Nature Names for Girls

Rivers is an indisputably unisex surname with is strong nature connotation and its connection to the character Diana Rivers from Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre. Rivers is also the first name of one of the girl Sweet Home sextuplets.

Likable addition to the list of unisex tree names.

For any parents out there searching for a nature name starting with x -- and we doubt there are many -- this one, named for a Spanish monk called Ximenes, is a small tropical plant bearing wild limes.

Strong meaning, sweet but strong sound, fresh and earthy: a winner.

In Thailand, pawpaw, or paw paw, is the name for the papaya plant and flowers. It's been seen on the US charts for baby girls since 2008, never exceeding 30 uses in a single year.

An overlooked floral name that would make a bold choice for a first or middle name. Hibiscus — in particular, the yellow hibiscus — is the state flower of Hawaii. Dried hibiscus is used to make tea revered for its deep magenta color. The Spanish name for the flower, Jamaica (ha-MY-kah), also makes a beautiful name.

One of the bird names that's more appropriate for a boy, though it works for a girl too.

As a name, it's linked to Sir Mulberry Hawk, a character in Charles Dicken's Nicholas Nickleby.

As nature names get more popular, parents look to undiscovered nature words and terms that can be turned into baby names. Rice is certainly undiscovered, but may not make the transition from word to baby name as smoothly as, say, River.

This name derives from the name of a group of buttercup yellow butterflies. It is also a zingy twist on the more familiar Serena.

This name of London's famous river (it's pronounced tehms) might be an evocative if confusing choice for a non-British child. But if you want an unmistakably British girl name, this would be a clear choice.

For tree huggers.

Leanira is a type of orange, white and black butterfly.

Eurybia is a sea titaness and consort of Krios. A lesser-known name from Greek mythology, it may be on board to follow other goddesses back to glory.

An order of carnivorous insects, most notably dragonflies and damselflies.

While Hill reads as a nickname for Hillary, adding an S puts it in the same category as plural nature names like Rivers and Brooks. It also softens the name's image: one hill is an obstacle, but many together form a lovely landscape. Hills are also a recurring image and metaphor in both the New and Old Testament.

The Layke spelling of this refreshing nature name was introduced for one of the Waldrop sextuplets, Layke Bryars, who is male, but the name is gender neutral.

Africa's fourth-longest river would make a unique name choice.

One of the evocative new nature names with a simple, stylish feel.