The name Pooh was originally belong to a swan. Christopher Robin later named the bear that he used to play with in the London Zoo as Winnie-the-Pooh. This pola bear Winnie was an American Black Bear which was bought to England in 1914 by the army officer Harry Colebourn.

Christopher Robin insisted that the bear was a male. The conversation with his father, Milne, as follow:

When I first heard his name, I said, just as you are going to say, "But I thought he was a boy?"

"So did I," said Christopher Robin.

"Then you can't call him Winnie?"

"I don't."

"But you said--"

"He's Winnie-ther-Pooh. Don't you know what 'ther' means?"

"Ah, yes, now I do," I said quickly; and I hope you do too, because it is all the explanation you are going to get.

Christopher Robin Milne (1920 - 1996)