Arboreal Names

  1. Dara
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Slavic or Irish
    • Meaning:

      "pearl of wisdom; gift; or oak tree"
    • Description:

      Though Dara was an (extremely wise) male figure in the Bible, this name feels mostly feminine to modern Americans. The Irish Gaelic version, Darragh, is well-used in contemporary times for boys.
  2. Tamara
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "date palm tree"
    • Description:

      Adding a final a to Tamar lends it a more sensual Slavic tone, making it a more popular choice than the original.
  3. Elwood
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "elder tree forest"
    • Description:

      The "el-" sound is red-hot these days, and a myriad of place names and surnames give this name a wealth of possible namesakes. The main drawback is its kinship to the name of the hero of the Legally Blond series, Elle Woods, though that will fade with time.
  4. Alder
    • Origin:

      English tree name or surname
    • Meaning:

      "old"
    • Description:

      The surname-style Alden has been on the rise in the US in recent years, while tree-inspired Rowan is a top choice. Combine this with the popularity of names ending in -er such as Carter and Parker and it makes sense why Alder is now 4 times as popular as it was a decade ago. Given to 125 boys in a recent year, it could be a modern way to honor an "Al".
  5. Grover
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "one who lives near a grove of trees"
    • Description:

      Forget the furry blue Muppet, forget corpulent President Cleveland (not too difficult), and consider this name anew. We think it's spunky, a little funky, and well worth a second look, similar in style to the likes of Wilder and Ranger, to Sullivan, Chester, and Stanley.
  6. Geneva
    • Origin:

      Swiss place-name or French
    • Meaning:

      "juniper tree"
    • Description:

      Unlike its somewhat formal Swiss city namesake, this is a lively and appealing place-name that also has a real history as a female name.
  7. Cullen
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "holly tree"
    • Description:

      Cullen is an appealing Irish surname name that upped its cool factor considerably when it became the Twilight family name of Edward et al. It's considerably less popular than it was at its peak in 2010, but is still widely used.
  8. Lindsey
    • Origin:

      English surname meaning "Marshlands of Lincolnshire"
    • Meaning:

      "Marshlands of Lincolnshire"
    • Description:

      Lindsey is one of the few truly unisex names (rather than being a name that has changed genders). Over time the "ey" ending was usually reserved for women and the "ay" ending reserved for men, and that tradition has continued
  9. Melia
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name, diminutive of Amelia, or Hawaiian
    • Meaning:

      "ash tree; honey; work; plumeria"
    • Description:

      This is a rich, melodic shortening of the popular girls' name Amelia that can stand on its own. There are several figures in Greek myth named Melia, most notably a daughter of Oceanus. The Meliae are nymphs associated with trees.
  10. Euan
    • Origin:

      Gaelic, Anglicized form of Eoghann
    • Meaning:

      "born of the yew tree"
    • Description:

      The attractive Euan and Ewan are just coming onto the U.S. radar, via actor Ewan MacGregor and Harry Potter's Euan Abercrombie.
  11. Eila
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Norwegian variation of Elina
    • Meaning:

      "oak tree; bright, shining light"
    • Description:

      Eila is a Hebrew name heard in Israel. The name also has roots in Finland and Norway, where it's derived from Elina, a variation of Helen, or from Aila, a form of Helga. Eila could gain attention as a cross-cultural name and fresh alternative to popular sound-alike choices like Ayla, Ella, and Isla.
  12. Darragh
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "oak tree"
    • Description:

      Also Anglicized as Dara and also spelled Daire in its native form, Darragh has an undeniably rugged appeal. It's used for both girls and boys in Ireland, but it's very popular in particular for boys.
  13. Eoghan
    • Origin:

      Irish Gaelic
    • Meaning:

      "born of the yew tree"
    • Description:

      Pronounced like Owen, this was the name of several early Irish kings and saints, as well as a celebrated Ulster hero. Often spelled with two 'n's in Scotland, it has been Anglicized as Ewan, Ewen, Euan, Owen, Hugh, or Eugene.
  14. Calhoun
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "from the narrow forest"
    • Description:

      A beaming, friendly Irish last-name-first-name waiting to be discovered, though anyone into American history might associate it with John C. Calhoun, a 19th century statesman who defended slavery. There are however plenty of places called Calhoun which might lessen that association.
  15. Levitt
    • Origin:

      English or German Jewish surname
    • Meaning:

      "place where yew trees grow; Levite"
    • Description:

      As Levi becomes more common, we're noticing parents turn to more creative alternatives and Levitt is one such option. Similar in sound to the aforementioned Biblical name, it may also appeal to those who like Everett, Beckett, and Truett.
  16. Elan
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "tree"
    • Description:

      When given the French pronunciation (ay-LAN), has a great deal of esprit and élan.
  17. Ivara
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "yew tree, archer"
    • Description:

      Similar to Ivana but less personality-driven.
  18. Delano
    • Origin:

      French surname
    • Meaning:

      "from the forest of nut trees"
    • Description:

      Popular President Franklin Delano Roosevelt inspired a brief fashion for this as a first name in the 1940s; almost never heard today.
  19. Evora
    • Origin:

      Portuguese place name
    • Meaning:

      "yew tree"
    • Description:

      Evora is a city in Portugal known for its magnificent Roman aged ruins. It is occasionally seen as a female name, evoking some of the mystique of this region.
  20. Ilana
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "oak tree"
    • Description:

      Ilana is a name with seemingly endless variations, well used in Israel, sometimes chosen for little girls born on the holiday of TuB'Shevat, the New Year of the Trees.

The Nameberry App Is Live

Nameberry app screenshot
Find your perfect baby name together in our iPhone app, now available on the App Store.
  • Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
  • Names you match on are saved to your shared list
  • Get personalized recommendations that learn based on your and your partner's preferences
  • Partner with friends and family to find names you all love
  • Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.
Download on the App Store
Nameberry app screenshot