Name for a forest spirit?

[bootsy]

From what I understand, this character is supposed to have a beauty and presence not of this world, so I think it's best to avoid names that seem too familiar, names that most people sort of instantly recognize as 'names'. I'd like to know a little more about the character and the story. Perhaps knowing the context of the time, place and culture the story takes place in would help the process of choosing a name.

[freewryting11]

Are you looking for something that is more fairy-tale-ish or a regular name that could suit a forest spirit?

I've always loved the name Willow, and that would kind of make sense because a willow is a type of tree. But, also it's kind of Pocahantus-ish.

Evangeline? Gorgeous name, but not very spirity.

Norah? Very feminine name, kind of old-fashioned. A little mysterious.

[dearest]

I would use something long, soft and abstract. By abstract I mean something people haven't really heard or are very familiar with, a name she could easily have given herself without any knowledge of a world outside of the forests.
So nature names are a good bet, let's start with those
Wren has been suggested, it seems a little short (for some reason ethereal forest folk often have long names, think of Galadriel!)
Let's see:
Betony
Bryony
Briar
Calla
Camelia
Chrysanthe/Chrysanthemum
Chamomile (love this one)
Clove
Clover
Comfrey
Caraway
Cornflower
Cranberry
Dew
Doe
Dove
Eglantine
Fennel
Foxglove
Gardenia
Honey
Honeysuckle
Hyacinth
Jacaranda
Lark
Larkspur
Laurel
Linden
Lotus
Magnolia
Magpie
Maple
Marigold
Meadow
Meadowlark
Merle
Myrtle
Nettle
Olive
Peony
Persimmon
Poplar
Poppy
Primrose
Rose
Snowdrop
Sorrel
Sparrow
Starling
Sunflower
Swan
Tansy
Thistle
Violet

I think that's enough for now, I'll come back later with some more names if nature names aren't what you're going for. I have plenty, and looking through my list I was reminded of Erresuma which is a Basque name meaning 'Kingdom; Realm' and Endzela which means 'Snowdrop' in Georgian and Susilva which most likely means 'below the forest' or even Calluna, which means 'to beautify and cleanse' and is the Latin name for Heather which is a plant of immortality and protection. So more or less 'immortal protectress of the forest who makes sure it will always stay beautiful and clean' XD

Best of luck!

[anniebee]

I wrote a response to this a WHILE ago and never hit send and left the tab open and sitting here, so sorry for the delayed response.

Here's what I wrote:


Not the fanciest of names, but the female version of Glen, which is a shady forest area, would be Glenda or Glenneth or Glennie or maybe something like that. I know Glen seems like an old man name, but I have been fancying it for a boy because of the forest connotation. Also, Glenda reminds me of the good witch in the Wizard of Oz.

Some other earthy names I've got:

Sequoyah
Fern
Holly
Lavender
Sycamore
Hawthorne
Aspen
Willow
Lark

Some other names that sound fairy-like and wise:

Aurora
Sabrina
Tabitha
Serena
Athena - love this one
I like the suggestions of Flora and Demeter

[brookesiskey]

here are some finnish names. they have a lot of forest spirits in their mythology
Luonnotar, spirit of nature, feminine creator. (could just use Luon or Luonno - Luonna ??)
Metsänväki, spirit of forest, forest creature. (could use Metsa or vaki)
Mielikki, wife of Tapio, the goddess of the forest. (Mie or Eli)
Tellervo, the goddess of the forest, daughter of Tapio and Mielikki. (elle)
Tuulikki, daughter of Tapio and Mielikki, goddess of animals.

and some Estonian mythology too :
Hingeliblikas – a person's spirit in the form of a moth (ingel or eli again)
Hämarik - personification of dusk, a beautiful young maiden
Jutta - queen of the birds, daughter of Taara
Maaemä - Mother Earth
Metsaema - Mother of Forest
Murueit - a female spirit of forest and earth, connected to the land of the dead (nicknames: Muru or RUE)
Tuule-Emä - Mother Wind (Ema)

[kala_way]

I think Latinesque names sound very well for this. I used variants of these plant names

Nyssa
Calocedrus
Cordata
Myristicaeformis
Evodia
Glaucorlata
Pomifera
Liriodendron

[ballerinagirl]

Juniper sprang to mind when you said that

[lindseylikes]

Adhara! One of the brightest stars in the sky...sounds suitably ethereal to me.