Nature Names

If you are a parent who is seeking unique, meaningful names rooted in the natural world, read our list of nature names for boys and girls.

Our list includes nature-inspired names for boys for girls, along with the individual meaning of each name. Each name is taken from a variety of natural elements including trees, flowers and animals. For parents-to-be seeking more unusual names you’re not likely to hear on the playground, we have also included unique nature names.

Nature Names for Girls

Here are ten nature names for girls, plus the origin and meaning of each name.

Aurora

Meaning: Aurora is a female nature name that means dawn. With Latin origins, Aurora is derived from name of the Roman goddess of the dawn, who announced the sun's arrival each morning. Aurora is also associated with the natural phenomenon of the northern and southern lights – aurora borealis and aurora australis – the colourful light displays that appear in the night sky.

Daphne

Meaning: While you may have heard the name Daphne before, did you know it is a nature name for girls? With Greek origins, Daphne means laurel tree or bay treen. It is derived from Greek mythology, where Daphne was the nymph daughter of Peneus, a river god. Peneus saved Daphne from Apollo by transforming her into a laurel tree.

Iris

Meaning: Iris is a flower name for girls that means rainbow. The name Iris has Greek origins – Iris was the Greek goddess of the rainbow.

Ivy

Meaning: Ivy is a botanical and nature name for girls that means vine. Ivy is derived from the Old English word ifig, for the ivy plant. The name Ivy also has ancient Greek roots as it was seen as a sign of fidelity, as Greek couples were given ivy wreaths as symbols of eternity and faithfulness. It is also the name given by Beyonce and Jay-Z to their first daughter, Blue Ivy.

Lily

Meaning: Lily is a female nature name, taken from the lily flower, that means pure. One of the most popular flower names for girls, the name Lily has Latin origins and is traditionally a symbol of innocence.

Luna

Meaning: A nature-inspired name for girls, Luna is of Latin origin, meaning moon. In Roman mythology, Luna was the goddess of the Moon. In popular culture, Luna Lovegood was a character in Harry Potter.

Nova

Meaning: Nova is a girls nature name that means new. Nova is also the astronomical term for a star that suddenly increases in brightness.

Olivia

Meaning: One of the most popular nature names for girls, Olivia has been the UK’s top baby name for girls since 2016, and the most popular name for girls in the USA for the last five years. The Olivia meaning is olive tree. Olivia is a Shakespeare character from the play Twelfth Night, and the name of one of the world’s most famous pop stars – Olivia Rodrigo.

Rose

Meaning: The female given name Rose means rose, for the red flower. The name Rose is derived from the Latin word rosa, which refers to the flower.

Violet

Meaning: Violet is a nature name for girls that means purple, from the colour of the flower. It is an English name with Latin origins, from the word viola (which means purple).

Nature Names for Boys

Here are ten nature names for boys, along with the origin and meaning of each name.

Arthur

Meaning: If you like nature names with an animal reference, then Arthur could be a good choice. The Arthur meaning is bear. Arthur has Celtic origins, as the name of the head of the Knights of the Round Table, and is also a royal name, as it is the middle name for Prince Louis, son of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Ash

Meaning: Want a short and quirky nature name? Ash is a boy's name of English origin that means ash tree. Ash Ketchum is the name of the hero of the Pokémon cartoons. Ash can also be a nickname for Asher, Ashton, or Ashley.

Dylan

Meaning: A solid choice when it comes to nature names for boys is Dylan, which means either son of the sea or born from the ocean. The name has Welsh origins and is derived from the Welsh words dy, which means great, and llanw, which means flow. A famous Dylan is Welsh poet Dylan Thomas.

Forrest

Meaning: The name Forrest is a boy's name of English origin, and the meaning is dweller near the woods.

Jonah

Meaning: If you want a nature name for boys with a biblical twist, then Jonah could be a good bet – it is a name with Hebrew origins that means dove. Jonah was the Old Testament prophet who was swallowed by a whale, but emerged unharmed three days later.

Kai

Meaning: Kai is a nature name for boys with multiple potential origins, including Hawaiian, Frisian and Chinese. The Kai meaning is sea or warrior.

Oliver

Meaning: The boy’s nature name Oliver means olive tree. It also has alternative meaning, as Oliver also potentially derives from Olivier, the Norman French variation of the Ancient Germanic name Alfihar which means elf army. It’s similarly as popular as its feminised version Olivia, as the name Oliver is the 3^rd most popular boys name in the US and 4^th most popular boys name in the UK. Did you know singer Olly Murs is also an Oliver?

River

Meaning: River is a nature name that is commonly given to boys. Strongly associated with water, the meaning of the name River is after the flowing body of water.

Roscoe

Meaning: Roscoe is a nature name with Norse origins, and the meaning is deer forest.

Rowan

Meaning: This is a Scottish and Irish nature name for boys that means rowan tree or little redhead. The rowan tree is part of the rose family, with white leaves and red berries.

Unique Nature Names

Looking for unique nature names? Here are five unusual nature names for boys and girls.

Acacia

Meaning: The name Acacia is a nature name for girls name of Greek origin, meaning thorny. Acacia is a rarely used unique Greek nature name – it was only given to 10 babies in the UK in the last registered year for births.

Almond

Meaning: If you want a unique nature name, this might be a good bet – Almond does not appear on the current UK baby name list, meaning it was only given to two – or fewer – girls in that year. Almond is a girl’s nature name, taken from the name of the seed of Almond tree.

Delphine

Meaning: Delphine is a French name with Greek origins that means of Delphi or womb. It terms of nature it is associated with the dolphin and the delphinium flower. The name is linked to the ancient city of Delphi, which the Greeks believed to be the womb of the earth. All of these derive from the Greek word delphus which means womb. If you are looking for a unique nature name, this name does not appear in the current top US baby name list, and was only given to 23 babies in the UK in the last registered year for births.

Florian

Meaning: Florian is a boy’s nature name of Latin origins that means flowering. Although the name is popular across Europe, Florian is not commonly used in the UK – it was only given to 25 boys in total last year.

Sage

Meaning: Sage is a nature name of Latin origin meaning wise and knowing. Sage is also the name of the aromatic plant used in cooking. While Sage can be given to both sexes, if you want a unique nature name for boys then it is much less popular than for girls. In the US, Sage is given about a third of the time to boys vs 2/3rds to girls. Sage was the name given by YouTuber Tania Burr to her baby son.

You can also read the top American names for boys and girls and the current top UK baby names