The baby name Maple mixes nature names with a bright, upbeat sound and lots of autumn energy.
Thanks to Ella for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME MAPLE MEAN?
Maple comes from the Old English mapultreow, which translates to maple tree.
Some suggest that it links back to a word for knob or offshoot, but that’s far from certain. Unlike many a nature name, a maple is just a maple.
Then again, maple trees are prized for their strength and endurance.
It’s strongly associated with many places, especially Canada. It appears on their national flag, as well as their military insignia and other official symbols.
We immediately think of maple syrup, associated with Canada, but also the northeastern United States, with Vermont a leading producer.
Instruments from guitars to cellos to drums might be crafted from maple wood, adding a musical note to this name.
Also worth noting: the trees produce vibrant colors in the autumn, making maple trees part of tourism. That’s true not only in North America, but also in Japan, where leaf peeping is called momijigari.
NATURE NAMES ON THE RISE
We’re in the golden age of nature names.
From vintage favorites like June and Hazel to more modern choices like River or Clover, plenty of baby names are drawn from the natural world. Some, like Forrest, started out as a last name first. But many others come directly from the dictionary.
Not every word borrowed from nature works, though. Maple benefits from similarity to established names: retro Mabel, Irish Maeve, nickname Maisie, and more. If Mae has long been a popular first and middle name choice, why not Maple?
That ending -L sounds works, too. It’s shared by established choices like Abigail and Isabelle, as well as other nature names like Laurel.
MAPLE IN POETRY
Way back in 1923, the poet Robert Frost wrote Maple, all about a girl grappling with her unusual given name.
It’s a sad story, but also a powerful one. Maple never quite knows why her parents chose the unusual name, musing that “… it may have been their one lapse into fancy.” But the name, in different ways, impacts her life over many years.
COLORFUL MAPLE
Another factor: like Ruby or Scarlett, Maple tends to suggest the color red. It’s a rich red-brown, borrowed from the leaves in autumn.
Other colors sometimes associated with the tree might evoke maple syrup, or the wood itself.
And not every type of maple tree turns red. Golden leaves, orange, and even purple shades are possible, too.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME MAPLE?
The baby name Maple first appeared in US popularity data way back in 1896. That year, six girls received the name.
For privacy reasons, the US Social Security Administration only releases data on names given to at least five girls or boys in any given year. Their data traces back to 1880, so Maple has been around.
It’s risen dramatically in use during the 21st century. Credit goes to all of those nature names.
Worth noting: Jason Bateman and Amanda Anka are the parents of daughters Francesca Nora and Maple Sylvie. Amanda’s dad is singer Paul Anka, a native of Ottawa, so presumably it’s a shout-out to her Canadian roots.
The younger Bateman was born in 2012. While she’s rarely in the spotlight, the name does start to rise in use right around the early 2010s.
It’s easy to imagine parents hearing the word ‘maple’ and embracing it as a nod to Canada in the 2020s, too.
Worth noting: the publication of Robert Frost’s 1923 poem didn’t seem to boost Maple as a given name.
IS MAPLE A UNISEX NAME?
Way back in 1917, five boys were named Maple. That’s the only year Maple appears in the boys’ popularity data.
It’s a little surprising, because nearly any other tree name leans unisex.
That’s not the case for this name, maybe because it’s so close to Mae and Mabel.
VIBRANT NATURE NAME
The baby name Maple feels like a vibrant, unexpected choice for a daughter today. It sounds like so many stylish favorites, but offers a distinctive image, too.
With the poem and the symbolism associated with maple trees, there’s lots to appreciate about this compact and surprising choice.
What do you think of the baby name Maple?
First published on February 20, 2012, this post was revised on October 11, 2014 and again on October 3, 2026.
I think Maple is attractive and unusual, but doesn’t sound bizarre. I must be the only person who doesn’t hear Maple Sylvie and think maple syrup. It makes me think of forests of maple trees (Sylvie = woods, forest).
When it comes to patriotic monikers, I kind of feel they are beyond criticism.
I guess I’m more orientated to a name’s sound, because I didn’t think Sylvie = syrup thing either.
As per Amanda Anka’s IMDB page, she was born in New York. And I totally agree with you that the name sounds on-trend.
Hmmm … the Canadian tie pales …
Not necessarily – Anka definitely went to the US where the money (and Sinatra) was, but he’s always a proud Canadian in interviews. But I did a post in defense of this name, and admittedly the couple may have fallen in love in Vermont, for all we know 🙂 Lots of maples there, too!
I know of children named Aspen and Birch, so Maple gets a “why not?” from me.
I don’t really My only complaint this particular name is it’s sing-song rhythm. My little one is playing with this caterpillar that plays “Oh My Darling Clementine” and now I’m hearing it as…
MAY-ple SIL-vee, MAY-ple SIL-vee,
MAY-ple SIL-vee BAY-ate-man!
If her name was Maple Silvia or Maple Vivienne instead, it would have been a favorite.
I think Maple is a wonderful nature name.. kinda reminds me of Myrtle, but much prettier. I dont agree on the gender neutral though, I feel that it leans towards girl for me. Great post!
I actually like Maple and don’t see why people think it’s so “out there.” Maple is only one letter off from Mabel! Although Maple Sylvie does kind of remind me of maple syrup…
Love this post! You did a better job of defending Maple than I did.
There’s a baby Maple in my neighborhood my daughter’s age (so ~a year and a half). Sweet kid, hipster parents (they own a chain of cupcake bakeries). I thought it was an adorable name. The dual nature meaning and the nod to the “sweet” profession of the parents.
That is a fun, subtle connection for a baker’s child! I always wonder what it is like to having a truly unusual name go Hollywood …
I like Maple – especially if you have a Canada connection. (Which I don’t, so I probably wouldn’t use it myself.) The similarity in sound to Mable and they nickname possibility of May / Mae makes it sound like a name. That makes the name sound girly to me – though in the middle for a boy could work too.
I don’t mind Maple, particularly in the middle. As a first name, for me, it’s surprising any way you slice it. However, let me just say that I find the combination Maple Sylvie a little to reminiscent of maple syrup; I wish the middle they chose didn’t start “sy.”
I agree about Sylvie making me think of Syrup too.
I’ve mentioned it before, but I have a semi-long-lost-friend (don’t you love Facebook?) who named his second child Ada Maple. Love that combo!
Well…even with all the pros you listed, I can’t be swayed. It’s another of those times when it sounds like a celebrity trying too hard.