It’s actually bears. The north is named by the Greeks after the Ursa Major constellation in the north literally “big bear”. So it’s the bear place. While the south is the opposite of the bears.

Happy coincidence it ended up matching polar bear ranges.

its the other way round for bears i think

Doesn't 'ant' mean not and 'arc' is without? So it's really closer to 'without penguins' and 'not without penguins'