Unique Nature Names

Shell has been used as a short form of Shelley for all genders and Sheldon for boys. That was then: Now, Shell can be a beachy nature name and word name turned baby name.

It's a nature name evocative of rushing waterfalls. But also a dishwashing detergent.

Olympic athlete Usain Bolt introduced this unusual and electric nature name to the lexicon when he chose it for his daughter's middle name: Olympia Lightning Bolt. Now there's a name with layers of meaning!

Feather, though it was used for a character in a Walter Mosley novel, seems too light and fluttery for a real-life girl.

With River and Ocean becoming mainstream, why not consider Sea?

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.

Simple and down-to-earth, but would probably work best as a middle name.

Offbeat flower name, sure to raise some eyebrows. But with Lily, Rose, and even Daisy starting to wilt, more alluring blooms such as Geranium, Magnolia, and Azalea may blossom.

A tough and rugged nature name.

Marjoram is a herb and flower. With nicknames like Margie and Jo at the ready, we think that if Marigold can make a comeback, why not Marjoram?

A genus of tropical shrubs that bear white and pink flowers.

Beachy name perfect for a summer baby.

Nicandra is the name of a plant known as apple-of-peru and also shoo-fly plant. It's also the feminine form of Nicander, an ancient Greek poet, physician, and grammarian.

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

A lovely Dutch botanical name that could work well outside of the Netherlands. Myrthe is the slightly more common spelling in its native country, but we think Mirte is more likely to cross cultures.

Derived from the French word levée meaning "to raise", a levee is either a naturally formed ridge along a riverbank, made up of sediment deposited there by overflowing water, or a manmade barrier created to protect against flooding.

Derived from the French word levée meaning "to raise", a levee is either a naturally formed ridge along a riverbank, made up of sediment deposited there by overflowing water, or a manmade barrier created to protect against flooding.

Also the name of a neighborhood in Tel Aviv, Tzamaret is a name of Hebrew origin, translating to "upper part" or "high up". It is also used to refer to treetops, making this a nature name.