Wild Nature Names

An eider is a sea duck whose feathers make ultra-soft eiderdown.

Wildflower may be the ultimate hippie name, added to the lexicon by Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden when they chose it as one of their daughter's middle names. It's generic in the way that Flora and River are, as opposed to Iris and Nile, say. But it has a certain free and creative charm.

The field of nature names is constantly expanding to include all species of flowers and trees and animals and birds and even fish. In addition to its appeal for anglers, Pike recalls Zebulon Pike, the explorer who discovered and gave his name to Pike's Peak.

As likely to be tied to the detergent as to the rhythms of the ocean.

Nature names are often associated with Spring and Summer, but Glacier is ideal for a winter baby.

Some sources say Artis is a form of Arthur, and it certainly has the same root and meaning of bear. But Artis is a name in its own right with a 60-year history on the US Top 1000, from about 1900 until the early 1960s.

The nature boy version of the Scandinavian Leif, which actually means "heir". In the creative-naming Phoenix family, Leaf is the former name of the actor we know as Joaquin.

A plausible color name, it was chosen by the singer Sting as a middle name for his daughter, after a character in the Gormenghast fantasy trilogy, of which he's a big fan. Another bearer is Fuchsia Voremberg, a member of the BBC Show, Antiques Roadshow who specializes in diaries and manuscripts.

With River and Ocean becoming mainstream, why not consider Sea?

Falconer is one choice that has morphed rapidly from outlandish to possible, even attractive, thanks to the fashion for occupational names. And really, if Archer is getting popular and Miller seems normal, why not Falconer?

An (understandably) rare word name, Kite nevertheless has the sounds of two favorites — Kai and Kit. The word kite possibly derives from Proto-Indo-European roots and means "screech", however, it is better known as the name of a bird of prey and a toy designed to be flown in the wind. It might also be used to describe a fraudulent bill, cheque, or receipt.

Soft and mellifluous nature-surname name, situated miles away from the dated Marshall.

Worthy sibling for Oak, Elm, Juniper, and Spruce.

In Greek mythology, Hesperus was the personification of the planet Venus, also known as the Evening Star, while Hesperia is one of his daughters. This masculine name combines elements of both and has a grand yet gentle feel to it.

This may be a bit quirky to make it as a name, especially in first place. If you love it, you might try it in the middle.

Grrrr.

Solemn but soaring name with patriotic symbolism.

Everest has an attractive enough sound and lofty enough meaning to come into style, à la Sierra. George Lucas bestowed this aspirational name on his baby daughter in 2013 and it has been climbing up the charts ever since. Currently in the US Top 1000 for boys, it was also given to around 100 girls in a recent year.

Quirky tree name with baby name potential.

Beachy name perfect for a summer baby.