999+ Nature Names for Babies
- Mar
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"sea"Description:
The Spanish and Portuguese word for "sea" is a Top 100 name in Spain. In America, it's sometimes used as a nickname for names like Martina and Marina, but it could also plausibly stand on its own.
- Harbor
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
We've seen Haven take off as a nouveau girls' name; Harbor could follow in its wake.
- Sadira
Origin:
PersianMeaning:
"lotus tree"Description:
Intriguing name with great symbolic meaning in Eastern religions.
- Tangerine
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
We've had Apples, Plums, Peaches, Cherries, and Berries added to the fruit basket: you could be the first to pick a Tangerine.
- Sea
Origin:
English word nameDescription:
With River and Ocean becoming mainstream, why not consider Sea?
- Figueroa
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"fig tree"Description:
This surname ultimately derives from a Galician place name meaning "fig tree", but has spread all over the Spanish-speaking world. It's not certain if it's ever been used as a first name, but it could work - especially as it's reminiscent of the operatic character Figaro.
- Meriwether
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"happy weather"Description:
This eminent surname name belonged to one of the two leaders of the Lewis and Clark expedition to explore the western part of the USA. The surname was originally given to someone with a sunny temperament.
- Millaray
Origin:
Mapuche, ChileanMeaning:
"golden flower"Description:
A melodic and glowing name, derived from Mapuche, the language of the Indigenous people of central Chile, Millaray means "golden flower". It ranked in the Chilean Top 100 in the 2010s and remains a familiar choice. Pronounced as mee-ya-rye, and not as mih-luh-ray as those unfamiliar with it might assume, Millaray is notably borne by actress and presenter Millaray Viera and footballer Millaray Cortés.
- Otter
Origin:
Animal nameDescription:
While we don't see many parents adopting Otter as a name for their own babies, Zooey Deschanel put this one in the lexicon when she used it as a middle name for her adorably-named daughter Elsie Otter. Even in the celebrisphere, Otter is one of the most unique baby names we've heard.
- Udell
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"yew-tree valley"Description:
A secret nature name for boys.
- Carmello
Origin:
Spanish and Italian variation of Carmen, HebrewMeaning:
"garden"Description:
Carmelo is the more popular spelling of this name in the US, probably thanks to basketball great Carmelo Anthony. Carmelo ranks in the Top 1000 and was given to about 350 baby boys last year, while Carmelo and the original Carmen were each used for about 50 baby boys.
- Feather
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Feather, though it was used for a character in a Walter Mosley novel, seems too light and fluttery for a real-life girl.
- Lightning
Origin:
Nature nameDescription:
Olympic athlete Usain Bolt introduced this unusual and electric nature name to the lexicon when he chose it for his daughter's middle name: Olympia Lightning Bolt. Now there's a name with layers of meaning!
- Alpha
Origin:
Greek, first letter of the alphabetDescription:
The first letter of the Greek alphabet ande the brightest star in every constellation, this would make an interesting choice for a first daughter, though it does give off some spectral sci-fi reverberations--and references to the term "alpha male.".
- Nelda
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"one who lives by the alder tree"Description:
Occasionally heard in Ireland, small chance of success here.
- Crane
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"crane"Description:
This elegant surname has great potential to turn into an unusual first name, especially with its literary associations to both Stephen and Hart Crane.
- Heremoana
Origin:
TahitianMeaning:
"beloved ocean"Description:
Moana may be the best-known South Sea Islander name thanks to Disney. This puts a male spin on the appealing nature name.
- Naim
Origin:
Scottish; ArabicMeaning:
"river with alder trees; happy"Description:
Naim, also sometimes spelled Naime, is a pleasant choice that may have some confusing pronunciation issues in English-speaking countries (where may will say this name as "name"). But don't let that deter you if you're in love with this moniker.
- Strom
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"stream"Description:
Irrevocably tied to long-lived, controversial South Carolina senator Strom (born James) Thurman; Strom, which sounds like an anagram of Storm, was his mother's maiden name. With a stretch, you might consider this one of the German names for boysthat's also a nature name.
- Morella
Origin:
Literary nameDescription:
The eponymous character in an Edgar Allan Poe ghost story, gothic Morella was likely based on Latin mors ("death") or Greek mauros ("black"). It’s also a subtle nature name, being an alternative name for the poisonous black nightshade plant.
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