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You spent months dreaming about this baby. You felt every kick. And now, picking a name feels harder than anything else, because this one word will follow your child for a lifetime. If you want something soft yet meaningful, rooted in nature and culture, a name that means rabbit might be exactly what you are searching for.
Rabbits carry centuries of symbolism across the world, from good luck in Chinese culture to renewal in Celtic traditions to moon magic in Japanese folklore. This list gives you 101 verified names with origins and meanings, organized so you can find the perfect fit fast.
What Does It Mean When a Name Means Rabbit?
Across almost every culture on earth, the rabbit stands for something beautiful. In East Asian traditions, the rabbit lives on the moon, symbolizing purity and longevity. In Native American cultures, the rabbit is clever and resourceful. In Celtic and Old English traditions, hares represent swift thinking and new beginnings. In Aztec mythology, the rabbit is a sacred creature tied to nature and festivity. When you give your child a name rooted in rabbit symbolism, you are giving them a name that carries gentleness, luck, intelligence, and a quiet kind of strength.
Baby Girl Names That Mean Rabbit
| Name | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Usagi | Japanese | “Rabbit of the moon”; made famous by Sailor Moon’s lead character Usagi Tsukino |
| Rini | Japanese | “Little bunny”; the prefix also carries the meaning of reason and logic |
| Chibiusa | Japanese | “Small rabbit”; the beloved daughter character from the Sailor Moon series |
| Uzuki | Japanese | From the kanji 卯月 meaning “rabbit month”; refers to the fourth lunar month |
| Fuka | Japanese | Contains the kanji 卯 meaning rabbit, combined with wind and flower characters |
| Mito | Japanese | Written as 美兎, meaning “beautiful rabbit”; elegant and poetic |
| Tsukino | Japanese | “Moon field”; the surname of Usagi in Sailor Moon, evoking moonlit rabbit imagery |
| Usako | Japanese | A tender, feminine variation of Usagi meaning “little rabbit” |
| Muyal | Tamil/Malayalam | Directly means “rabbit” in South Indian languages; soft and rare |
| Sebutlana | Tswana | “Small rabbit” in the Setswana language of southern Africa |
| Waaboozikwe | Ojibwe | “Snowshoe rabbit woman”; a powerful name from Anishinaabe tradition |
| Ukaleq | Inuit/Greenlandic | Pronounced oo-kah-lehk; means “hare from the Arctic” |
| Leveret | French | “Young rabbit”; delicate and literary sounding |
| Arleigh | Old English | Feminine spelling of Arley, meaning “hare meadow” |
| Buffy | English | Considered a variation of Bunny; a bright, retro name |
| Meadow | English | The natural habitat of rabbits; a fresh nature name for girls |
| Clover | Old English | From the word clafre; rabbits love clover, and it symbolizes luck |
| Hazel | English/Literary | The brave rabbit leader in Watership Down; also a tree name with earthy depth |
| Flopsy | English/Literary | From Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit; whimsical and nostalgic |
| Mopsy | English/Literary | Another of Peter Rabbit’s sisters; old-fashioned warmth and storybook charm |
| Sable | Balto-Slavic | A rabbit breed name referring to dark coloring; sleek and distinctive |
| Satin | Old French | A rabbit breed name from the French word sate; smooth and refined |
| Chandaga | Mongolian | Directly means “rabbit” in Mongolian; rare and striking |
| Dawa | Tibetan | Symbolizes the “moon hare”; traditionally given to children born on a Monday |
| Shashi | Sanskrit | Means “hare” or “moon”; in Indian traditions, a rabbit’s image appears on the moon |
| Coello | Galician/Portuguese | Directly translates to “rabbit”; elegant and culturally rich |
| Awlagh | Berber (Tamazight) | “Little rabbit”; a gentle name from North African Amazigh tradition |
| Luna | Latin/Italian | Deeply tied to moon rabbit folklore found across Japanese and Aztec cultures |
| Hana | Japanese | “Flower”; associated with rabbits through their gentle and delicate nature |
| Mimi | Japanese/French | Means “ear” in Japanese, referencing the iconic long ears of a rabbit |
Baby Boy Names That Mean Rabbit
| Name | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Harlan | Old Irish/Old English | “Land of the hare”; strong two-syllable name with countryside roots |
| Arley | Old English | “Hare meadow”; sometimes spelled Arleigh for boys or girls |
| Arledge | Old English | “Dweller of rabbit lake”; a rugged, distinctive surname-style name |
| Hopper | Old English | An occupational name meaning “one who leaps or hops”; Sean Penn named his son this |
| Lepus | Latin | Directly from the Latin word for hare; also a constellation in the night sky |
| Coney | Old English | An archaic English word for rabbit; vintage and rare with rustic appeal |
| Conall | Irish | Tied to nature and forest animals including rabbits in Irish tradition |
| Shaphan | Hebrew | A biblical name meaning “hare” or “rock rabbit”; carried by a scribe in the Book of Kings |
| Jearim | Hebrew | Means “leap”; variations include Jeareem; unusual and memorable |
| Peter | English/Greek | Forever linked to Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit; a timeless classic with a literary connection |
| Tochtli | Nahuatl (Aztec) | Means “rabbit” in Nahuatl; a name tied to the Aztec sacred calendar |
| Nanabozho | Ojibwe | The wise and clever rabbit figure in Ojibwe folklore; deeply rooted in Native American tradition |
| Br’er | American Folklore | From the famous trickster rabbit tales of Southern American folklore |
| Dafydd | Welsh | Associated with pastoral life and gentle countryside symbolism in Wales |
| Shashanka | Sanskrit/Bengali | Means “moon” literally from shasha (hare/rabbit) and anka (mark); used in Bengal and Odisha |
| Tuulaikhu | Mongolian | From tuulai meaning “hare/rabbit” and khuu meaning “son” or “beloved boy” |
| Ryoto | Japanese | Contains the kanji 兎 (to) meaning “rabbit/hare”; a contemporary Japanese boy name |
| Harlan | Irish | “Land of the hare”; a solid, countryside name with Celtic roots |
| Jack | English | Linked to jackrabbit symbolism; represents alertness and adaptability |
| Macuiltochtli | Nahuatl | “Five Rabbit” in Aztec mythology; name of one of the Ahuiateteo gods |
| Mazatoch | Nahuatl | Means “deer-like rabbit” in Nahuatl; rare and mythological |
| Pyonkichi | Japanese | Playfully combines the hopping sound pyonpyon with the male name suffix kichi |
| Shash | Sanskrit | Means “rabbit” and “man of mild character”; naturally anglicized with a nickname feel |
| Bunny | English/French | In French means “nice”; used as a given name symbolizing innocence and kindness |
| Hop | Vietnamese/Chinese | Refers to the rabbit’s signature movement; also has a Vietnamese name usage |
| Harell | Modern English | A variation inspired by the word hare, symbolizing speed and awareness |
| Harley | Old English | Translates to “hare” and “woodland”; a strong unisex leaning toward boys |
| Lior | Hebrew | Meaning “light”; often paired with moon rabbit folklore in Jewish culture |
| Lowell | Old French | Sometimes associated with countryside imagery and small animals like rabbits |
| Kelby | Old English | Associated with open fields and the natural habitat of rabbits |
Unisex Baby Names That Mean Rabbit
| Name | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Arlen | Irish/Greek | Refers to “a place filled with rabbits”; gentle and uncommon |
| Ash | Old English/Irish | Describes a “small, rare rabbit found in North America”; short and adaptable |
| Kani | Finnish | Directly means “rabbit” in Finnish; playful and rare outside Scandinavia |
| Ugalik | Inuit | Means “arctic hare”; a beautifully unique unisex name with cold-weather roots |
| Jearim | Hebrew | Means “leap”; works easily across genders |
| Hopper | Old English | “One who leaps”; popularized as a given name by Sean Penn and Robin Wright |
| Jersey | French/English | A rabbit breed name; also a place name with dual gender appeal |
| Dawa | Tibetan | “Moon hare”; given to children born on Mondays across Tibetan Buddhist families |
| Harley | Old English | “Hare and woodland”; works beautifully for any gender |
| Clover | Old English | Rabbit-associated luck symbol; increasingly popular for both genders |
| Shashi | Sanskrit | “Hare” or “moon”; commonly used as both a girl and boy name in South Asia |
| Udzuki | Japanese | The rare kanji name written as 卯月 meaning “rabbit month”; used unisex in Japan |
| Chandaga | Mongolian | “Rabbit” in Mongolian; given to both boys and girls |
Japanese Baby Names Meaning Rabbit
Japanese culture has one of the richest rabbit traditions in the world. The moon rabbit, called Tsuki no Usagi, is a central figure in Japanese mythology, believed to live on the moon and pound mochi. Many Japanese names carry the kanji 兎 or 卯, both meaning rabbit.
| Name | Kanji | Gender | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usagi | うさぎ | Unisex | “Rabbit”; the most direct and common Japanese word for rabbit |
| Uzuki | 卯月 | Girl | “Rabbit month”; the traditional name for the fourth lunar month |
| Fuka | 風卯花 | Girl | Combines wind, rabbit, and flower characters |
| Mito | 美兎 | Girl | “Beautiful rabbit”; elegant and poetic |
| Usako | うさこ | Girl | Tender feminine diminutive of Usagi meaning “little rabbit” |
| Rini | りに | Girl | “Little bunny”; also carries the meaning of reason and logic |
| Chibiusa | ちびうさ | Girl | “Small rabbit”; from Sailor Moon manga and anime |
| Ryoto | 涼兎 | Boy | Contains 兎 (rabbit); a fresh, modern Japanese boy name |
| Pyonkichi | ぴょん吉 | Boy | Combines rabbit-hop sound with traditional male name suffix |
| Tsukino | 月野 | Girl | “Moon field”; the rabbit-linked surname of Sailor Moon’s hero |
| Uzuki | 卯月 | Unisex | The rabbit hour and rabbit direction; associated with early morning |
Chinese Baby Names Meaning Rabbit
In Chinese culture, the rabbit is the fourth animal of the Chinese zodiac and represents graciousness, kindness, and good fortune. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are said to be gentle, elegant, and lucky. The Chinese character for rabbit is 兔 (tù).
| Name | Characters | Gender | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiantu | 贤兔 | Unisex | Combines “virtuous/wise” with the rabbit character 兔; a name of grace |
| Tu’er | 兔儿 | Boy | “Rabbit child”; also the name of Tu’er Shen, the Chinese Rabbit God |
| Yutu | 玉兔 | Girl | “Jade rabbit”; the name of the divine rabbit who lives on the moon in Chinese mythology |
| Baitou | 白兔 | Unisex | “White rabbit”; the sacred white rabbit of Chinese legend |
| Jinyue | 金月 | Girl | “Golden moon”; deeply connected to moon rabbit imagery in Chinese poetry |
| Tujun | 兔俊 | Boy | Combines the rabbit character with 俊 meaning “talented and handsome” |
Last Names (Surnames) That Mean Rabbit
Many cultures also carry rabbit meanings in their family names. These surnames make interesting middle names or can inspire first name choices.
| Surname | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Usagizawa | Japanese | Contains 兎 (usagi/rabbit) and 沢 (marsh); a real Japanese surname |
| Utsugi | Japanese | Can be written with the rabbit kanji 卯; a Japanese family name found in Japan today |
| Unoda | Japanese | Written as 卯野田 with the rabbit character 卯; means “rabbit field and rice paddy” |
| Guinan | Irish | From O Cuanain, derived from the Irish cuinin meaning “rabbit” |
| Conejo | Spanish | Directly means “rabbit” in Spanish; a surname from Spain and Latin America |
| Coniglio | Italian/Sicilian | From the Latin cuniculus meaning rabbit; a Sicilian family name |
| Coney | English | Means “seller of rabbits” or a medieval nickname for someone resembling a rabbit |
| Belyakov | Russian | From the Russian word belyak meaning “white rabbit” |
| Belyakova | Russian | Feminine form of Belyakov; means “white rabbit” |
| Toxqui | Nahuatl | A corruption of the Nahuatl tochtli meaning “rabbit”; found in Cholula, Mexico |
Rare and Mythological Names That Mean Rabbit
These names go beyond the mainstream. If you want something truly uncommon with deep cultural roots, this section is for you.
| Name | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Tochtli | Aztec/Nahuatl | “Rabbit”; also refers to a day on the sacred Aztec calendar |
| Nanabozho | Ojibwe | The great trickster rabbit spirit of Ojibwe and Anishinaabe mythology |
| Macuiltochtli | Nahuatl | “Five Rabbit”; an Aztec deity associated with joy and excess |
| Zajac | Slavic | Directly means “hare” in Czech, Slovak, and Polish; strong and punchy |
| Awlagh | Berber/Tamazight | “Little rabbit” in the Amazigh language of North Africa; soft and rare |
| Waaboozikwe | Ojibwe | “Snowshoe rabbit woman”; carries Indigenous identity and natural strength |
| Tuulaikhu | Mongolian | “Beloved rabbit son”; a beautiful Mongolian name pairing rabbit with love |
| Sebutlana | Tswana | “Small rabbit” in Setswana; elegant and unexpected in Western contexts |
| Leveret | Old French | “Young hare”; rare as a given name but has a natural, literary quality |
| Shaphan | Hebrew | A name of a biblical figure whose name means “hare” or “rock rabbit” |
| Shashanka | Sanskrit/Bengali | “Moon-marked” from hare imagery; used historically by Indian royalty |
How to Choose the Right Name from This List?
With 101 options across cultures and genders, narrowing down can feel overwhelming. Start by thinking about three things: how the name sounds with your last name, what the deeper meaning says about the values you hope your child carries, and whether the cultural origin feels authentic to your family.
Names like Usagi or Uzuki are deeply Japanese and most meaningful for families with a connection to Japanese culture or a genuine love of its traditions. Names like Harlan, Arley, or Clover blend naturally into English-speaking environments without requiring explanation. If you want something biblical and discreet, Shaphan carries the rabbit meaning quietly inside a strong, classic frame. For parents drawn to mythology, Tochtli or Nanabozho offer a name unlike anything else on any class list.
Also consider how the name will grow. Bunny is sweet at birth but Arley or Leveret carries elegance into adulthood. Think about nicknames too. Chibiusa naturally becomes Chibi. Shashanka becomes Shash. Waaboozikwe can be called Waabi by family.
What Cultures Have the Strongest Rabbit Name Traditions?
Japanese culture leads the world in rabbit name mythology, largely because of the moon rabbit story called Tsuki no Usagi. This legend holds that a rabbit lives on the moon and pounds rice cakes, which is why the dark patches on the moon’s surface look like a rabbit to Japanese eyes. It explains why so many Japanese names carry the kanji for rabbit alongside the character for moon.
Chinese culture runs a close second. The Jade Rabbit, or Yutu, is a companion to the moon goddess Chang’e and represents immortality. In the Chinese zodiac, the rabbit year brings people of elegance, caution, and artistic talent.
Aztec culture gave the rabbit a place in its sacred calendar. The Nahuatl word tochtli refers to a specific day in the 260-day tonalpohualli calendar, and rabbit deities were connected to fertility, pulque (a traditional drink), and the natural world.
Celtic and Old English traditions tied the hare to springtime, witchcraft, and the goddess Eostre, which some scholars connect to modern Easter traditions. Names like Arley and Harlan come directly from this tradition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Usagi a real name parents use, or just an anime character name?
Usagi is a real Japanese word and has been used as a given name in Japan, though it became internationally known through the Sailor Moon character. Japanese names containing the rabbit kanji are genuinely used by real families, particularly Uzuki, Mito, and names using the 卯 character.
Are rabbit names considered lucky in any cultures?
Yes. In Chinese culture, naming a child with rabbit symbolism is considered auspicious, especially for children born in the Year of the Rabbit. Rabbits in Chinese tradition represent kindness, luck, and longevity. In Celtic traditions, carrying a rabbit’s foot is one of the oldest good luck charms in European history, so names tied to hare imagery carry that warm symbolism too.
Can rabbit names work for children who are not from Asian backgrounds?
Absolutely. Many rabbit-meaning names have Old English, Irish, French, Hebrew, and Indigenous American origins that have nothing to do with Asian culture. Names like Arley, Harlan, Leveret, Clover, Shaphan, and Arledge come from entirely Western traditions and fit naturally in English-speaking households.
What is the difference between names that mean rabbit and names that mean hare?
Biologically, rabbits and hares are closely related but distinct animals. In name traditions, they are almost always treated interchangeably. A name meaning “hare meadow” like Arley is included in rabbit name lists worldwide because the cultural and symbolic meaning overlaps almost completely. The distinction matters in biology but not in baby name symbolism.
Are there rabbit names from African or Indigenous traditions?
Yes, and these are some of the most underrepresented yet meaningful options on this list. Ugalik from Inuit tradition means “arctic hare.” Waaboozikwe from Ojibwe means “snowshoe rabbit woman.” Awlagh from the Berber Tamazight language means “little rabbit.” Sebutlana from Tswana means “small rabbit.” These names carry rich cultural histories that go far beyond what most baby name sites cover.
Which rabbit name is easiest to pronounce in English?
Names like Clover, Harlan, Arley, Hopper, Jack, Leveret, and Bunny are effortlessly natural in English. Among the more culturally specific names, Muyal (moo-yahl), Shashi (shah-shee), and Kani (kah-nee) are also relatively simple for English speakers to learn quickly.
Is there a rabbit name that works as both a first name and a middle name?
Several work beautifully in both positions. Leveret, Clover, Arley, Shashi, and Dawa are short and melodic enough to sit gracefully in either spot. Shaphan makes a distinguished, unexpected middle name. Uzuki works especially well as a poetic middle name for families with Japanese heritage.
