List of United States professional sports teams

In the United States, the big four major league sporting franchises (MLB, NFL, NBA, and the NHL) have names that vary ranging from names of animals, names of groups of people, names of occupations, names of colors, and names of objects.

Animal names

Birds

  • Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Atlanta Thrashers
  • Chicago Blackhawks
  • Baltimore Ravens
  • St. Louis Cardinals
  • Toronto Blue Jays
  • Baltimore Orioles
  • Atlanta Falcons
  • Atlanta Hawks

Land animals

  • Phoenix Coyotes
  • Buffalo Bills
  • Buffalo Sabres
  • Florida Panthers
  • Carolina Panthers
  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Indianapolis Colts
  • Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Detroit Lions
  • Detroit Tigers
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Charlotte Bobcats
  • Minnesota Timberwolves

Sea creatures

  • San Jose Sharks
  • Miami Dolphins
  • Tampa Bay Rays
  • Florida Marlins

Groups of people

  • Atlanta Braves
  • Cleveland Indians
  • New York Islanders
  • Vancouver Canucks
  • Montreal Canadiens
  • Houston Texans
  • Tennessee Titans
  • New York Yankees
  • Boston Celtics

Occupations

  • Green Bay Packers
  • New York Rangers
  • Texas Rangers
  • Edmonton Oilers
  • Ottawa Senators
  • Dallas Cowboys
  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Oakland Athletics
  • Seattle Mariners
  • Milwaukee Brewers
  • Sacramento Kings
  • New York Metropolitans

Types of music

  • St. Louis Blues
  • Utah Jazz

Year names

  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • San Francisco 49ers

Clothing

  • Boston Red Sox
  • Chicago White Sox
  • Columbus Blue Jackets

Disasters

  • Colorado Avalanche
  • San Jose Earthquakes

Weather

  • Miami Heat
  • Miami Hurricanes
  • Carolina Hurricanes
  • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • Oklahoma City Thunder