The male version of a "cougar"—an older woman dating younger men—is most commonly called a "manther."

This slang term mirrors "cougar" by blending "man" with "panther," highlighting an older, predatory male pursuing younger women, though it's far less mainstream than its female counterpart. Online forums and pop culture often debate it, with some preferring "rhino" for its rugged vibe or "silver fox" for a charming, gray-haired gent.

Common Terms Explained

  • Manther : The top pick in slang dictionaries and videos; think confident older guy on the prowl.
  • Rhino : A humorous, edgy alternative from Urban Dictionary and Reddit threads, evoking something big and bold.
  • Silver Fox : Focuses on looks over age-gap hunting—attractive, mature men with salt-and-pepper hair.
  • Puma or Cub : Rarer flips on "cougar," sometimes used ironically in dating lingo.

Forum and Social Buzz

Reddit lights up with this question regularly, from 2021 threads to a 2025 post asking "Is there a male version of a cougar?" where "Bob Cat" and "Lynx" got laughs, but no consensus emerged. YouTube creators like Hella Cougar echo Wikipedia and Urban Dictionary: manther, rhino, or "daddy" in gay contexts. French sites call it a direct equivalent for older men with young partners, sans a single dominant label.

"A male cougar is a rhino, cause they're big, ugly and always horny." – Classic Reddit quip

Trend-wise, as of early 2026, "manther" trends in gossip forums amid celeb age-gap stories, but "silver fox" dominates pop culture for its flattering spin—no strict winner, just fun slang evolution.

TL;DR: Go with "manther" for the direct parallel, but "silver fox" if charm trumps hunt.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.