Tree names carry the qualities most parents hope to hand down: steadiness, growth, and a little shelter. The Forest Service counts more than 400 tree species in its national forest survey (1), and the 100 names below are drawn from that world and the folklore that grew up around it.
Some are everyday favorites. Hazel ranked 21st for girls in the U.S. in 2025, with Willow at 44th, Rowan at 59th, and Juniper at 100th (2). Others, like Baobab and Katsura, are so rare that federal records never list them at all.
Every entry gives the origin, meaning, pronunciation, and where the name stands in the latest U.S. birth data, so you can tell a classic from a genuine rarity before you commit.
“Parents may appreciate nature names for their connections to serenity or peacefulness, or see them as evoking a wild, untamed quality,” says Sophie Kihm, editor-in-chief of the naming site Nameberry. Trees carry that same pull, with the added weight of decades in the ground.
Popularity at a Glance
The most popular names on this list in the United States, 1965 to 2025: Hazel, Willow, Rowan, Juniper and Magnolia.
100 Popular Tree Baby Names
Put down roots with these timeless tree names for babies.
Aase
Aase puts mountains and evergreens into one short Scandinavian name. The spelling with the ring, Åse, is the more common given name in Denmark and Norway, and it belongs to Agneta Åse Fältskog, one of the singers and songwriters of ABBA. Because special characters travel badly in written English, Aase is the easier version to live with here.
- Origin: Norwegian, Danish
- Meaning: Tree-covered mountain, ridge
- Pronunciation: OH-seh, OH-suu
- Variations: Åse
- Namesakes: Hannah Caroline Aase, an American botanist and cytologist.
- Popularity: Aase has never met the five-birth threshold the U.S. baby name data requires for publication, so it does not appear in the national rankings.
Acacia
Acacia carries real spiritual weight. The Greek term appears in the Bible and may point to the shittah tree of the Hebrew text, the wood used to build the tabernacle because it grew well in the wilderness and yielded large boards. The name itself traces to the Greek element ake, meaning thorn or point. Soft sound, sharp edge underneath.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Thorny tree
- Pronunciation: uh-KAY-shuh
- Namesakes: Acacia Kersey, née Brinley, an American singer and lead vocalist for the band Watercolor.
- Popularity: The latest U.S. figures place Acacia at #2,485 for girls in 2025; its strongest year was 1998 at #1,312.
Acton
Acton sounds like it should follow the word Lord, and as a surname it sometimes did. John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton was a baron commonly called Lord Acton. The Old English roots are āc, meaning oak, and tūn, an enclosed garden and later a settlement. For parents who want an oak name without reaching for Oakley, this is the quieter option.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Oak tree settlement, oak town
- Pronunciation: AK-tn, AK-tun
- Namesakes: Acton Smee Ayrton, a British barrister and Liberal Party politician.
- Popularity: Acton appears in the U.S. records just once, at #12,188 in 2018.
Alba
Alba means dawn in Spanish and Italian, and in Latin it means “white,” but it is also a tree. The white mulberry, or silkworm mulberry, is Morus alba. A Spanish television series shares the name. It is short, bright, and easy to say in either language.
- Origin: Latin, Italian, Spanish
- Meaning: White, dawn
- Pronunciation: AL-ba, AL-buh, AAL-buh
- Namesakes: Alba Bautista, a Spanish rhythmic gymnast. Alba Mujica, née Mugica, an Argentinian film and stage actress. Alba August, a Danish-Swedish actress and singer.
- Popularity: Alba ranked #1,261 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #747 in 1915.
Alder
Alder began as a German variant of Alter, meaning older, used to tell apart two people who shared a name. It also names a tree in the birch family, a group that includes the black, gray, white, and Japanese alders. The result is a boy’s name that sounds grown before it has to be, and it is having its strongest run yet in the U.S. data.
- Origin: German, English
- Meaning: Older, Alder tree
- Pronunciation: AAL-dur, AL-dur
- Popularity: Alder reached #1,402 for boys in the U.S. in 2025, its best showing according to Social Security Administration records.
Almendra
Almendra means almond in Spanish and is ultimately Latin. The almond is a tree native to Iran and the countries around it, and the word covers the tree as well as the edible seed inside its drupe. Almendra has never caught on widely, which is exactly what draws some parents to it.
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Almond
- Pronunciation: al-MEN-dra
- Popularity: U.S. records last list Almendra in 2016 at #11,839 for girls; it ranked highest in 2001 at #7,339.
Amaranth
Amaranth comes from the Greek Amáranthos and belongs to a flower rather than a tree, though it sits comfortably in a botanical lineup. Streamer Kaitlyn Siragusa built her username Amouranth from it, a play on amour and amaranth that pulled the old word back into view. If the full version feels like a lot, it works as a middle name instead, or shortens to Amara.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Unfading, everlasting
- Pronunciation: A-muh-ranth
- Variations: Amaranthus, Amaranthe
- Popularity: Amaranth last appeared in the U.S. data in 2022 at #15,454, with a best rank of #13,907 in 2018.
Anthea
Anthea, or Antheia, comes from the Greek anthos, meaning flower or blossom. It was an epithet of Hera, sister-wife of Zeus and queen of the Olympian gods, which gives a gentle name some standing behind it. It is soft without being fussy, and Thea is sitting right inside it.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Flower, blossom
- Pronunciation: AN-thee-uh
- Namesakes: Anthea Mary Fraser, a British mystery thriller novelist. Anthea Turner, an English TV presenter. Anthea Askey, an English actress and daughter of comedian and actor Arthur Askey.
- Variations: Antheia
- Popularity: The latest U.S. figures place Anthea at #10,179 for girls in 2025; its strongest year was 1959 at #3,261.
Arar
Arar means wild daffodil, so the meaning leans floral, but Arar or Araar is also a term for Tetraclinis, a genus of evergreen conifers. That double life earns it a place among tree names. For families with Arabic or Jordanian roots, it is a compact way to mark them.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Wild daffodil, Lent lily
- Pronunciation: ar-AAR
- Variations: Araar
- Namesakes: Mustafa Wahbi Tal, pen name Arar, a prominent Jordanian poet and writer.
- Popularity: Arar stays off the U.S. charts, which publish only names reaching at least five births in a year.
Arvid
Arvid comes from the Old Norse Arnviðr, joining ǫrn, meaning eagle, with viðr, meaning tree, and may describe a woodland where eagles nest. In the series Norsemen, Arvid is a Viking warrior who becomes chieftain of Norheim village. Heroic without being heavy, and it has a long history in Sweden and Norway behind it.
- Origin: Old Norse
- Meaning: Eagle tree, eaglewood
- Pronunciation: AAR-vid
- Variations: Arved, Arnvid
- Namesakes: Arvid Carlsson, a Swedish neuropharmacologist and Nobel laureate. Salomon Arvid Lindman, a Swedish rear admiral and a former prime minister of Sweden.
- Popularity: Arvid ranked #8,323 for boys in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #575 in 1916.
Ash
Ash comes from the Old English æsc and usually arrives as a short form of Ashley, meaning ash tree clearing, Ashton, meaning ash tree town, or the Hebrew Asher, meaning happy. In Norse myth the ash was Yggdrasil, the tree of life from which the first man came. That is a lot of history for one syllable to carry, and it carries it lightly.
- Origin: English, Hebrew
- Meaning: Ash tree, happy
- Pronunciation: ASH
- Namesakes: Ash Atalla, an Egyptian-British TV producer. Ash Amin, a Ugandan-born British academic.
- Popularity: The latest U.S. figures place Ash at #1,177 for boys in 2025; its strongest year was 2023 at #1,064.
Aspen
Aspen comes from the Old English æspe and names the tree with trembling leaves and a slender white or gray trunk, a symbol of calm. TV personality Erica Rose Sanders chose it for her daughter, and plenty of parents have followed. Aspen ranked #266 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, and it still sounds like a place you would want to be.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Aspen tree, quaking tree
- Pronunciation: AZ-pen, AS-pn
- Variations: Aspin, Aspyn
- Namesakes: Aspen Ladd, an American mixed martial artist. Aspen Vincent, née Miller, an American Broadway actress and singer. Aspen Mays, an American artist.
- Popularity: Aspen sat at #266 for girls in the 2025 U.S. data, down from a high of #196 in 2022.
Baobab
Baobab refers to the water-storing tree native to Africa, Australia, and Madagascar, nicknamed the Tree of Life. The word is thought to come from the Arabic bu hibab, meaning fruit with several seeds. These trees are the camels of the plant world, holding what they need and outlasting nearly everything around them. It is a big swing for a first name, and nobody will forget it.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Fruit with several seeds
- Pronunciation: BAY-oh-bab, BAHW-bab
- Popularity: Baobab has never met the five-birth threshold the U.S. baby name data requires for publication, so it does not appear in the national rankings.
Barbosa
Barbosa is a well-known Portuguese surname that works as a first name, mostly for boys and occasionally for girls. It is topographic, describing someone who lived on land thick with leafy growth, from barba, a type of plant or leaf, and the ending osa, meaning place rich in. It has the rhythm of a family name being handed forward on purpose.
- Origin: Portuguese
- Meaning: Place abundant in plants/trees
- Pronunciation: BAAR-bohz, BAAR-bohz-uh
- Variations: Barbossa, Barboza
- Popularity: U.S. federal records do not list Barbosa at all; names given to fewer than five babies in a year are withheld.
Beech
Beech may come from the Old English bec, used for someone living near a beech tree or orchard, or from baec, meaning small river or stream. Flowing water is a source of life, and the beech itself stands for protection and nurturing, which is where its folk reputation as a mother of the woods comes from. Short, plain, and pleasantly unexpected.
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Beech tree
- Pronunciation: BEECH
- Namesakes: Hannah Beech, an American journalist.
- Popularity: Beech stays off the U.S. charts, which publish only names reaching at least five births in a year.
Birch
Birch describes a small to medium hardwood with thin leaves, and folklore holds that its trunk has eyes that guide travelers through the forest. Historically a boys’ name, it now reads as gender-neutral and suits parents who want something plainly outdoorsy. It stays rare enough to feel chosen rather than borrowed.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Birch tree
- Pronunciation: BURCH
- Namesakes: Birch Evans Bayh Jr., an American Democratic Party politician and former U.S. senator. Birch Wilson, an American political activist and newspaper editor.
- Popularity: Birch ranked #12,294 for boys in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #2,300 in 1913.
Björk
Björk means birch and is entirely feminine in Iceland and Sweden, with Faroese, Norwegian, and Danish variants, even though it can strike English speakers as masculine. Its best known bearer is the Icelandic singer Björk Guðmundsdóttir. Whether it goes first or second, it puts Scandinavian heritage front and center.
- Origin: Scandinavian
- Meaning: Birch (tree)
- Pronunciation: BYORFK, BYORK
- Variations: Bjørk, Björck, Biörck, Bjork
- Namesakes: Hera Björk Þórhallsdóttir, an Icelandic singer. Björk Guðmundsdóttir, an Icelandic singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress.
- Popularity: U.S. federal records do not list Björk at all; names given to fewer than five babies in a year are withheld.
Bonsai
Bonsai comes from the East Asian art of growing miniature trees and shrubs in a pot. The word joins the Middle Chinese bwon, meaning bowl, with tsoj, to plant; in Japanese those became bon, a tray or pot, and sai, to plant or cultivate. It is an art form more than a name, and it packs centuries of patience into two syllables.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Planted in a container, to plant in a bowl
- Pronunciation: BON-seye, BON-zeye
- Popularity: Bonsai stays off the U.S. charts, which publish only names reaching at least five births in a year.
Cedar
Cedar comes from the Latin cedrus and the Greek kedros, and names the cone-bearing tree native to the Himalayas and the Mediterranean. The cedar stands for strength, nobility, and long life. It also pairs well with another tree name if twins are on the way, and Cedar and Cypress make a matched set.
- Origin: English, Greek, Latin
- Meaning: Cedar (tree)
- Pronunciation: SEE-der, SEE-duh
- Variations: Cedre, Ceder, Seder
- Namesakes: Cedar Prest, an Australian stained glass artist. Cedar Sigo, a Native American writer. Cedar Walton Jr., an American jazz pianist.
- Popularity: Cedar ranked #1,244 for boys in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #1,125 in 2022.
Celtis
Celtis is the Latin word for a genus of medium seasonal trees, the nettle trees or hackberries. In the Latin Vulgate the word was used by mistake to mean chisel, where certē was intended. It sounds like it belongs in a book of elves and kings, which is precisely the appeal.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Hackberry tree
- Pronunciation: SEL-tiss
- Variations: Celtes
- Popularity: U.S. federal records do not list Celtis at all; names given to fewer than five babies in a year are withheld.
Chinar
Chinar runs through the Hindi cinār and the Urdu činar to the Persian root čenâr, the oriental plane tree, and modern Turkish keeps the related çınar. Travelers may know the Char-Chinar, an island marked by a chinar tree at each of its four corners. For families with roots across Central and South Asia, it is a fresh and portable pick.
- Origin: Urdu, Indian, Persian
- Meaning: Beautiful tree, poplar
- Pronunciation: CHIH-nar
- Variations: Chenar
- Popularity: Chinar stays off the U.S. charts, which publish only names reaching at least five births in a year.
Citrus
Citrus is the Latin word for the citron fruit, historically the cedrate, and for the thuja conifer. Citron appears in Rabbinic tradition as the fruit of the beautiful, or hadar, tree named in Leviticus, so the word carries more history than its bright modern sound suggests. It is tart, brief, and impossible to mistake for anyone else in the class.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Citron fruit, thuja (tree)
- Pronunciation: SIT-russ, SIT-rss
- Popularity: Citrus has never met the five-birth threshold the U.S. baby name data requires for publication, so it does not appear in the national rankings.
Clematis
Clematis comes from the Greek clēmatis, meaning climbing plant, from the root klema, a twig, tendril, or branch. It covers a genus of some 380 woody flowering vines in the buttercup family. As a name it is unusual and faintly Victorian, and Clem is waiting as a nickname.
- Origin: English, Greek
- Meaning: Vine branch, climbing plant
- Pronunciation: KLEH-muh-tiss
- Popularity: U.S. federal records do not list Clematis at all; names given to fewer than five babies in a year are withheld.
Colby
Colby feels modern despite ancient roots, coming from the Old Norse nickname Koli, meaning coal or dark, plus býr, meaning town. It is a name for parents who ever wondered where charcoal comes from and enjoyed the answer. It has been in and out of the U.S. rankings since the 1880s, which is a good sign for a name that still sounds current.
- Origin: Old Norse
- Meaning: Coal town/settlement
- Pronunciation: KOHL-bee
- Variations: Colbie
- Namesakes: Colby Mitchell Chester, a U.S. Navy admiral. Colby Minifie, an American Broadway, TV, and film actress. Colby Corino, an American professional WWE wrestler.
- Popularity: Colby sat at #615 for boys in the 2025 U.S. data, down from a high of #99 in 2001.
Coriander
Coriander was named for its smell. The Greek koríannon, from koris, ties the herb to bedbugs, which were thought to share the scent. DC Comics borrowed it for Starfire, whose Tamaranean name Koriand’r is a deliberate pun on the spice. It is a bold choice, best on a kid who will enjoy telling the story.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Bed bug, spice
- Pronunciation: KOR-ee-AN-duh, KOR-ee-AN-dur
- Popularity: Coriander has never met the five-birth threshold the U.S. baby name data requires for publication, so it does not appear in the national rankings.
Cypress
The English Cypress comes from the Greek kuparisso. These evergreen conifers hold up in harsh conditions and difficult ground, which is the sort of quality parents like to name a child after, and their dark foliage has stood for mourning and remembrance since classical antiquity. It has been popping up in celebrity circles for good reason, and it still sounds fresh on a birth certificate.
- Origin: Greek, English
- Meaning: Cypress tree
- Pronunciation: SEYE-press, SEYE-priss
- Namesakes: Cypress Soleil Lee, the daughter of American rapper Solé. Cypress Huston, the daughter of British actor Jack Huston and American model Shannan Click.
- Popularity: The latest U.S. figures place Cypress at #1,554 for boys in 2025; its strongest year was 2024 at #1,411.
Dahlia
Dahlia takes its title from the Swedish botanist Anders Dahl, whose surname is a form of the Scandinavian Dal, meaning valley. The flowers are eye-catching perennials native to Mexico and Central America, and they stand for beauty and grace. It is at its highest U.S. ranking on record right now, which makes it a rare mix of pretty and current.
- Origin: Swedish, English
- Meaning: Valley flower
- Pronunciation: DAH-lee-uh
- Namesakes: Dahlia Lithwick, a Canadian-American attorney and author. Dahlia Ravikovitch, an Israeli poet, translator, and peace activist.
- Popularity: Dahlia reached #215 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, its best showing according to Social Security Administration records.
Ebony
Ebony is the Anglicized form of the ancient Greek ebenos, a tree species that yields prized black wood used for ornamental work. The name is closely tied to African American culture and had a long run near the top of the U.S. charts in the early 1980s. It has fallen further than any other name here since, down about 71 percent over the last ten years of births compared with the ten before them.
- Origin: Greek, English
- Meaning: Blackwood
- Pronunciation: EH-buh-nee
- Variations: Eboni
- Namesakes: Ebony Thomas, an American writer and educator. Ebony Jo-Ann, an American actress, known for her role in the movie Grown Ups. Ebony Alleyne, an English R&B and soul singer.
- Popularity: Ebony ranked #5,452 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #132 in 1982.
Elan
Elan can be read as an Anglicized form of the better known Hebrew Elon, meaning oak tree or big tree, and it is also Native American, possibly Apache in origin. Two origins, one clean sound, and a clear wish tucked inside it.
- Origin: Native American, Hebrew
- Meaning: Friendly, big tree, oak tree
- Pronunciation: EH-lan, EH-lahn
- Variations: Elon, Ilan
- Namesakes: Elan Atias, an American reggae singer-songwriter.
- Popularity: The latest U.S. figures place Elan at #2,490 for boys in 2025; its strongest year was 2011 at #1,266.
Elder
Elder names the elder tree and comes from the Old English ealdra, meaning older, which is fitting for a first child. It may also be a form of the Portuguese Hélder. Christianity reshaped the pagan folklore around the tree: burning its wood was said to summon the devil, while planting one by the house kept him away. That is a lot of story for five letters.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Elder tree, revered one, older
- Pronunciation: EL-dur, EL-duh
- Variations: Élder
- Namesakes: Elder Herrera, a Colombian road cyclist. Elder Olson, an American poet and literary critic. Elder Lafayette White, an American professional baseball player.
- Popularity: Elder sat at #2,725 for boys in the 2025 U.S. data, down from a high of #1,165 in 1914.
Elmore
Elmore started as a surname built from Old English pieces. The first half is either elm, the elm tree, or ellern, the alder. The second could be mor, a marsh or fen, fer, a river bank, or ofer, a ridge. The exact reading is hard to pin down, but the sound is unmistakably classic.
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Elm ridge, riverbank with elm trees
- Pronunciation: EL-mawr, EL-maw
- Namesakes: Elmore Hutchinson, a Jamaican-born American cricketer. Elmore Smith, an American professional basketball player. Elmore Leonard Jr., an American author and screenwriter.
- Popularity: Elmore last appeared in the U.S. data in 2021 at #12,692, with a best rank of #509 in 1915.
Elon
Elon is Hebrew for oak tree or big tree, and the Bible names several men called Elon, one of them a judge of Israel. Modern interest owes plenty to Elon Musk. It is short, biblical, and instantly recognizable, which cuts both ways depending on how you feel about its most famous bearer.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Oak tree, big tree
- Pronunciation: EE-lon
- Variations: Alon, Elan, Ilan, Eilan, Eilon
- Namesakes: Elon Ganor, an Israeli entrepreneur and businessman. Elon Musk, a South African business tycoon and investor.
- Popularity: The latest U.S. figures place Elon at #1,780 for boys in 2025; its strongest year was 2018 at #943.
Elowen
Elowen joins the Cornish elvan, meaning elm, with wyn or wen, meaning blessed or white. Because it was little used outside Cornwall, it was not officially registered as a given name in England until 1997, which explains its slow start. It is the fastest riser on this list, up about 1,065 percent when the last ten years of U.S. births are measured against the ten years before them.
- Origin: Cornish
- Meaning: Elm tree
- Pronunciation: el-OO-en, EL-oh-win
- Variations: Elowyn, Elowynn
- Popularity: Elowen reached #798 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, its best showing according to Social Security Administration records.
Farina
Farina comes from the Latin farina, meaning wheat flour, probably used for someone working as a miller or flour merchant. Grain has long stood for bounty and fertility, which suits a full house. It is familiar in Italian and Spanish and still rare enough in English to turn a head.
- Origin: Latin, Persian
- Meaning: Wheat flour, kind, merciful
- Pronunciation: FA-ree-nah, fuu-REE-nuh
- Variations: Fareenaa
- Namesakes: Farina Franco, stage name Farina, a Colombian rapper and singer-songwriter.
- Popularity: U.S. records last list Farina in 2015 at #17,326 for girls; it ranked highest in 1982 at #9,579.
Fern
Of all the names that mean tree, Fern paints the greenest picture. These leafy plants grow across the globe, with over 200 species in New Zealand alone, and the word comes from the Anglo-Saxon fearn. The name has been mainly feminine, with occasional use for boys. It has the same easy, unfussy charm as Hazel and Olive, and it has charted from 1880 through the latest 2025 data.
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: A fern
- Pronunciation: FURN
- Namesakes: Fern Britton, an English author and TV presenter. Fern G. Z. Carr, a contemporary Canadian poet. Fern Emmett, an American film actress.
- Popularity: The latest U.S. figures place Fern at #1,220 for girls in 2025; its strongest year was 1916 at #152.
Fir
Fir names an evergreen, cone-bearing tree in English. As an occupational surname it comes instead from the German feuer, meaning fire, used for a smith or a fire lighter, and it also appears as an Arabic feminine name meaning sharp weapon. One syllable, three separate histories.
- Origin: English, German
- Meaning: Fir tree, fire
- Pronunciation: FUR
- Popularity: Fir stays off the U.S. charts, which publish only names reaching at least five births in a year.
Flora
Flora comes from the Latin flos and florus and belonged to the Roman goddess of flowers, spring, and fertility. In English the word covers plant life generally, from weeds to trees. It is the gentlest way to stay on theme without naming one particular tree.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Flower
- Pronunciation: FLAW-rah, FLAH-ruh
- Variations: Flor, Florah, Fleur
- Namesakes: Flora Coquerel, a French model and pageant titleholder. Flora Twort, an English watercolor painter. Flora Brovina, a Kosovar-Albanian poet and women’s rights activist.
- Popularity: Flora ranked #607 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #131 in 1914.
Florencia
Florencia is the Spanish form of the Latin Florentius, a name full of new life and possibility. It has an antique ring in Spain while staying in steady use across Latin America. Among the more ornate picks here, it gives a girl plenty of room to move, with Flor as a ready nickname.
- Origin: Latin, Spanish
- Meaning: Blossoming, flourishing
- Pronunciation: FLAWR-en-see-ah
- Variations: Florentius, Florentia, Florence
- Namesakes: María Florencia Mutio, an Argentinian field hockey player and Olympic silver medalist. Florencia Lozano, an American actress.
- Popularity: The latest U.S. figures place Florencia at #3,485 for girls in 2025; its strongest year was 1923 at #1,861.
Forrest
Forrest and Forest are Anglo-Norman in origin and worked as both a given name and a surname for someone living in or near a forest. Use fell away through the later 20th century, and the name has recovered since. It sits comfortably inside the U.S. top 400 again, which is a quiet vote of confidence from a lot of parents.
- Origin: Anglo-Norman
- Meaning: Of the woods, a large area covered by trees
- Pronunciation: FO-rest, FO-rist
- Variations: Forest
- Namesakes: Forrest Griffin, an American mixed martial artist and UFC Champion. Forrest Meredith Tucker, an American actor. Forrest Kline, an American musician and lead vocalist for the band Hellogoodbye.
- Popularity: Forrest sat at #374 for boys in the 2025 U.S. data, down from a high of #173 in 1913.
Geneva
Geneva is a derivative of the French Genève, pronounced zhuh-NEHV, the name of Switzerland’s second most populated city. English speakers took it up, possibly for its likeness to Genevieve. It means juniper tree, a plant long tied to protection, so it sounds like a destination and reads like a blessing.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Juniper tree, juniper berry
- Pronunciation: juh-NEE-vuh
- Variations: Genève
- Namesakes: Geneva Carr, an American TV and stage actress. Geneva Cruz, a multi-platinum Filipina singer. Geneva Mercer, an American artist.
- Popularity: Geneva ranked #1,657 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #106 in 1920.
Ginkgo
Ginkgo is a Chinese flowering tree with fan-shaped leaves, often used in medicine. The word started as the Chinese yājiǎo, meaning duck feet, for the shape of the leaves, shifted to yinxing, silver apricot, and passed into Japanese as gin kyo. The English spelling is probably a misreading of that pronunciation. Few names come with that much travel behind them.
- Origin: Chinese, Japanese, English
- Meaning: Silver apricot
- Pronunciation: GING-koh
- Variations: Gingko
- Popularity: U.S. federal records do not list Ginkgo at all; names given to fewer than five babies in a year are withheld.
Grimshaw
Grimshaw might stem from the Old Norse personal name Grímr, from grimmr, meaning grim or cruel, and connected to the Old Icelandic gríma, a mask or helm. More likely it joins the Old English grīma, meaning specter or goblin, with sceaga, a copse or woods. For parents who want their woodland name with shadows in it, this is the one.
- Origin: Anglo-Saxon
- Meaning: Grim’s woods, dark woods
- Pronunciation: GRIM-shaw
- Variations: Grimshawe
- Popularity: Grimshaw stays off the U.S. charts, which publish only names reaching at least five births in a year.
Grover
Grover was an English surname from the Old English graf, meaning grove of trees. It has been worn by lawyers and a president, and also by a fuzzy blue monster on Sesame Street, which most kids will meet first. If you can live with that, Grover is a dignified vintage choice with room to grow into.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Dwells near the grove
- Pronunciation: GROHW-vur, GROH-vur
- Namesakes: Stephen Grover Cleveland, an American lawyer and the 22nd and 24th U.S. president. Grover Sellers, an American attorney-general of Texas.
- Popularity: Grover ranked #4,298 for boys in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #188 in 1918.
Gwydion
Gwydion pairs the Old Welsh guid, meaning trees, with gen, meaning born of. Gwydion fab Dôn was a wizard and trickster of Welsh mythology and the Mabinogi who made his nephew a wife out of flowers. Red Dead Redemption 2 gives the name to the magician and conman Josiah Trelawny’s horse, a clever nod to the myth. It is a heavy piece of Welsh to carry, and glorious on the right kid.
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: Born of trees
- Pronunciation: GWIH-dee-un, GWIH-dee-on
- Namesakes: Thomas deLong, known as Gwydion Pendderwen, an American musician and witch. Gwydion Brooke, an English principal bassoonist for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
- Popularity: Gwydion appears in the U.S. records just once, at #9,331 in 1994.
Hadassah
Hadassah means myrtle and is a traditional Jewish choice with obvious elegance. In the Bible, Hadassah, the cousin of Mordecai, was called by the Persian name Esther after she became Queen of Persia. Jewish communities have used it without a break, and it now sits inside the U.S. top 600 for girls.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Myrtle
- Pronunciation: huu-DA-sah
- Variations: Hadasa
- Namesakes: Hadassah Epstein, a Jerusalem-born American dancer, choreographer, and instructor. Hadassa Rosensaft, a Polish survivor of the Holocaust. Hadassah Lieberman, the wife of former U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman.
- Popularity: Hadassah sat at #570 for girls in the 2025 U.S. data, down from a high of #530 in 2024.
Hanako
Hanako joins the Japanese characters hana, meaning flower, with ko, meaning child. It is chiefly a girls’ name, though it has been used for boys, and the ghost boy Hanako of the manga and anime Toilet-bound Hanako-kun is one fictional example. It calls up flowering trees without naming a single one.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Flower child
- Pronunciation: HA-NA-KOH
- Namesakes: Hanako Muraoka, a Japanese translator known for translating Anne of Green Gables into Japanese. Hanako Footman, a British actress.
- Popularity: Hanako ranked #9,688 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #2,076 in 1921.
Hawthorn
Hawthorn is transferred from a surname built on the Old English haga, meaning hedge, and thorn, the thorn bush. The tree is small and tough, with thorny branches, red berries, and aromatic flowers, and it holds up in rough conditions. Thorn makes an excellent nickname for a kid with the same streak.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Lives near a thorn hedge, where hawthorns grow
- Pronunciation: HAW-thorn
- Variations: Hawthorne
- Popularity: The latest U.S. figures place Hawthorn at #7,866 for boys in 2025; its strongest year was 2021 at #5,415.
Hayma
Hayma means forest, or deep forest, and comes out of Burmese. It is used mostly for girls, though the American television producer and executive Hayma Washington shows it works for a boy. The meaning does all the work here, and the sound stays soft while doing it.
- Origin: Burmese
- Meaning: Forest
- Pronunciation: HAY-muh
- Namesakes: Hayma Malini, the Singaporean wife of Indian actor and singer Yugendran.
- Variations: Haymar
- Popularity: Hayma stays off the U.S. charts, which publish only names reaching at least five births in a year.
Hazel
Hazel comes from the Old English hæsel and has Germanic roots. It names a genus of hazelnut-bearing shrubs and trees as well as a greenish or reddish-brown eye color, and it once marked someone living near a hazel tree, a grove, or a place called Haesel. It is the highest ranked tree name on this list, 21st for girls in the U.S. in 2025, and it is occasionally used for boys too.
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Hazel (tree or color)
- Pronunciation: HAY-zl
- Namesakes: Hazel Court, an English actress. Hazel Findlay, a British climber and mountaineer. Hazel Schmoll, an American botanist.
- Popularity: Hazel ranked #21 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #18 in 2023.
Hemlock
Most people hear Hemlock and think of the poison, but the eastern or Canadian hemlock is a conifer and Pennsylvania’s state tree. The word comes from the Old English hemlic, from the Proto-Germanic hamuljan, meaning hooked, a reference to the shape of its leaves. It is dark, cool, and not for every family.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Poisonous plant, hemlock plant
- Pronunciation: HEM-lok
- Popularity: U.S. federal records do not list Hemlock at all; names given to fewer than five babies in a year are withheld.
Hideki
Hideki can be written with the kanji for excellence or superior alongside the character for timber trees. Japanese culture ties trees to resilience, flexibility, growth, and long life, so the meaning is doing real work. It is uncommon in the west, and Hide, pronounced HEE-deh, makes a friendly short form.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Bright tree, excellent tree
- Pronunciation: HEE-DEH-KEE
- Namesakes: Hideki Arai, a Japanese manga artist. Hideki Kadowaki, a Japanese professional mixed martial artist. Hideki Fujii, a Japanese photographer.
- Popularity: Hideki last appeared in the U.S. data in 1982 at #6,735, with a best rank of #3,674 in 1974.
Holly
Holly springs from the Old English hole(g)n or the Middle English holis and covers a genus of flowering plants and trees, most of which put out bright red berries. Celtic tradition treats the holly as a symbol of peace and goodwill. It is the obvious pick for a December baby and holds up fine in July, and it has charted from 1893 through the latest 2025 data.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Holly tree
- Pronunciation: HOL-ee, HAH-lee
- Variations: Holli, Hollie, Holley, Hollee
- Namesakes: Holly Hunter, an award-winning American actress. Holly Jean Dorger, an American ballerina and principal dancer. Holly Earl, an English actress.
- Popularity: Holly ranked #416 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #48 in 1979.
Itsuki
Itsuki puts together ki, meaning tree, and i, meaning to live or to be, which is read as living tree, tree of life, or simply tree. In Shintoism it can also mean servant of God, and other readings give fiber moon or one moon. As a surname it means five trees, as with the enka singer Hiroshi Itsuki. Few names hold that many meanings at once.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Tree
- Pronunciation: EE-TSOO-KEE
- Namesakes: Itsuki Hoshi, a Japanese character artist for Skies of Arcadia.
- Popularity: Itsuki last appeared in the U.S. data in 2020 at #12,829, with a best rank of #6,392 in 2013.
Ivo
Brought to England after the Norman conquest, Ivo began as a short form of names starting with the Norman iwa, meaning yew. Those names paired elements meaning yew and battle, so Ivo can be read as an archer in battle. It was common in medieval England and it has never sounded dated since.
- Origin: French, German
- Meaning: Yew, archer
- Pronunciation: EE-voh
- Namesakes: Ivo Andrić, a Yugoslav Nobel Prize-winning novelist and writer. Ivo Pogorelić, a Yugoslav-born Croatian pianist. Ivo Opstelten, a Dutch politician and jurist.
- Popularity: Ivo sat at #7,370 for boys in the 2025 U.S. data, down from a high of #1,629 in 1913.
Jasmine
Jasmine started as the Persian Yasmin or Yasamin and reached English through Old French. The plant belongs to the olive family and is known for a small flower with an outsized scent. Disney’s Princess Jasmine put it in front of a generation of parents, and it peaked at #23 in 1993 and still ranks #206 for girls in 2025.
- Origin: Persian
- Meaning: Gift from God
- Pronunciation: JAZ-min
- Variations: Jazmin, Yasmin, Yasamin, Yasmine, Jessamine
- Namesakes: Jasmine Sanders, a German-American model and fashion influencer. Jasmine Harman, an English TV and radio presenter.
- Popularity: Jasmine ranked #206 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #23 in 1993.
Juniper
Juniper comes from the Latin juniperus, built from juni, meaning young, and perus, meaning bearing or producing. The plant covers several species, including an evergreen with fragrant foliage and berry-like cones. It just cracked the U.S. top 100 for girls, and June, Juni, Ginny, and Jinny are all waiting as nicknames.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Youthful bearer, vigorous
- Pronunciation: JOO-nih-puh, JOO-nih-pur
- Namesakes: Juniper Shuey, an American visual artist. Juniper Russo, an American author and educator.
- Popularity: U.S. birth records put Juniper at #100 for girls in 2025, the highest it has ranked since it first charted in 1969.
Juri
Juri in Japan is a girls’ name, pronounced JOO-REE, and different kanji combinations give it different meanings. One pairs ju, meaning trees or longevity, with ri, meaning village, gemstone, or plum. In Estonia and Germany it is masculine and spelled Jüri, pronounced YOO-ree, a short form of Jürgen and a cognate of George, meaning farmer. Either way it lands on something that grows.
- Origin: Japanese, Estonian
- Meaning: Pear tree, jasmine plant, farmer
- Pronunciation: JOO-REE
- Namesakes: Juri Ide, a Japanese Olympic triathlete. Jüri Tamm, an Estonian hammer thrower, Olympic bronze medalist, and politician. Juri Osada, a Japanese figure skater and coach.
- Popularity: Juri reached #4,813 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, its best showing according to Social Security Administration records.
Kaede
Kaede is the Japanese word for the maple tree, and Inuyasha fans will know it as the priestess whose knowledge kept the main characters alive. It is an elegant alternative to the English Maple. It ranked 16,014th in the U.S. in 2025, so an American Kaede will almost certainly be the only one in her class.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Maple tree
- Pronunciation: ka-AY-day, ka-EH-deh
- Namesakes: Kaede Dobashi, a Japanese dancer, model, and actress. Kaede Aono, a Japanese actress. Kaede Hondo, a Japanese voice actress known for her role in K-On!.
- Popularity: Kaede ranked #16,014 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #7,138 in 2014.
Kapok
Kapok refers to the silk-cotton tree, which the Maya held sacred as the link between the underworld, the earth, and the heavens. The word itself is Mayan for to rise up. The tree backs that up with enormous buttress roots and serious height. It is an unusual choice with a genuinely uplifting meaning.
- Origin: Mayan
- Meaning: To rise up
- Pronunciation: KAY-pok, KAY-paak, KA-pok
- Popularity: U.S. federal records do not list Kapok at all; names given to fewer than five babies in a year are withheld.
Katsura
Katsura is the colloquial term for the Japanese Judas tree, native to Japan and China, and the kanji can also be read as arrowroot. The name compounds a character read as ka, meaning good smell or fragrance, with zu, a contraction of the obsolete izu, meaning to go out. Sweet-smelling and quietly grand.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Judas tree, fragrant tree (cinnamon or sandalwood)
- Pronunciation: KA-TSOO-RA, KA-TSOO-RUH
- Variations: Katsuura
- Namesakes: Katsura Hoshino, a Japanese manga artist. Katsura Sato, a Japanese biathlete.
- Popularity: Katsura stays off the U.S. charts, which publish only names reaching at least five births in a year.
Keziah
Keziah means cassia, a fragrant tree, and it belongs to the second of Job’s three daughters, born after his trial. The name was likely a comment on her beauty as much as the scent of the spice. It is used across several African nations and Caribbean islands, and it just hit its best U.S. ranking on record, so it is a biblical pick on the way up rather than on the way out.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Cassia (tree)
- Pronunciation: KEH-zee-uh, kuh-ZEYE-uh
- Variations: Kezia
- Namesakes: Keziah, the daughter of the biblical figure Job. Keziah Goodwyn Hopkins Brevar, an American plantation mistress and biographer. Keziah Gore, a British rhythmic gymnast.
- Popularity: Keziah reached #767 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, its best showing according to Social Security Administration records.
Kiri
In Maori, Kiri means skin of a tree, which comes out as tree bark. In Japanese it can refer to the paulownia tomentosa, the princess or empress tree, and it may also mean mist or fog. Khmer has it too, where it is masculine and means mountain. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa gave it an international profile, and it is nature-connected in every language it lands in.
- Origin: Maori, Japanese
- Meaning: Tree bark, the empress tree
- Pronunciation: KIH-ree, KEE-REE
- Namesakes: Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, a New Zealand opera singer. Kiri Pritchard-McLean, a Welsh comedian and writer. Kiri Kim, a South Korean comedian.
- Popularity: The latest U.S. figures place Kiri at #6,023 for girls in 2025; its strongest year was 1984 at #1,798.
Laurel
Laurel stems from the Latin laurus. The shrub is tied to victory, since the ancient Greeks wove its leaves into crowns for the winners of their competitions. Naming a child Laurel is a small act of optimism, and a reminder that parents deserve the wreath as much as anyone.
- Origin: Latin, English
- Meaning: Laurel tree
- Pronunciation: LAW-rl, LAW-rul
- Variations: Laurelle
- Namesakes: Laurel Arnell-Cullen, a British indie musician. Laurel Martyn, an Australian ballerina. William Laurel Harris, an American muralist.
- Popularity: Laurel sat at #734 for girls in the 2025 U.S. data, down from a high of #241 in 1956.
Lavender
Lavender doubles as a color and a botanical name, probably from the Latin lividus, meaning “blueish.” Another possible root is the Old French lavandièrer, meaning launderer, or lavandière, a washerwoman. Lavender is a fragrant shrub, though topiary artists often train it into a small tree. It cracked the U.S. top 1,000 at #993 in 2024 and eased to #1,095 in 2025.
- Origin: Anglo-Saxon, Latin
- Meaning: Lavender flower, blueish
- Pronunciation: LA-vun-der, LA-vun-duh
- Popularity: Lavender ranked #1,095 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #993 in 2024.
Leaf
Leaf is more flexible than it looks. As a variant of the Scandinavian Leif it means heir, and it also draws on the Old English lēof, meaning dear or beloved. In plain modern English it is simply the leaf of a plant. Leaves come in every shape and shade, which is a decent thing to name a kid after.
- Origin: Scandinavian, English
- Meaning: Heir, leaf of a plant, beloved
- Pronunciation: LEEF
- Variations: Leif, Lief, Leafe
- Namesakes: Dr. Leaf Huang, an American biophysicist and professor. Cyrus Leaf Daniell, a British fencer and Olympic silver medalist.
- Popularity: Leaf last appeared in the U.S. data in 2021 at #13,282, with a best rank of #4,721 in 1976.
Lennox
Lennox comes from a district in Scotland called Leamhnachd in Gaelic, and the Lowland clan whose chieftains were the original earls of Lennox. The meaning is elm grove, so the elms are hiding in plain sight. Boxer Lennox Lewis is the name’s best known bearer, and it has climbed into the U.S. top 300 for boys.
- Origin: Scottish, Gaelic
- Meaning: Elm grove, place of elms
- Pronunciation: LEN-ukss, LEN-aakss
- Variations: Lenox, Lennix, Lenix
- Namesakes: Lennox Lewis, a boxing commentator and former boxer. Lennox Robinson, an Irish dramatist, theater producer, and director. Lennox Godfrey Bird, a prominent British architect.
- Popularity: Lennox sat at #289 for boys in the 2025 U.S. data, down from a high of #248 in 2022.
Linden
Linden is a German surname from the Old High German linta, meaning linden tree. It passed into Old English as lind and came to mean the lime tree, known for fragrant flowers and heart-shaped leaves. It is technically gender-neutral and used mostly for boys.
- Origin: English, German
- Meaning: Linden tree, lime tree
- Pronunciation: LIN-din, LIN-dn
- Variations: Lyndon
- Namesakes: Linden Dalecki, an American author. Truman Linden Chiles, an American actor, known for his role on CBS’s East Side/West Side.
- Popularity: Linden ranked #1,415 for boys in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #929 in 1947.
Linnea
Linnea comes from the surname of the Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus, who gave it to his favorite blossom, the twinflower. That delicate bell-shaped flower grows in pairs and is native to northern Europe, often in wooded ground. Linnea sits well outside the U.S. top 1,000 today, after its best mark of #745 in 1945, though it remains a Scandinavian staple, and Lin and Nea both work as short forms.
- Origin: Swedish
- Meaning: Linden tree, lime tree
- Pronunciation: lin-AY-uh
- Variations: Linnaea, Linnéa, Linnaeus
- Namesakes: Linnea Dale, a Norwegian singer. Linnea Sinclair, an American sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal romance author. Linnea Ceder, a Finnish figure skater.
- Popularity: The latest U.S. figures place Linnea at #1,449 for girls in 2025; its strongest year was 1945 at #745.
Magnolia
Magnolia is the English word for the flower, named for the French botanist Pierre Magnol, and the Latin root magna, meaning great, is doing some of the work on the ear. The blooms are large and come in several shades, most often pink and white. It reached its best U.S. ranking on record in 2025, and Maggy and Nola keep the grandest name here down to earth.
- Origin: French, Latin
- Meaning: Magnol’s flower
- Pronunciation: mag-NOH-lee-uh
- Variations: Magnole, Magnolya, Magnoly
- Namesakes: Maminydjama Maymuru, known as Magnolia Maymuru, an Aboriginal Australian actress and model.
- Popularity: Magnolia reached #124 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, its best showing according to Social Security Administration records.
Mahogany
Mahogany is the English word for a tropical tree valued for its reddish brown wood. The term comes through the Spanish mahogani from the root mogno, which traces to maguana, a Carib word for the tree. At four syllables it can feel like a lot up front, so plenty of parents run it as a middle name.
- Origin: English, Spanish
- Meaning: Deep redwood
- Pronunciation: muh-HO-gih-nee, muh-HO-guh-nee
- Variations: Mahoganie, Mahogony
- Namesakes: Mahogany Gordy, stage name Mahogany LOX, an American singer, DJ, and social media influencer.
- Popularity: Mahogany ranked #2,676 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #1,215 in 2000.
Maple
Maple comes from the Old English mapul, itself from mapultreow, meaning maple tree, and we can all be grateful someone shortened it. Most maples are known for their autumn color, though some Mediterranean and southern Asian species stay evergreen. It is unusual without being strange, and it is at its highest U.S. ranking on record right now.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Maple (tree)
- Pronunciation: MAY-pull
- Namesakes: Maple Batalia, an Indian-Canadian actress known for Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules.
- Popularity: Maple reached #1,092 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, its best showing according to Social Security Administration records.
Matsu
Pine trees stand for longevity in Japan, which is why Matsu carries the weight it does. The pine is one of the three plants in the sho-chiku-bai, a set of lucky charms; together, pine, bamboo, and plum stand for happiness. It is short, sturdy, and cheerful in a way few one-word nature names manage.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Pine (tree)
- Pronunciation: MA-TSOO
- Namesakes: Tomohiro Matsu, a Japanese light-novelist and anime scriptwriter.
- Popularity: Matsu stays off the U.S. charts, which publish only names reaching at least five births in a year.
Meilin
Meilin covers more ground than forests and plums. Pair the character for mei, meaning apricot, rose, or gemstone, with lin, meaning forest, and the readings multiply; one of the more unusual is beautiful female unicorn. Movie buffs will know Meilin Lee, the lead of Pixar’s Turning Red. There is a lot to like here.
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Plum jade, beautiful forest
- Pronunciation: MAY-lihn
- Variations: Mei-lin, Mei Lin, Meirin
- Namesakes: Meilin Shi, a Chinese tai chi practitioner. Alyssa Meilin Gray, a Chinese-American singer-songwriter. Mei Lin Ong, a Malaysian former backstroke and medley swimmer.
- Popularity: Meilin ranked #6,256 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #6,109 in 2010.
Moriko
Moriko is a rare name with no notable namesakes we know. In Japanese culture, many trees are considered sacred, and forests are tied to mystery and spirituality. Because Shinto practitioners believe in kami (gods) related to nature, many Shinto shrines are found in forests. Escape the bustle of the city and return to Mother Nature with Moriko.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Forest child
- Pronunciation: MAW-REE-KOH
- Popularity: U.S. federal records do not list Moriko at all; names given to fewer than five babies in a year are withheld.
Myrtle
Myrtle comes from the Greek myrtus, a genus of small flowering trees that bear star-like flowers with soft white petals. It took off in the Victorian era when floral names were everywhere, and it has been resting as an old classic ever since. Someone has to bring it back, and the sound is softer than its reputation.
- Origin: Greek, English
- Meaning: Myrtle (tree)
- Pronunciation: MUR-tul, MUR-dl
- Variations: Myrtille
- Namesakes: Myrtle Allen, an Irish Michelin star-winning head chef and restaurant co-owner. Myrtle Elvyn, an American pianist and composer.
- Popularity: Myrtle sat at #11,611 for girls in the 2025 U.S. data, down from a high of #53 in 1913.
Na-moo
Na-moo, also spelled Na-mu, is an indigenous Korean option. It’s written with one hanja as a single word, Namoo, meaning tree, firewood, or wood. This one might sound a bit funny for Westerners unfamiliar with K-dramas. Actor Na-moo Yoon and actress Na-moo Choi make it clear that this moniker has mainstream potential despite its rarity.
- Origin: South Korean
- Meaning: Firewood, tree
- Pronunciation: NA-MOO
- Variations: Na-mu, Namoo, Namu
- Namesakes: Na-moo Yoon, a South Korean actor known for the TV series Dr. Romantic.
- Popularity: Na-moo has never met the five-birth threshold the U.S. baby name data requires for publication, so it does not appear in the national rankings.
Oakley
Oakley began as a place name that became a surname, from the Old English ac, meaning oak, and leah, meaning clearing or meadow. It works for boys and girls, and it ranked 156th in the U.S. in 2025. Oakleigh, Oaklea, Oaklee, and Oaklei all circulate as respellings.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Oak clearing, oak meadow
- Pronunciation: OH-klee
- Variations: Oakleigh, Oaklea, Oaklee, Oaklei
- Namesakes: Oakley Kelly, a record-setting U.S. Army Air Service pilot. Oakley Hall, an American novelist. Oakley Curtis, an American politician and 50th governor of Maine.
- Popularity: The latest U.S. figures place Oakley at #156 for girls in 2025; its strongest year was 2023 at #153.
Olive
Olive is a vintage pick from the Latin oliva, meaning olive tree. In the Bible, Noah released a dove to test the waters after the flood, and it returned with an olive branch, so the tree has stood for peace and plenty ever since. Olive is the biggest comeback story here: it peaked in 1915, bottomed out in 1988, and has climbed back to 197th for girls in 2025.
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Olive tree
- Pronunciation: OL-iv
- Namesakes: Olive Marie Osmond, an American singer, actress, and TV host. Olive Dutton Green, an Australian artist. Olive Oatman, an American woman held captive and later adopted by Native Americans.
- Popularity: Olive sat at #197 for girls in the 2025 U.S. data, down from a high of #123 in 1915.
Orchard
Orchard derives from the Old English word ortgeard or orceard. This was a compound of wort or wyrt, meaning plant, and geard, meaning yard or enclosure. It was later connected to the Latin hortus, meaning garden. Orchards are pieces of land planted with fruit trees, making this a sweet and sunny pick.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Plant yard, garden yard
- Pronunciation: AW-chud, OR-churd
- Namesakes: Anthony Orchard, an Australian botanist.
- Popularity: Orchard has never met the five-birth threshold the U.S. baby name data requires for publication, so it does not appear in the national rankings.
Oren
Oren means pine or ash tree, and a biblical Oren was a son of Jerahmeel of the tribe of Judah. The pine is a cone-bearing evergreen and the ash is a flowering genus, so the name covers two very different trees. It reads as a wish for a long, sturdy life, and Ren and Ori are both easy nicknames.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Pine (tree), ash (tree)
- Pronunciation: OH-rin, OH-ren
- Variations: Orin
- Namesakes: Oren Harman, an Israeli writer and science historian. Oren Ambarchi, an Australian musician. Oren Moverman, an Israeli-American screenwriter, director, and award-winning producer.
- Popularity: The latest U.S. figures place Oren at #1,184 for boys in 2025; its strongest year was 1913 at #491.
Ornella
Ornella is an Italian name from the Latin word ornus, meaning flowering ash tree. The ash is a species of flowering trees in the olive or lilac family found in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. Its hardwood symbolizes solidness and immortality. As such, Ornella carries positive connotations of strength, resilience, and beauty.
- Origin: Italian, Latin
- Meaning: Flowering ash tree
- Pronunciation: OHR-nella, AW-nell-ah
- Variations: Ornela
- Namesakes: Ornella Vanoni, an Italian pop singer-songwriter and actress. Ornella Palla, a Uruguayan team handball player. Ornella Barra, an Italian-born Monegasque businesswoman.
- Popularity: Ornella sat at #14,487 for girls in the 2025 U.S. data, down from a high of #7,846 in 1968.
Palm
Palm is derived from the Old English word, possibly taken from Spanish or Latin, palma, meaning palm tree. From antiquity, the palm branch has symbolized triumph. In the Bible, Jesus’ followers spread palm fronds and called out “Hosanna!” as he entered the city. Having a baby is a huge accomplishment, so why not celebrate by going with Palm?
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Palm (tree)
- Pronunciation: PAAM, PAALM
- Variations: Palma
- Popularity: Palm has never met the five-birth threshold the U.S. baby name data requires for publication, so it does not appear in the national rankings.
Palmer
Palmer comes from the Latin and Spanish palma, meaning palm tree, and it was also a word for a pilgrim. Travelers to the Holy Land often came home carrying palm fronds as proof of the journey. Historically a boys’ name, it has turned gender-neutral and now leans toward girls, and it is at its best U.S. ranking on record.
- Origin: Latin, English
- Meaning: Palm bearer, pilgrim
- Pronunciation: PAAM-er, PAAL-mer, PAAM-uh
- Variations: Pallmer
- Namesakes: Palmer Cox, a Canadian illustrator and author. Palmer Hayden, an American painter who depicted African-American life. Palmer Freeman Luckey, an American entrepreneur.
- Popularity: Palmer reached #232 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, its best showing according to Social Security Administration records.
Peaches
Princess Peach would be proud of this pick. Peaches originates from the Middle English word peche, referring to the fruit of the peach tree. The singular alternative, Peach, is also sometimes seen as a variant of names like Peter or Patricia. Peaches and Peach are often used as nicknames, so would be perfect for your soft, fuzzy baby.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Peaches, a peach
- Pronunciation: PEECH
- Variations: Peche, Peech, Peach
- Namesakes: Peaches Browning, born Frances Heenan, an American actress. Peaches Honeyblossom Geldof, an English TV personality and model.
- Popularity: U.S. records last list Peaches in 2023 at #17,021 for girls; it ranked highest in 1975 at #2,597.
Pine
Pine comes from the Middle English pin(e), which goes back to the Old English pīn and the Old French pin. It began as a topographic surname for someone living near a pine tree or pine forest. In the west these conifers are associated with joy, hope, and peace, which makes Pine a small, bright addition to a family.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Pine (tree), pine (forest)
- Pronunciation: PEYEN
- Variations: Pinel
- Namesakes: Tallulah Pine LeBon, the daughter of English singer Simon LeBon and model Yasmin Le Bon (née Parvaneh).
- Popularity: Pine appears in the U.S. records just once, at #13,666 in 2023.
Quince
Quince has roots in the Latin quinque, meaning five, possibly for the five petals of the flowering quince. Mostly, though, it names the quince tree and its bright yellow fruit. It is technically unisex and used far more for boys, and it has the kind of clipped sound that ages well.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Applelike fruit, five
- Pronunciation: KWINSS
- Namesakes: Quince Duncan, a Costa Rican writer.
- Popularity: The latest U.S. figures place Quince at #9,489 for boys in 2025; its strongest year was 1968 at #2,281.
Rosewood
Rosewood refers to the tree that yields rich brown timber, named for the sweet scent the wood gives off when cut. Rosewoods are valued for beauty and durability, two things most parents would happily sign up for. It is elegant, extremely rare, and comes with Woody or Rosie built in.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Rosewood
- Pronunciation: ROHWZ-wuud
- Popularity: Rosewood stays off the U.S. charts, which publish only names reaching at least five births in a year.
Rowan
Rowan is a fruit-bearing tree in the rose family, and the name is the Anglicized Irish Ruadhán, meaning little red-haired one, from the Scottish ruadh, meaning red. It may go back further, to the Old Norse reynir and the Germanic raud-inan, meaning to redden, probably for the tree’s bright berries. It works for either gender and now sits inside the U.S. top 100.
- Origin: Irish, Scottish
- Meaning: Little red-haired one
- Pronunciation: ROHW-un
- Variations: Roan, Rowen, Rowyn, Ruadhán
- Namesakes: Rowan Gormley, a South African entrepreneur. Rowan Atkinson, an English actor and comedian, known for playing Mr. Bean. Rowan Anthony Williams, an English boxer.
- Popularity: U.S. birth records put Rowan at #59 for boys in 2025, the highest it has ranked since it first charted in 1916.
Saffron
Saffron is the English term for the spice harvested from the crocus flower, and for the flower itself. It reached English through Old French from the Arabic za’faran, which traces to a Persian word meaning gold leaves. It sounds unusual on a birth certificate in the U.S., and it wears beautifully once you get used to it.
- Origin: English, Arabic
- Meaning: Yellow flower, gold leaves
- Pronunciation: SA-frun, SA-fron
- Variations: Zaffron
- Namesakes: Saffron Le Bon, an English musical artist and daughter of Simon and Yasmin Le Bon. Saffron Burrows, an English-American actress and model.
- Popularity: The latest U.S. figures place Saffron at #6,783 for girls in 2025; its strongest year was 2000 at #3,964.
Sakura
Sakura is the Japanese word for the cherry blossom, the soft pink flower of the tree of the same name. In Naruto, Sakura Haruno is a main character with cherry blossom pink hair, and the name saw a bump in the U.S. a year after the manga launched in 1999. Delicate without being fragile.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Cherry blossom
- Pronunciation: SA-koo-rah
- Namesakes: Sakura Oda, a Japanese pop singer and dancer. Sakura Nogawa, a Japanese voice actress and singer. Sakura Ishimoto, a Japanese professional shogi player.
- Popularity: Sakura sat at #2,925 for girls in the 2025 U.S. data, down from a high of #2,186 in 2012.
Sequoia
Sequoia names one of three species of redwood, the massive conifers that count among the longest-lived trees on earth. This Cherokee-derived choice drew fresh interest through the 1990s. It looks close to Sequoyah, which may mean sparrow, though the two are unrelated. At three syllables and seven letters it is a mouthful, and worth it.
- Origin: Native American
- Meaning: Redwood tree
- Pronunciation: sih-KOH-yuh, suh-KWOH-yuh
- Variations: Sequoiah, Sequoyah
- Namesakes: Sequoia Emmanuelle, a Los Angeles-based photographer and director. Sequoia Schmidt, a bestselling American author, adventurer, and speaker.
- Popularity: Sequoia ranked #1,987 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #1,147 in 2002.
Spruce
Spruce is a widespread evergreen conifer, grown for timber and for Christmas trees, and the name is most often used as a middle name or surname. It carries a festive, outdoor feeling: tall trees, cold air, snow on the branches. It is playful enough for a nickname and sturdy enough to keep.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Evergreen tree
- Pronunciation: SPROOS
- Namesakes: Stuart Spruce, an English professional rugby league football player.
- Popularity: Spruce appears in the U.S. records just once, at #10,700 in 2022.
Sylvia
Sylvia comes from the Latin silva, meaning forest or woods, and it has poet Sylvia Plath behind it. It is generally filed under antique, though it ranked #300 for girls in 2025 and reached its best mark of #50 in 1937. Sylvie and Sylva keep it current, and the woodland meaning has never needed updating.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Of the wood, of the forest
- Pronunciation: SIL-vee-uh
- Variations: Silvia, Silwia, Silvija, Sylvie
- Namesakes: Sylvia Plath, an American poet and writer. Sylvia Day, a Japanese-American writer. Dame Silvia Cartwright, New Zealand’s 18th governor-general.
- Popularity: Sylvia sat at #300 for girls in the 2025 U.S. data, down from a high of #50 in 1937.
Tamar
Tamar means palm tree in Hebrew. It isn’t common in the west but is quite popular in Israel and Jewish communities, and it’s the root of the more popular Tamara. In the Bible, three individuals were called Tamar. One was Judah’s daughter-in-law, another was King David’s daughter, and finally, Absalom’s daughter, likely named after her aunt. Tamar is backed by a whole host of biblical beauties.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Palm tree
- Pronunciation: TAY-maar
- Variations: Tamara
- Namesakes: Tamar Braxton, an American singer and TV personality. Tamar Hoffs, an American filmmaker. Tamar Mardirossian, known as Tamar Kaprelian, an Armenian-American singer-songwriter.
- Popularity: Tamar ranked #2,455 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #1,015 in 1977.
Tarhe
Tarhe is of Native American Wyandot origin. It’s associated with the tree of peace, a symbol of unity and diplomacy among Native American tribes in the Great Lakes area. Tarhe was most notably borne by a Wyandot leader who fought American expansion into Ohio Country. Parents looking for a sturdy option with a message of peace will appreciate Tarhe.
- Origin: Native American
- Meaning: The tree
- Pronunciation: TAAR-hay, taar-HAY
- Namesakes: Tarhe, nicknamed The Crane, a leader of the Wyandot people in Ohio Country.
- Popularity: U.S. federal records do not list Tarhe at all; names given to fewer than five babies in a year are withheld.
Teak
Teak may come from the Tamil tekku or the Malayalam thekku. It names a tropical hardwood that bears tiny white flowers in clusters at the ends of its branches, and the timber resists water, rot, and pests better than most. It is a short, blunt, durable sort of name.
- Origin: English, Tamil
- Meaning: Wood, teak tree
- Pronunciation: TEEK
- Popularity: U.S. records last list Teak in 2024 at #14,025 for boys; it ranked highest in 1983 at #7,225.
Vesa
Vesa is feminine in Albania, meaning dew, and is masculine in Finland, where it means young tree. Both meanings have gentle connotations full of hope and renewal. Everyone starts as a sapling, so Vesa is a fitting option for a new life.
- Origin: Finnish, Albanian
- Meaning: Sapling, young tree, dew
- Pronunciation: VEH-sa
- Variations: Veso
- Namesakes: Vesa-Matti Loiri, a Finnish actor, musician, and comedian. Vesa Jokinen, the lead singer in the Finnish punk rock band Klamydia. Vesa Vasara, a Finnish football manager and former player.
- Popularity: Vesa reached #10,065 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, its best showing according to Social Security Administration records.
Willow
Willow comes from the Old English welig and names a species of deciduous, long-leafed tree, the weeping willow among them, so called because raindrops run down the drooping leaves. It has been popular in celebrity circles for years and took off with everyone else in the early 2000s. It now ranks 44th for girls in the U.S., which makes it one of the four tree names inside the top 100.
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: A willow tree
- Pronunciation: WIL-ohw
- Variations: Willa, Willo
- Namesakes: Willow Geer, an American actress. Willow Smith, an American singer, actress, and daughter of Will Smith. Willow Koerber, an American cross-country mountain biker.
- Popularity: The latest U.S. figures place Willow at #44 for girls in 2025; its strongest year was 2022 at #37.
Woody
Woody calls fun characters to mind, like Woody Woodpecker and the cowboy doll, Sheriff Woody, from Pixar’s Toy Story movies. While these are great fictional ties, Woody is also connected to more serious-sounding names. Often, it’s a diminutive of Woodrow, meaning row of houses by the wood. Woody is also a nickname for Elwood and Heywood.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: By the wood
- Pronunciation: WUUD-ee
- Variations: Woodie
- Namesakes: Woody T. Blackburn, an American professional golfer. Woody Deck, an American professional poker player. Heywood “Woody” Allen, an American filmmaker, actor, and comedian.
- Popularity: Woody sat at #8,220 for boys in the 2025 U.S. data, down from a high of #600 in 1944.
Yvette
Yvette is the French feminine form of Yves, and both mean yew tree. Yews live a long time and bear single-seed cones wrapped in a red aril, which is more or less the only part of the tree that is not poisonous to cats, dogs, and people. Dark detail aside, Yvette has kept its polish.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Yew tree
- Pronunciation: EE-vet, ee-VET
- Variations: Ivette, Evette
- Namesakes: Yvette Mimieux, an American film and TV actress. Yvette Clarke, an American politician. Yvette Andréyor, a French silent film actress.
- Popularity: Yvette ranked #1,630 for girls in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data, after peaking at #125 in 1967.
