The US Air Force continues its tradition of naming aircraft after birds of prey to emphasize air‑superiority, using names like Eagle and Hawk. The designation "Raptor" follows this custom; it derives from the Latin word *rapere*, meaning to seize or hunt, portraying the F‑22 as the apex predator of the sky. Although many associate the name with the Velociraptor dinosaur from the Jurassic Park films, the official reason is unrelated to the prehistoric creature.