Forrest: Baby Name of the Day

The baby name Forrestblends our love of nature names with current surname style.

Thanks to Annabel for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.

WHAT DOES THE NAME FORREST MEAN?

In Latin, forestem silvam refers to the “outside woods.” Forestum comes from foris – the same root as our word foreign.

Medieval Latin gives us forestis, a game preserve. Other origins are possible, too, like the Germanic forst. 

The Old French word forestsurvives as the English word today. (Though in French, it’s now forêt.)

Since the word was first recorded during the age of Charlemagne, it’s possible that both are right. It referred to a wooded area set aside for the king, or other nobles, to hunt. Such restrictions led to debates aplenty; the Magna Carta addressed forest privileges, but the debate raged on for decades.

Slowly, the concept changed, though. Instead of protected lands, it became a synonym for the woods, a place packed with trees and wildlife.

THE SURNAME FORREST

So many surnames refer to places families lived. It’s no surprise that someone living near a royal forest might adopt this as a surname.

If it’s not a topographic name, it might’ve been an occupational name. Someone who worked as a keeper of a royal forest might’ve adopted the surname, too. 

Similar surnames include:

• Forrester, almost certainly an occupational surname.
• Forster, which is – at least sometimes – a Middle High German equivalent of Forrester.
• Forrestal looks like another cousin, though it may be that Forrest is a variant of Forrestal, not the other way around. Forrestal came from the phrase “fore stall” in Middle English, referring to paddock in front of a farmhouse, and found as a place name throughout England, also spelled Forstall. 
• In medieval England, de Foresta was recorded. Forms like DeForrest remain in use today, too.

Over time, we’ve favored two Rs when spelling the surname, but a single R for the woodland.

We know that an early bearer of the name arrived in the American colonies through the Virginia Company in 1608. Thomas Forrest was a younger son, wealthy enough to be considered a gentleman and investor in the Virginia Company, but without prospects in England.

The family became established in the New World. His descendant, Uriah Forrest would serve in the Revolutionary War and later, represented the state of Maryland in Congress.

FICTIONAL and FAMOUS

So there are ties to the natural world and the early American colonies.

But there’s a dominant Forrest that many of us picture: Forrest Gump.

Winston Groom’s 1986 novel gave us an unexpected hero. 

His Gump has a low IQ, but uncommon wisdom. He possesses physical strength and endurance. But what we know him for is unfailing honesty and kindness, wrapped up with a fearlessness when it comes to doing the right thing.

There’s one more twist: the fictional Forrest Gump was named for a Confederate general, Nathan Bedford Forrest.

Not only did he fight on the losing side of the war, but he went on to become an early leader of the Ku Klux Klan. It’s a deal-breaking association for many. 

It’s worth noting that Gump’s mother describes her name choice this way:

Momma said that the Forrest part was to remind me that sometimes we all do things that, well, just don’t make no sense. 

The association is not mentioned in the movie. 

And the film? It’s pretty legendary. Tom Hanks won as Oscar for his portrayal of Gump in the 1994 movie Forrest Gump. 

SPELLING: FOREST OR FORREST?

Another Hollywood connection is Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker. He spells his name with a single ‘r.’ He’s actually Forest Steven Whitaker III. 

Whitaker’s career has spanned theater and film, directing and acting. He’s appeared in popular franchises like Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he’s also well-known for thoughtful, intense roles like Lee Daniel’s The Butler.

HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME FORREST?

Forrest is also the given name of the inventor of M&Ms, a handful of athletes, actors, and other notables over the years.

When it comes to popularity, the two-R spelling has always outranked the single-R version. This suggests that early usage was inspired last name Forrest, likely honoring family members. 

Forrest appears in the US Social Security Administration Top 1000 nearly every year from 1880 onward.

Except it left the rankings after 2003 and wouldn’t return until 2013.

As of 2023, the baby name Forrest stands at #427, the highest rank since the 1990s. 

Forest, more clearly tied to the great outdoors, ranks #747 as of 2023. 

Forrest also appears in the SSA girls’ names as recently as 1907, though it remains far more common for boys.

The popularity of Forest tends to track closely the use of the first name Forrest, though it’s the double-R that remains more common.

TIMELESS CHARM

A 2020s trend that might lift up Forrest: Nature-Plus Names.

Forrest fits with choices like Parker and Wilder, surnames that nod to adventure and exploration. It also potentially fits with choices like Oaklynn and Wrenley, names that combine popular name elements with nature name words.

Overall, the baby name Forrest offers an intriguing set of qualities. It’s the perfect name if you’re torn between Jackson and River. The image of the forest is rugged and outdoorsy, but with a certain fairy tale romance, too.

And while we all recognize Forrest, the name remains relatively underused – which could be another plus.

What do you think of the baby name Forrest? 

First published on September 8, 2011, this post was revised on November 14, 2018 and December 15, 2024.