A forest is an earthy, peaceful, and mystifying place – all beautiful things to consider while choosing a name for your cute little newborn.
Names that mean forest have a special organic quality, gathered (like leaves) from elements such as wood, stone, flowers, and sky. If you’re a lover of the outdoors it’s little wonder that you’re looking for names that mean forest.
Mother Nature both protects and nurtures. We all love visiting the forest from time to time as being in nature can feel like coming home.
So stroll through our list of names that mean forest to track down one that works for you.
Female baby names
- Aki – (Japanese) Autumn; derived from the Japanese word aki meaning “autumn”.
- Arden – (English) Valley of the eagle; of the forest. Derived from the Old English ‘ardenn’ meaning ‘valley of the eagle’.
- Aruna – (Hindu) Red; of the forest. Derived from the Sanskrit ‘aruna’ meaning ‘red’.
- Aspen – (English) Quaking tree; of the forest. Derived from the Old English ‘aespes’ meaning ‘quaking tree’.
- Aurelia – (Latin) Meaning ‘golden’. Aurelia is a classic name that is associated with the color of the sun and the beauty of a forest.
- Aurora – (Latin) Dawn; of the forest. Derived from the Latin ‘aurora’ meaning ‘dawn’.
- Bryony – (English) Meaning ‘vine’. Bryony is a beautiful name that evokes the lushness of a forest.
- Dell – (English) Meaning ‘valley’. Dell is a sweet and simple name that is associated with the peacefulness of the forest.
- Elora – (English) Valley of the Lord; of the forest. Derived from the Welsh ‘elor’ meaning ‘valley of the Lord’.
- Fern – (English) A fern; of the forest. Derived from the Old English ‘fearn’ meaning ‘a fern’.
- Fleur – (French) Flower; of the forest. Derived from the Old French ‘fleur’ meaning ‘flower’.
- Freyja – (Norse) Meaning “lady of the forests”. This name is derived from the Norse goddess of love, beauty and fertility, who was closely associated with forests and the animals that live in them.
- Glen – (Scottish) Valley; of the forest. Derived from the Scottish ‘glen’ meaning ‘valley’.
- Hazel – (English) The hazelnut tree; of the forest. Derived from the Old English ‘haesel’ meaning ‘the hazelnut tree’.
- Ivy – (English) Ivy plant; of the forest. Derived from the Old English ‘ifig’ meaning ‘ivy plant’.
- Juniper – (Latin) The juniper tree; of the forest. Derived from the Latin ‘juniperus’ meaning ‘the juniper tree’.
- Kauri – (Maori) Fast-growing tree; of the forest. Derived from the Maori ‘kauri’ meaning ‘fast-growing tree’.
- Lark – (English) Songbird; of the forest. Derived from the Old English ‘lærce’ meaning ‘songbird’.
- Liana – (Latin) Woodland vines; of the forest. Derived from the Latin ‘liana’, meaning ‘woodland vines’.
- Lyra – (Greek) Lyre; of the forest. Derived from the Greek ‘lyra’ meaning ‘lyre’.
- Maia – (Greek) Great; of the forest. Derived from the Greek ‘maia’ meaning ‘great’.
- Maple – (English) The maple tree; of the forest. Derived from the Old English ‘mapulder’ meaning ‘the maple tree’.
- Myrtle – (English) The myrtle shrub; of the forest. Derived from the Old English ‘myrtel’ meaning ‘the myrtle shrub’.
- Oakley – (English) Field of oak trees; of the forest. Derived from the Old English ‘ac’ meaning ‘oak’ and ‘leah’ meaning ‘field’.
- Olive – (Latin) Olive tree; of the forest. Derived from the Latin ‘oliva’ meaning ‘olive tree’.
- Quill – (English) A feather; of the forest. Derived from the Old English ‘cwel’ meaning ‘a feather’.
- Raven – (English) The raven; of the forest. Derived from the Old English ‘hræfn’ meaning ‘the raven’.
- Savannah – (Spanish) Flat grassland; of the forest. Derived from the Spanish ‘sabana’ meaning ‘flat grassland’.
- Tansy – (English) Flower; of the forest. Derived from the Old English ‘tanse’ meaning ‘flower’.
- Tara – (Irish) Rocky hill; of the forest. Derived from the Irish ‘tairbh’ meaning ‘rocky hill’.
- Willow – (English) The willow tree; of the forest. Derived from the Old English ‘welig’ meaning ‘the willow tree’.
- Yew – (English) The yew tree; of the forest. Derived from the Old English ‘eow’ meaning ‘the yew tree’.
- Zara – (Arabic) Flower; of the forest. Derived from the Arabic ‘zahra’ meaning ‘flower’.
Male baby names
Alder – (English) Meaning ‘older’. This name is inspired by the alder tree which is a type of deciduous tree.
Arrow – (English) Meaning ‘kind of tree’, derived from the Old English elements ‘ae’ meaning ‘ash tree’ and ‘wudu’ meaning ‘wood’.
Aspen – (English) Meaning ‘of the aspen tree’. The aspen tree is a type of deciduous tree that is native to the Northern Hemisphere.
Birch – (English) The name is derived from the birch tree, a type of deciduous tree.
Bruno – (German) Meaning ‘brown’ and referring to the dark brown color of tree trunks
Bryant – (Irish) Meaning ‘strong and virtuous’.
Cedar – (English) Meaning ‘strong and solid’. Cedar trees are evergreen trees that are very fragrant and can be found in many forests.
Cedric – (English) French origin derived from the words ‘cedre’ which means Cedar tree
Dale – (English) Meaning ‘valley’. Dale comes from the Old English word ‘dael’, which is a valley between two hills or mountains.
Eben – (Hebrew) Meaning ‘stone of help’, derived from the Hebrew elements ‘eben’ meaning ‘stone’ and ‘ezer’ meaning ‘help’.
Elwood – (English) Meaning ‘elder tree forest’ and derived from the Old English words ‘ell’ and ‘wudu’
Elron – (Hebrew) Meaning ‘God’s tree’, derived from the Hebrew elements ‘el’ meaning ‘God’ and ‘ron’ meaning ‘tree’.
Fir – (English) Meaning ‘evergreen tree’. Fir trees are a type of evergreen tree and are often associated with forests.
Folke – (English) Meaning ‘people of the forest’, derived from the Old English elements ‘folc’ meaning ‘people’ and ‘leah’ meaning ‘forest’.
Forest – (English) Meaning ‘woodland’.
Granville – (English) Meaning ‘from the large forest’.
Greenwood – (English) Meaning ‘from the green forest’.
Grimm – (Germanic) Meaning ‘masked man of the forest’, derived from the Germanic element
Halen – (English) Meaning ‘forest dweller’, derived from the Old English elements ‘halh’ meaning ‘dweller’ and ‘leah’ meaning ‘forest’.
Hazel – (English) Meaning ‘from the hazel tree’. The hazel tree is a type of deciduous tree.
Heath – (English) Meaning ‘from the heathland’. Heaths are a type of open, uncultivated land that is typically found in forests.
Hollis – (English) Meaning ‘near the woods’, derived from the Old English elements ‘hol’ meaning ‘wood’ and ‘hys’ meaning ‘near’.
Jasper – (English) Meaning ‘keeper of the forest’.
Juniper – (English) Meaning ‘of the juniper tree’. Juniper trees are a type of evergreen tree.
Keith – (Gaelic) Meaning ‘wood’.
Lark – (English) Meaning ‘from the bird in the forest’.
Leaf – (English) Meaning ‘from the leaves of the trees’.
Linden – (English) Meaning ‘from the linden tree’. The linden tree is a type of deciduous tree.
Myrtle – (English) Meaning ‘from the myrtle tree’. Myrtle trees are a type of evergreen tree.
Oak – (English) Meaning ‘from the oak tree’. The oak tree is a type of deciduous tree and is often associated with forests.
Orion – (Greek) Meaning ‘from the forest’.
Pine – (English) Meaning ‘from the pine tree’. Pine trees are a type of evergreen tree.
Reynard – (German) Meaning ‘strong councilor’.
Rowan – (English) Meaning ‘from the rowan tree’. The rowan tree is a type of deciduous tree.
Rufus – (Latin) Meaning ‘red-haired’ and referring to the red-colored bark of some trees found in forests
Sherwood – (English) Meaning ‘from the bright forest’.
Thatch – (English) Meaning ‘from the thatched home’. Thatching is a type of roofing material used in rural areas and is often associated with forests.
Thorin – (Norse) Meaning ‘from the thunderous forest’.
Troy – (Irish) Meaning ‘from the forest’.
Tyrell – (English) Meaning ‘from the island in the forest’.
Vernon – (French) Meaning ‘from the alder grove’.
Virgil – (Latin) Meaning ‘from the forest’.
Walker – (English) Meaning ‘one who walks in the forest’.
Willow – (English) Meaning ‘from the willow tree’. The willow tree is a type of deciduous tree.
Wood – (English) Meaning ‘from the woods’.
Woodrow – (English) Meaning ‘from the row of trees’.
Wren – (English) Meaning ‘from the wren bird in the forest’.
Unisex baby names
Arbor – (Latin) Meaning ‘tree’ derived from the Latin word for ‘tree’.
Ash – (English) Meaning ‘strength’ or ‘graceful’; example: Ash Ketchum, the protagonist of Pokemon.
Briar – (Old English) Meaning ‘dense growth’ derived from the Old English word for ‘shrub’.
Clover – (English) Meaning ‘meadow flower’. Clover is derived from the Old English word ‘clafre’, which is a type of flower found in forests.
Cypress – (Old English) Meaning ‘evergreen’ derived from the Old English word for ‘tree’.
Ebony – (English) Derived from the ebony tree, a type of tree found in forests.
Firmin – (French) Derived from the French word ‘firme’ meaning strong and referring to the strong and sturdy trees in forests
Foster – (English) Meaning ‘dweller in the forest’; example: Foster Friess, an American businessman, philanthropist, and political activist.
Huckleberry – (English) Meaning ‘from the huckleberry bush’; example: Huckleberry Finn, the title character of the novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.
Koa – (Hawaiian) Meaning ‘warrior’ derived from the Hawaiian word for ‘tree’.
Larch – (English) Meaning ‘from the larch tree’; example: Larch Ackerman, a character from the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
Laurel – (English) Meaning ‘from the laurel tree’; example: Laurel Lance, a character from the TV show Arrow.
Logan – (Scottish) Meaning ‘from the hollow’; example: Logan Echolls, a character from the TV series Veronica Mars.
Moss – (English) Meaning ‘dweller in the mossy forest’ and derived from Old English ‘mos’
Sage – (English) Meaning ‘wise’; example: Sage Northcutt, an American mixed martial artist.
Salal – (English) Meaning ‘evergreen shrub’; example: Salal Berry, a character from the TV show LazyTown.
Sequoia – (Native American) Meaning ‘redwood tree’; example: Sequoia Parks, a character from the novel Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles.
Sycamore – (Greek) Meaning ‘fig tree’; example: Sycamore Smith, a character from the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
Tanner – (English) Meaning ‘woodcutter’ and referring to the cutting of trees in forests
Tamarack – (English) Meaning ‘evergreen tree’; example: Tamarack Treely, a character from the TV show LazyTown.
Thorn – (English) Derived from the Old English word ‘thorn’ meaning ‘thorny shrub’ Vale
Thyme – (English) Meaning ‘courage’; example: Thyme Turner, a character from the TV show Drake & Josh.
Zuri – (Swahili) Meaning ‘forest’ and derived from the Swahili word ‘mwitu’
