Baby names inspired by nature

In the spirit of recognizing and getting more connected to the natural world, we've collected a list of baby names inspired by flowers, plants, trees, animals, birds, the forest, the ocean, and more.

Nature names for girls

Birdie

Birdie is a sweet and cheerful nature-themed name. It's also a vintage name that saw peak popularity back in the early 1900s with probable thanks to Bertha, Bernice, and Roberta, common given names of that era, all of which used Birdie as a nickname. No longer just a nickname, Birdie is a name that has wings.

Breeze

Breeze or Breezy is a peaceful and easy name whose natural connotations are clear as a mountain stream, or of course the wind. Whether a warm ocean breeze or a cool refreshing mountain breeze, this name is perfect for a mellow, nature-loving baby.

Calla

Calla is a gorgeous flower name, a variety of lily. Its name possibly comes from the Greek word kallos, meaning "beauty." While Lily is a common enough name, people named Calla are few and far between. Not listed in the Social Security top 1,000 baby names, Calla lives in the shadow of other flower names like Poppy, Rose, and Violet, making it all the more enticing for anyone looking for a standout nature name.

Eartha

Eartha is a funky baby name that's both stylish and folksy. It has all the pleasing qualities of Martha, without feeling remotely old school or common. It calls up imagery of Mother Earth, the giver and sustainer of life. Eartha Kitt was a Black singer, actress, and activist, known for playing Catwoman in the 1960s Batman TV series.

Mavis

Mavis is derived from an Old World word for song thrush. Popular in the 1920s, this name fell out of favor mid-century, but, as with many a vintage name, is seeing a revival. Mavis Staples, an American rhythm and blues, gospel, and Americana singer, is an iconic bearer of this name. A venerable name with nature-themed significance.

Fern

Fern is a lovely, spring-inspired name that finds its roots in Old English. This electric green plant thrives in shady woods. Fern is the name of the empathetic little girl who befriends Wilbur the remarkable pig in E.B. White's Charlotte's Web and, in real life, sculptor Fern Cunningham created the renowned Harriet Tubman Memorial that stands in Harriet Tubman Park in Boston.

Flora

Flora may be as unsubtle as it gets if you are looking for a nature-themed name. It derives from Romany mythology, where Flora is the goddess of fertility, flowers, and spring. One of the good fairies in Disney's classic film Sleeping Beauty is named Flora. Flora is an all-around beautiful name, with vintage cred and an undeniable nod to nature.

Gaia

Gaia (pronounced guy-uh) is the name of the personification of Earth in Greek mythology. She's considered to be the ancestral mother of all life. Terra is her Roman equivalent. A common name in Poland, Italy, and Slovenia, this divine name can't be overlooked.

Nature names for boys

Branch

Branch is an unexpected nature name. Branches of a tree connote both strength and the continuation of something, making this name the perfect meaningful moniker for your unique offspring. Longmire, a Western crime drama TV series, features a character named Branch Connally.

Cedar

Cedar is inspired by the coniferous tree of the same name, which itself is derived from the Greek word kedros. Cedarwood is known for being pleasantly aromatic and it symbolizes resilience and strength. Tree names are appealing to many parents, for good reason: What better start for your little seedling to pick a name that's both hardy and evergreen?

Elon

Elon (pronounced ee-lawn) may bring to mind all things modern and visionary – Tesla or SpaceX, for instance. But this intriguing name, borne by entrepreneur Elon Musk, means "oak tree" in Hebrew, and is thus, by definition, a name that is in direct harmony with a nature loving theme.

Forrest

Forrest, familiar to so many as in Gump, is a variation of the original spelling, Forest, a direct and classic eponymous surname for people who lived near the woods. Forrester is another iteration. By any spelling, this name has become an obvious choice for parents looking to honor the natural world and raise a child who grows up caring for the environment.

Moss

Moss is a boy's name with that strong and simple characteristic, sought after by some parents, of having just one syllable. The name draws on the image of the rich, deep greens of the woods in spring, where carpets of this thick, soft groundcover grow miraculously without roots on rocks and fallen trees.

Geo

Geo derives from Greek and is a common word-forming element in English. If you haven't guessed, it means "earth." Some see this name as a short form of Giovanni, which is the Italian equivalent of John and means "God is gracious." But Geo stands alone just fine and is a handsome nature-themed moniker just waiting for the right baby.

Spruce

Spruce is a tree name, one of the more fragrant trees there are. Spruce is the scent that reminds many of us of the holidays, that earthy luscious pungent smell that emanates from your evergreen Christmas tree. This earthy given name is prime picking for those looking for a nature-themed name that's so unexpected it might just be hipster.

Unisex nature names

Bryn

Bryn is a classic Welsh name that means "hill." In its native Wales, this majestic name is decidedly male, but it has been borrowed and repurposed for unisex use – perhaps more commonly for girls, on this side of the pond. Sometimes you see this name spelled with the double -n Brynn.

Cove

Cove is a nature-themed name that conjures a feeling of shelter and protection. This rising nonbinary name has various meanings, including "den," "inlet," and "hollow place in the rocks." Whether you are an ocean lover, someone who values hard-to-access places, or you just really want an easy, uncommon, one-syllable name, Cove is a winner.

Lake

Lake comes from the Latin word lacus, meaning, somewhat plainly, "inland body of water." But this placid, nature-inspired name conjures serenity, wildness, and life simplified – and is also seamlessly unisex. Lake Bell is an American actress who starred in the animated movies The Secret Life of Pets.

Lark

Lark is a poetic name taken straight from the aviary. It's mostly used as a boy's name in the United Kingdom, as is Robin, but it saw a spike in use as a girl's name in 2020. Be it skylark or woodlark, these birds tend to sing as they fly. A perfect name for a little nature-loving multitasker.

Rain

Rain is simply one of the most calming and meditative names out there. It's short and sweet, neither masculine nor feminine, and completely at one with nature. For anyone who appreciates the cleansing qualities of rain and the way it makes the whole world a little bit greener, this outdoors-inspired baby name is a great way to honor both your child and the environment.

Sparrow

Sparrow is a bird-inspired name that sees equal use for boys and girls. And, of course, Captain Jack Sparrow is an unforgettable character from The Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The flying sparrow is common enough to have been referenced in the Bible. Sparrow, like many nature-themed baby names, is starting to grow on parents-to-be.

Wren

Wren comes from the tiny songbird with a big voice, whose name in turn came from the Old English word wrenna. In Europe, this bird species is considered a king of birds and thus it is bad luck to hurt one. This single-syllable name from nature brings to mind active, alert, and vibrant life. Wrens, it's said, don't rest on their laurels.