A few decades back, naming your newborn Ocean, Daisy or Indigo branded you granola-eatin’, VW-bus drivin’ Flower Children who might not be quite ready for life off the commune.
The world has changed dramatically since the 60s, and naming has gotten a whole lot more liberal. Little wonder, then, that nature names have gone mainstream. Choose any subdivision, peer inside a random minivan headed for soccer practice, and there’s a decent chance that one of the pint-sized occupants will answer to Sage, Willow or River.
If you’re a shade more eco-aware or outdoorsy than most, or if you’re just hoping for a simple name that won’t be shared by three other kids in your child’s class, nature names can be attractive options.
As with many trends, there are more choices for girls than boys in this category. Virtually every flower name is reserved for girls, from the classic and enduring Rose to the super-popular Lily. Here are a few that might suit your newest bloom:
- Acacia
- Amaryllis
- Briony/Bryony
- Calanthe
- Calla
- Cassia
- Clover
- Dahlia
- Daisy
- Hazel
- Ivy
- Juniper
- Laurel
- Lilac
- Linden
- Violet
- Willow
Gems, minerals and semi-precious stones make for great baby names, too:
- Emerald
- Jade
- Jasper
- Onyx
- Pearl
- Ruby
- Silver
But the boldest nature names are those that are drawn from beyond the garden, and many of these work for boys as well as girls:
- Alder
- Bay
- Birch
- Briar
- Canyon
- Clementine
- Echo
- Everest
- Forest
- Heath
- Lake
- March
- Meadow
- North
- Ocean
- Saffron
- Winter
- Wren
And there’s even a special category – nature names from foreign tongues, like:
- Cascata – From the Italian word for waterfall, or cascade, Cascata is about as rare as it gets. It’s never been in the Top 1000 in the US, and yet, it can shortened to the user-friendly Cassie.
- Ciel – From the French word for sky and also heaven, Ciel is pronounced See-elle. It’s a pretty choice that fits with the popular -el ending names like Annabel and Isabel, but is fresh and new. The Spanish Cielo takes it even farther.
- Jacinda – Derived from hyacinth, this sounds more like a literary heroine than a flower power name, but indeed it is.
- Luna – Perhaps not the most subtle in this category, Luna is from the Latin for moon.
But it must be said that not every nature name is as stunning as a sunset from atop a cliff. My two nominees for Nature Names Most Likely to Give Me Poison Sumac? Star and Sky. Perhaps it is because of an alarming tendency to elaborate. I can stomach Skye and even Starr, but I’ve also seen Starla, Starlet, Skyye, Skie and, of course, Skylar.
This list is not exhaustive – please leave a comment if you have thoughts on missing names. And, of course, we’ll be on the lookout here at ApMtn, too.
There’s also Brenda Starr, girl reporter, heroine of her own comic strip from 1940 – an early career woman, actually written by a woman. For me, I’d far prefer Esther, Stella or Estrella if I were star-name-shopping.
Aspen has some appeal, but as you say, there’s a troubling nickname there.
I’m not sure about Clay – it is also a nickname for Clayton, so I’m not sure that it stands alone. And Glen, while it would be a valid and appealing nature name choice, screams 1930s, 40s, 50s and 60s, when Glenn spent more than four decades in the Top 100. Maybe if you have quadruplets and called them Bay, Lake, Beech and Glen it would work nicely.
Funny, I’ve heard Liana before and always dismissed it as a modern invention without much substance. But whaddaya know – it’s a vine! It’s still not my personal favorite, but it certainly belongs on this list – thanks!
Wren is one of my favorite girl middle names. I actually do like Starr (but only because I loved the Emily of New Moon books as a child — her last name was Starr).
I have thought of the name Coriander, too, so I’m glad to see I’m not alone. It is a little oddball, but it sounds workable. I’m getting super tired of Sage.
For boys’ names, how about Aspen? The only drawback to that one is you can’t really shorten it without ending up with something rather awful. What about the names Clay or Glen? Linden works well as a boys’ name, too.
For girls, how about Liana?
Then stand by for Coriander, coming soon to a post near you … and a few of your other suggestions, too! Thank you so much.
Aww, thanks. Go for it! I think it sounds so modern and quirky, but isn’t too far out there for parents that are willing to go places like Drayden or Roman.
Coriander! I love it! You’re right, it would be a slightly outrageous choice, but one that does shorten to a perfectly mainstream nickname. May I use it in C is for Boys? I’ll credit you, of course!
You forgot Basil! I know it’s traditionally a Greek name meaning ‘king’, but it’s also a spice, so you get a double meaning there.
I really like Coriander for a boy’s name. It’s too out there for me, but I think it’s a dramatic choice, and nicknames to user-friendly Corey. What do you think?