999+ Nature Names for Babies

  1. Jarrah
    • Origin:

      botanical name
    • Description:

      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.
  2. Thallo
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  3. Heliotrope
    • Origin:

      botanical name
    • Description:

      Despite the beauty of this flower's appearance and fragrance, this is one of the clumsier flower names.
  4. Granite
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Description:

      There's a whole quarry of rocky names parents are now considering: Slate, Flint, etc. , but this one is particularly hard-edged and problematic.
  5. Otter
    • Origin:

      Animal name
    • Description:

      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.
  6. Begonia
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  7. Prunella
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "small plum"
    • Description:

      Most ella names are hot, but this is one that won't catch fire because of the disagreeable connotations of prunes.
  8. Morrisey
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  9. Laken
    • Origin:

      Variation of Lake, English
    • Description:

      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.
  10. Cheney
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Chaney
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  11. Picotee
    • Origin:

      Flower name, from French
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  12. Javor
    • Origin:

      Serbian tree name
    • Meaning:

      "maple tree"
    • Description:

      Javor is the Serbian word for Maple tree. It makes a definitively masculine and interesting choice for the nature inclined namer.
  13. Snapdragon
    • Origin:

      Flower name, from English
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  14. Heron
    • Origin:

      Nature name or Greek
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  15. Yarrow
    • Origin:

      Botanical name, English
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  16. Clematis
    • Origin:

      Flower name, from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "vine branch"
    • Description:

      Flower name that sounds a bit too much like a disease.
  17. Cassava
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Description:

      Better known as Tapioca, Cassava makes an innovative way to get to the nicknames Cass or Cassie.
  18. Saffron
    • Origin:

      Spice name
    • Description:

      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.
  19. Mesa
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "table"
    • Description:

      Mesa is the term for a flat-topped mountain, derived from the Spanish word for "table".
  20. Mountain
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Description:

      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.