The Toronto Raptors name was chosen through a 1994 nationwide call-in contest Out of more than 2,000 entries, the Raptors name won the final vote over popular finalists the Grizzlies, Bobcats, Dragons, and Hogs.
In the early 1990s, Toronto was getting its first NBA team — but the city needed a name that would capture attention. Fresh off the success of Jurassic Park, movie fans everywhere were obsessed with dinosaurs, and in 1994, the public voted to name the new franchise the Toronto Raptors. It was bold, unexpected, and a little wild — just like the city itself. Over time, the Raptors grew from a pop-culture novelty into Canada’s team, uniting a country under the banner of We The North.