UPDATE: She’s here! Jamie writes: Thanks SO MUCH to everyone for the suggestions! As much as I liked Scout, it didn’t sound right with our last name. We took Briar, Acadia, and Wren with us to the birthing center, and we decided she looked like a Briar. Elaine is for my mom.
Jamie writes:
We have two boys, Wilder Blake and Ridge Harrison, both named for our love of the outdoors. We’re expecting a daughter in August, and we’d like a name with the same rugged, adventurous spirit. But lists of “nature names for girls” don’t feel right. We’re not interested in frilly flower names. If this was a boy, we liked Canyon.
We don’t like Canyon for a girl, though.
Suggestions welcome!
Please read on for my response, and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Dear Jamie –
Congratulations on your new daughter! You’re right that nature names for girls sometimes tend towards Lily and Rose. But it sounds like you might want something at least slightly feminine – or, in any case, you’re not interested in just using your next favorite name regardless.
Based on your comments, and drawing from your sons’ names, we’re looking for something that:
- Conveys an outdoorsy and adventurous vibe
- Is probably a word name, or close to it, rather than a more subtle meaning/association
- Sounds like a sister for Wilder and Ridge – or at least doesn’t sound like the third brother
- Is modern and current, but not invented
I think there are some excellent possibilities.
ASPEN
Aspen makes this list for two reasons: first, it’s a tree. But secondly, the Colorado town is known for its rugged beauty, especially during ski season. There are lots of other tree names that might inspire you. Or maybe there’s a favorite place – a trail, a mountain, a lake – that would work well for your child’s name. Rowan is another option.
BRIAR
Briar is sometimes heard for boys, but it’s more popular for girls. If you know your fairy tale princesses, you might know that Sleeping Beauty was also known as Briar Rose. But there’s nothing overly feminine or frilly about this name. After all, a briar is a thorny plant – beautiful, but strong, too.
JUNIPER
High-energy Juniper is another tree name. It’s caught on in a modest way over the last decade or so, meaning that it feels just familiar – and feminine – enough. Built-in nicknames like Junie and June are another bonus.
LARK
Flower names tend to go to the girls. So do bird names. Wren ranks in the current Top 1000, but I wonder if Lark would appeal to you even more?
MEADOW
No question that Meadow feels outdoorsy and untamed. But it’s also clearly feminine, especially when paired with brothers Wilder and Ridge. While all three names are drawn from the natural world, they all have distinctive sounds – I think that’s a plus. For something rarer still, you might consider Prairie.
RIVER
River is rising for boys and girls alike. While it’s more popular for boys at the moment, I think it works equally well for a daughter. My only hesitation is that Wilder, Ridge, and River might sound like three boys, and it sounds like you might prefer to avoid that. Well … and is it a little bit of a tongue twister to say all three names together?
WINTER
Do season names appeal to you? Winter, Autumn, and Summer have all seen plenty of use for our daughters – though Winter is the least common of them. (Well, except for Spring, which is seldom heard, but could wear beautifully.) Of course, some of this depends on your preferences. If Winter – or Autumn or Summer – is a favorite season, or the time of year you got married, etc. – then it might work especially well.
I’m still stuck on Meadow. I think it’s outdoorsy and feminine, without straying into the frilly. And I love the way Wilder, Ridge, and Meadow all sound distinctive – but I think they work nicely together.
Readers, over to you. What outdoorsy girl names would you suggest for Wilder and Ridge’s new sister?
Dare — it’s not a nature/outdoorsy name, but it has a similar theme with Wilder.
There was a girl named Dare at my high school. I have no idea if it was her mother’s maiden name or maybe her great-grandfather was named Dare. Her last name was very common, so an unusual first name was a nice pairing.
Caldera (call DARE uh) is a volcanic crater. Calla, Callie, or Dare could be nicknames for Caldera.
My first thought was Acadia. I also love Sierra or Aspen.
Acadia. Brooke
Sierra Eden
Aspen Soleil
So many beautiful suggestions. I would add Ochre (oak-a is how I’ve heard it pronounced).
Along that line, Oakley is a little more expected and works well for a girl.
I also love Briar, Maple, Sparrow, and Sunny.
Aurora might be too mainstream for you, but it’s another option.
Funny, I see it just below…I was coming to say I knew a Denali. Wow, what a coincidence.
I like Lake, Lark, Fawn, Prairie, Skye, Eden, Winter, June or Meadow.
Good Luck
I love the suggestion of Valley, although maybe too much with Ridge? Also love Tundra. Along similar lines, what about Taiga? It reads feminine as a name but is undeniably outdoorsy and wildernessy! Also one of my favourites that was a top contender if our son had been a girl is Tarn (a type of mountain lake).
The more mainstream names I thought of have been mentioned, so here are some that are a little less common:
Clover
Dove
Golden
Hadley (heather meadow/field)
Kiri (Maori for tree bark)
Petra
Terra
Vesper (evening star)
The national park that was previously mentioned is actually Acadia NP (not Arcadia). Acadia was mentioned a few times; Cady could be a fun nickname.
I think I like Hadley, Haven, Avis, Eden, and Tempest the best.
Linnea, Harbor, and Haven were the first three to come to mind.
My first thought was Prairie. (And, of COURSE, Abby mentioned it.)
I agree that Valley is crazy cool, too.
Wilder, Ridge, and Prairie. Perfection!
Rain might appeal to you.
There’s also Sunshine. I know she’s got a deep history in the 1970s, but she IS stunning AND non-frilly.
A color name could be appealing… Hazel, Iris (but also a flower), Emerald, etc.
Meadowlark legitimately combines TWO of Abby’s excellent suggestions.
Arcadia might feel too fancy, but perhaps the national park could sway your opinion.
Wilder, Ridge, and Arcadia.
Shasta? She’s a mountain and pretty fantastic.
Congrats and best wishes to you and your family!