Cougar
The cougar, also called puma, mountain lion, catamount, and panther, is a large small cat native to the Americas. It inhabits North, Central and South America, making it the most widely distributed wild, terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the most widespread in the world.
Meaning & Origin of Cougar
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
The cougar, also called puma, mountain lion, catamount, and panther, is a large small cat native to the Americas. It inhabits North, Central and South America, making it the most widely distributed wild, terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the most widespread in the world.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Cougar
Cougar first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1987, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2007, when 17 Cougars were born — ranking #5,208 that year. As of 2026, Cougar ranks #10,806 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 206 Cougars have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Cougar
Phonetically similar names — useful when Cougar is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Couger
- Kegger
- Cogar
- Cagr
- Kiger
- Koger
- Cogger
- Cagar
- Kyger
- Cukor
- Kicker
- Cooker
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cougar
What does the name Cougar mean?
How popular is Cougar in 2026?
When was Cougar most popular?
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About the name Cougar
Cougar is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1987 and has accumulated 206 births in the dataset. Cougar's peak popularity came in 2007 when it ranked #5,208. Use the chart and map above to compare Cougar's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2007 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "C" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.