He was given Paddington as an English name as he was found at Paddington station, by the Brown family, and went to live with them.
Bears are my specialist subject! Well, bears in childrens fiction anyway.
gentle bear was found at Paddington railway station in London. In the first story, he is found there by the Brown family sitting on his suitcase (bearing the label WANTED ON VOYAGE), with a note attached to his coat which reads "Please look after this bear. Thank you." He has arrived as a stowaway coming from "Darkest Peru", sent by his Aunt Lucy (his only known relative, aside from an unnamed uncle who gave Paddington his hat), who has gone to live in the Home for Retired Bears in Lima.