999+ Nature Names for Babies
- Jarrah
Origin:
botanical nameDescription:
Jarrah is the name of a beautiful Australian tree famous for its richly-colored red timber and lovely scent. Jarrah may be used for both girls and boys.
- Thallo
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"bringer of blossoms"Description:
Thallo, the Greek goddess of spring, buds, and blooms has a decidedly less flowery name than her Roman counterpart, Flora. Thallo is one of the Horae in Greek mythology: goddesses associated with the cycle of life, growth and the seasons.
- Heliotrope
Origin:
botanical nameDescription:
Despite the beauty of this flower's appearance and fragrance, this is one of the clumsier flower names.
- Granite
Origin:
Nature nameDescription:
There's a whole quarry of rocky names parents are now considering: Slate, Flint, etc. , but this one is particularly hard-edged and problematic.
- Otter
Origin:
Animal nameDescription:
While we don't see many parents adopting Otter as a name for their own babies, Zooey Deschanel put this one in the lexicon when she used it as a middle name for her adorably-named daughter Elsie Otter. Even in the celebrisphere, Otter is one of the most unique baby names we've heard.
- Begonia
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"Begon's flower"Description:
Begonia is a pretty flower named for French administrator and amateur horticulturalist Michel Bégon, who was an avid naturalist but also a proponent of slavery. A rare floral choice which has never really caught on as a baby name, Begonia would certainly stand out from the Lilys and Roses.
- Prunella
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"small plum"Description:
Most ella names are hot, but this is one that won't catch fire because of the disagreeable connotations of prunes.
- Morrisey
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"sea taboo"Description:
When British rocker Steven Patrick Morrissey decided to use his last name alone, it became a viable option for baby namers, a lot cooler than Morris or Maurice.
- Laken
Origin:
Variation of Lake, EnglishDescription:
Not quite a nature name and not quite a surname — whatever Laken is or isn't, we know it's definitely a name to watch.
- Cheney
Origin:
Spelling variation of ChaneyMeaning:
"oak tree"Description:
Strong, solid surname name. For many this name will be inextricably linked with former Vice President Dick Cheney - a hinderance or a virtue, depending on your political leanings.
- Picotee
Origin:
Flower name, from FrenchMeaning:
"marked with points"Description:
This very unusual botanical name refers to flowers that have a second color around the edges, commonly found in tulips and carnations. Thomas Hardy named a character Picotee in his novel The Hand of Ethelberta.
- Javor
Origin:
Serbian tree nameMeaning:
"maple tree"Description:
Javor is the Serbian word for Maple tree. It makes a definitively masculine and interesting choice for the nature inclined namer.
- Snapdragon
Origin:
Flower name, from EnglishMeaning:
"dragon's mouth"Description:
Feisty floral name that would work better as a middle name than as a first, so called because of the flower's resemblance to a dragon's open mouth.
- Heron
Origin:
Nature name or GreekMeaning:
"hero"Description:
Heron fits in with the modern nature names that are so stylish at the moment, but it also has history as the name of a Greek inventor and Egyptian saint. Both were male, but Heron's image as a word name makes it accessible for girls as well.
- Yarrow
Origin:
Botanical name, EnglishMeaning:
"rough stream"Description:
Yarrow is a flowering herb that grows wild in Europe and North America, and has long been used in several Native American and European cultures as a healing plant. Named for the mythical god Achille, Yarrow is a symbol of enduring love.
- Clematis
Origin:
Flower name, from GreekMeaning:
"vine branch"Description:
Flower name that sounds a bit too much like a disease.
- Cassava
Origin:
Nature nameDescription:
Better known as Tapioca, Cassava makes an innovative way to get to the nicknames Cass or Cassie.
- Saffron
Origin:
Spice nameDescription:
This spice name is typically used for girls, but we see no reason it couldn't join the growing list of gender-neutral nature names.
- Mesa
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"table"Description:
Mesa is the term for a flat-topped mountain, derived from the Spanish word for "table".
- Mountain
Origin:
Nature nameDescription:
Mountain names such as Everest and Denali are being used more frequently, but Mountain itself was unknown until Hunger Games star Jena Malone used it as a middle name for her son Ode Mountain. And really, why not? It's one of the most unique baby names in the hot nature category.