999+ Nature Names for Babies

  1. Drosera
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "dewdrops"
    • Description:

      An obscure name from Greek mythology — Drosera was a nymph — with a quirky, ethereal meaning.
  2. Mawar
    • Origin:

      Bahasa and Urdu
    • Meaning:

      "rose"
    • Description:

      Mawar is another of the "rose" variants that is almost unheard of outside its home country (in this case, Indonesia), but which deserves consideration given its lilting sound.
  3. Courage
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "strength to withstand fear"
    • Description:

      A bold, unisex virtue name that first made the charts for boys in 1990 and girls in 2008. Millennials may associate it with the Cartoon Network show Courage the Cowardly Dog, about a timid, good-natured dog by the name.
  4. Ridge
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Description:

      Ridge has been rising rapidly for boys for a few years now, entering the Top 1000 in 2015. Now this subtle nature name has debuted in the charts on the girl's side as well.
  5. Alamo
    • Origin:

      Place-name, Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "poplar tree"
    • Description:

      The unique O-ending makes this name memorable, especially for someone with ties to Texas.
  6. Manuka
    • Origin:

      botanical name
    • Description:

      This tree, famous for the honey produced from its flowers, can be used as a masculine or feminine name.
  7. Cornel
    • Origin:

      Romanian, variation of Cornelius; tree name
    • Description:

      People are likely to want to put that second - Cornell University inspired - L on the end of this name, when in fact it has a completely different etymology. This name is very popular in Romania though American public intellectural Cornel West and South African athlete Cornel Fredericks broadens its use beyond Eastern Europe.
  8. Hideki
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "bright tree"
    • Description:

      As well as Japanese physicist Hideki Yukawa, two Yankees ballplayers, Hideki Irabu and Hideki Matsui, made this name familiar to Americans.
  9. Vine
    • Origin:

      English nature name
    • Description:

      Unusual and simple nature name worthy of further consideration.
  10. Tiare
    • Origin:

      Tahitian
    • Meaning:

      "flower"
    • Description:

      A South Sea Islander name that may be adopted by the wider world, with its simple spelling and lovely nature meaning.
  11. Sóley
    • Origin:

      Icelandic, Faroese
    • Meaning:

      "buttercup"
    • Description:

      A sweet nature name, derived from sól "sun" and ey "island", which is the Icelandic word for the buttercup flower. In the Faroe islands it is also found as a short form of Sólja "buttercup".
  12. Muguet
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "lily"
    • Description:

      One of the few French words/names not attractive to the American ear. It's pronounced moo-gay, not a winner on either syllable. Alternatives: Liliane, Lily, Lilou, Manon.
  13. Iraia
    • Origin:

      Basque
    • Meaning:

      "fern"
    • Description:

      Iraia is one of those uncommon names that have two different meanings and derivations, one female and one male. The girls' version is a Basque name found throughout the Mediterranean with a nature meaning. As a boys' name, Iraia is a tradtiional Maori name.
  14. Tupelo
    • Origin:

      Native American place-name and tree name
    • Meaning:

      "swamp tree"
    • Description:

      Tupelo, the name of a Mississippi city as well as a tree with soft, light wood that grows in the swamps of the south, attracted some attention as a first name via author Tupelo Hassman. The song Tupelo Honey also brought it some notoriety.
  15. Zeren
    • Origin:

      Animal name
    • Description:

      More commonly known as the Mongolian Gazelle, the Zeren is an antelope native to the steppes of Central Asia.
  16. Raines
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "from Rayne or Rennes"
    • Description:

      The final s turns a nature name into a Waspy surname.
  17. Meadowlark
    • Origin:

      Bird name
    • Description:

      Sure you could just use Meadow or Lark. But if you really want to go for it, Meadowlark is an option. Meadowlark Lemon, born Meadow Lemon, was a (male) American basketball player known as the "Clown Prince" of the Harlem Globetrotters who played professionally for nearly 40 years.
  18. Efnan
    • Origin:

      Turkish from Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "full spreading branches of trees"
    • Description:

      A popular female name in Turkey, with a lush nature meaning.
  19. Rhodos
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "rose"
    • Description:

      Rhodos was the wife of Helios, the Greek god of the Sun, in Greek mythology. The Greek island of Rhodes is named for her.
  20. Garance
    • Origin:

      French color and botanical name
    • Description:

      This botanical name, referring to the vivid deep red color and to the madder plant from which it derives, is almost unknown to English speakers. But it's been trending in France recently, reaching the Top 100.