Forest Guardian

Names in this category run the gamut from man to myth and god to monster - shamanistic ancestors and prehistoric hunters, woodland elves and forest faeries, horned gods and green men. Colors and textures are green, green, green - pine and sage, spring and kelly, emerald and spruce - with bits of mist white, heartwood brown, and the grey-blue of rain clouds; the springiness of moss and the sponginess of mushrooms; the crumbling softness of rotting logs; the quiet drip of dewdrops from the canopy above; the soft gleam of animal bones against the forest floor; the cryptic shapes of antlers against deep green shadows; the smell of the earth after it rains.
  1. Tane
    • Abraxas
      • Origin:

        Persian mythology name
      • Description:

        Abraxas is a sci-fi-sounding name with earthly possibilities, but some playground challenges.
    • Adler
      • Origin:

        German
      • Meaning:

        "eagle"
      • Description:

        Adler is a German-Jewish surname that is beginning to be used occasionally as a first and is among the stylish new German names for boys. Among the distinguished bearers of Adler as a last name are Freud colleague Alfred Adler, actress and influential acting teacher Stella Adler and Guns N' Roses drummer Steve Adler.
    • Alden
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "old, wise friend"
      • Description:

        Hot young actor Alden Ehrenreich, the new Han Solo, gives this formerly-stodgy surname name an attractive new image, making it a fresh successor to Aiden or Holden. Before it got this fresh shine, Alden was among the classic Thanksgiving baby names.
    • Alder
      • Origin:

        English tree name or surname
      • Meaning:

        "old"
      • Description:

        The surname-style Alden has been on the rise in the US in recent years, while tree-inspired Rowan is a top choice. Combine this with the popularity of names ending in -er such as Carter and Parker and it makes sense why Alder is now 4 times as popular as it was a decade ago. Given to 125 boys in a recent year, it could be a modern way to honor an "Al".
    • Amias
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "loved"
      • Description:

        Amias or Amyas is a unique name with an attractive sound and feel and a lovely meaning. Though it might sound like a Biblical name, it is not, but is a surname that may be related to Amadeus or even be a male version of Amy--which would make it one of the few boys' names to be derived from a girls'.
    • Arden
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "valley of the eagle; high"
      • Description:

        Arden is a gender-neutral name that's sleek and stylish but always seems to bob just below the surface of popularity, despite ticking all the boxes with its fashionable two-syllable, N-ending shape and its awesome nature-inspired meanings. In the 2021 US statistics, 41 percent of the babies named Arden were boys to 59 percent girls.
    • Aspen
      • Origin:

        Nature and place-name
      • Description:

        As trendy as the chic Colorado ski resort and film festival, Aspen is fast becoming more popular for girls than for boys, but this nature name would work equally well for either.
    • Atlas
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "bearer of the heavens"
      • Description:

        Atlas is one of those names that was previously thought too powerful for a baby boy, who would have to be strong enough to carry the world on his shoulders. Now Atlas has joined the pantheon of Greek and Roman god and goddess names in the realm of possibility, along with Mars, Zeus and Apollo.
    • Ardian
      • Arywode
        • Dacre
          • Origin:

            English
          • Meaning:

            "trickling stream"
          • Description:

            A locational surname with its origins in the North of England, occasionally also used as a first name. Notable bearers include actor Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things) and author and filmmaker Dacre Stoker, the great-grandnephew of Dracula author Bram Stoker.
        • Daere
          • Evander
            • Origin:

              Scottish; Greek
            • Meaning:

              "bow warrior; strong man"
            • Description:

              Evander is a name that could build on the popularity of shorter form Evan, and could work and play well with schoolmates like Zander and Xander.
          • Everest
            • Origin:

              Place-name, world's tallest mountain
            • Meaning:

              "from Évreux"
            • Description:

              This twist on the popular Everett takes it to lofty heights and gives it a geographical and nature-inspired link. The snow-capped Everest could make a name that stands out without feeling too out there, and it may be seen more often in the classroom (that is, outside of the textbooks) in coming years.
          • Elswyth
            • Fiachra
              • Origin:

                Irish
              • Meaning:

                "crow, raven"
              • Description:

                In Irish legend Fiachra was one of the four children of Lir who were turned into swans for 900 years. St Fiachra is the patron saint of gardeners.
            • Finbar
              • Origin:

                Irish
              • Meaning:

                "fair-haired"
              • Description:

                This is an ancient saints' name well used in Ireland but a rarity here and unlikely to ever reach the popularity of other Finn-ish names. St. Finbarr (the more common spelling) is the patron saint of Cork and in Irish folklore, Finbarr was king of the fairies.
            • Firth
              • Origin:

                Scottish nature name
              • Meaning:

                "estuary or arm of the sea"
              • Description:

                Highly unusual water name -- and actor Colin surname -- with a Scottish burr. Firth derives from the Old Norse word fjord.
            • Florian
              • Origin:

                Latin
              • Meaning:

                "flowering"
              • Description:

                If Flora and Florence have returned full force, Florian, with its trendy Latinate ending, could also have a chance. Popular in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and France, St Florian was the venerated patron saint of those in danger from water and the patron saint of firefighters.