Ma'anar ƙamus na jimlar "ƙarancin kirfa" tana nufin nau'in beyar da aka sani da ja-ja-ja-jaja, wadda ta yi kama da launin kirfa. Har ila yau ana san dabbar kirfa da baƙar fata na Amurka ko Ursus americanus cinnamomum, wanda wani nau'in nau'in baƙar fata ne wanda ya kasance a Arewacin Amirka. Sunan "Kirfa bear" ya samo asali ne daga launin Jawonsa, wanda zai iya kasancewa daga launin ruwan kasa mai haske zuwa launin ja-ja-jaja, mai kama da launin kirfa.