In the Ojibwe language, this creature is sometimes called , , , , , , or , which translates as "Great Lynx", or  ("Gitche-anahmi-bezheu"), which translates as "the fabulous night panther".
This creature is referred to by various Ojibwe terms, such as  ("Gitche-anahmi-bezheu"), which translates to "the fabulous night panther", and other names that convey its significance.