occupational names were commonly used as last names to identify someone or their family's trade. Along with Hunter, other common last names were Carter, Cooper, Smith, Ryder, and Miller – just to name a few. Many of these names, including Hunter, have been adopted into first names for boys (and girls, too).
Before, the name was appropriate for someone who engaged in hunting. Today, you'll find boys and girls from all walks of life named Hunter. Though ancient, the name has a modern, spunky feel – especially for girls.
Hunter has been consistently making appearances in the Social Security Administration's top 1,000 most popular boy's names since 1900, but it wasn't until the '80s that it really started gaining attention. It broke into the top 500 in 1982, then skyrocketed all the way to number 35 a few years later in 2000. It's fallen a bit in popularity since then, but still remains in the top 100 most popular boy's names.
It's less popular as a girl's name, first appearing in the Social Security Administration's top 1,000 girl's names in 1993. It's held steady in the top 1,000 since, but hasn't seen the same recognition among baby girls as it has among boys.
Hunter's popularity shows two things: The last-name-as-a-first-name trend is nowhere near over, and gender-neutral names are here to stay.
Hunter Biden : Son of U.S. President Joe Biden
Hunter Doherty Adams : American physician and clown famous for traveling to visit ill children, better known as Patch Adams
Hunter Foster : American musical theater actor who has appeared in Grease, Les Misérables, and Cats
Hunter Hearst Helmsley : Former stage name of professional wrestler Paul Michael Levesque, aka Triple H
Hunter Renfrow : American professional football player
Hunter Schafer : American actress, model, and LGBTQ rights activist known for her role in the TV show Euphoria
Hunter S. Thompson : American journalist and author who founded the gonzo journalism movement
Hunter Tylo : American actress known for her role on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful
Hunter Cantwell : football player
Hunter Freeman : soccer player
Hunter Hill : baseball player
Hunter Lane : baseball player
Hunter Smith : football player
Hunter Tylo : actress