The name Medvednica can be translated as "bear mountain", and there are other toponyms on the mountain using the kajkavian dialect term medved (bear, standard Croatian "medvjed"), notably Medvedgrad, a medieval castle on its southwestern edges. Most of the area of Medvednica is a nature park (park prirode), a type of preservation lesser than a national park. The area of the park is 228.26 square kilometers. About 63% is covered with forest.