Inspired by all things green
By washkeep
Updated Sat May 20 2023
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A collection of girl names derived from nature and some other beautiful sounding and intereting names. I tend to like the slightly unusual and unique. I wouldn't necessarily want a name wildly exotic. I'm trying to include names that hold meaning to us living in Hawaii, a beautiful culture and island. We are inspired by nature and natural beauty. We also have German and Italian and Irish roots which provide some interesting name choices.
- Anja
Origin:
Russian variation of AnnaMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Anja is one of the most internatioanl of several versions of Ann/Anna now being imported, also including Anya and Annika.
- Alona
- Baia
Origin:
PortugueseMeaning:
"bay"Description:
This possible word name, which rhymes with Maia, makes an even more distinctive alternative.
- Bay
Origin:
English word, Old EnglishMeaning:
"an inlet of the sea where the land curves inward; berry"Description:
One of the most usable of the pleasant, newly adopted nature/water names (like Lake and Ocean), especially in middle position. It's gentle, slightly whimsical, but grounded by its similarity to May or Rae.
- Caddie
Origin:
Diminutive of Caroline, FrenchMeaning:
"free man"Description:
Trapped somewhere in the nether region between Haddie and Catie, with the added confusion of sounding like someone who works on a golf course. Caddie Woodlawn was a TV heroine of the Old West in the 1980s. Caddie had its moment, but we don't see it becoming one of the more popular girl names starting with C.
- Calla
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"beautiful"Description:
Calla is a lily name that is much more distinctive and delicate than Lily. Rarely heard today, it did appear in the popularity lists in the last decades of the nineteenth century.
- Ciel
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"sky"Description:
This simple yet evocative French word name was chosen for her daughter by model Niki Taylor. While Ciel may be pronounced in French with two syllables, many will pronounce it as "seal" and there may be confusion with Celia and sister Ceil.
- Doon
Origin:
Spelling variation of word name Dune or Scottish surnameMeaning:
"brown or dark"Description:
Photographer Diane Arbus named her daughter Doon, inspired by the sand dunes she walked among when pregnant. Used this way, Doon might be considered a nature name, a refashioning of the word dune. But Doon might also stem from the familiar Scottish surname Dunn or Dunne, which means brown or dark, originally used for a dark-haired person.
- Dune
Origin:
English word nameDescription:
Dune is a haunting and evocative sandy-beach name, which also has sci-fi connections. Dune is a science fiction franchise that was launched by Frank Herbert's 1965 novel. Some interesting Dune character names include Alia, Leto, Siona, Bellonda,and Tamalane.
- Eila
Origin:
Hebrew, Norwegian variation of ElinaMeaning:
"oak tree; bright, shining light"Description:
Eila is a Hebrew name heard in Israel. The name also has roots in Finland and Norway, where it's derived from Elina, a variation of Helen, or from Aila, a form of Helga. Eila could gain attention as a cross-cultural name and fresh alternative to popular sound-alike choices like Ayla, Ella, and Isla.
- Fern
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"plant name"Description:
Of all the botanicals, Fern has been one of the slowest to move back from the front parlor into the nursery, despite the appealing girl character in the children's classic Charlotte's Web. Fern was most popular from the turn of the last century through the 1940s, reaching a high of #152 in 1916. We can certainly see her rejoining the long list of popular greenery names.
- Grove
Origin:
Nature nameMeaning:
"grove of trees"Description:
Fresh, evocative choice.
- Hale
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"someone who lives in a hollow"Description:
This name projects a sense of well-being - hale and hearty - is unusual but accessible, with a clear simple sound, and a worthy namesake, Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale, as an added bonus.
- Isa
Origin:
Germanic, Persian, or diminutive of IsabelMeaning:
"ice; strong-willed; pledged to God"Description:
Isa is a name unto itself as both a Persian name meaning "strong-willed" and as Germanic one derived from the element is meaning "ice". It can also be a short form of Isabel, Isabella, Isadora, Louisa, and similar. Currently popular in Brazil and The Netherlands, it has seen some increased use in the US in recent years, perhaps owing to the popularity of other short names like Ava, Mia, and Isla.
- Isla
Origin:
Scottish place-name or SpanishMeaning:
"island"Description:
Isla is a hit name throughout the English-speaking world but hasn't found the same popularity in other western countries, perhaps because its spelling and pronunciation don't make sense for those whose native language is not English. Think island without the final two letters.
- Insel
- Josie
Origin:
English, diminutive of Josephine, feminine of JosephMeaning:
"Jehovah increases"Description:
Josie is jaunty and friendly: among the most winning of all nickname names. She's been on the social security list since records began being kept.
- Jovie
Origin:
Modern inventedMeaning:
"jovial"Description:
Jovie has a lively and cheerful sound and makes a fresh twist on old (and new) favorites like Jody, Josie, and Jolie. It could be considered a short form of Jovita, Jovena, and Jovana - all feminine forms of Jove, the Roman king of gods - but it could equally work as a stand alone name.
- Juna
Origin:
English, LatinMeaning:
"June"Description:
Juna, a variation of the newly stylish month name June, goddess name Juno, or literary Djuna, is among the fresher-feeling girl names starting with J. While Juna has never been given to more than 50 baby girls per year in the US, it's a popular choice in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
- Juniper
Origin:
Latin tree nameMeaning:
"young"Description:
Juniper is a fresh-feeling nature name -- it's a small evergreen shrub -- with lots of energy. A new favorite of fashionable parents, Juniper joins such other tree and shrub names as Hazel, Acacia, and Willow.