Nature Names for Girls

Maile

Hawaiian nature name

Captivating and appealing name — a maile is a vine used to make leis — getting noticed via writer Maile Meloy. Many pronounce it ala Miley, as in Cyrus, though native Hawaiian speakers say the…

Prairie

English nature name

"prairie"

Unspecific place name with a wonderfully wide-open, spacious, western feel; used for a character in Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland . Prairie is derived from the Old French word praierie , which…

Brook

English nature name

"small stream"

Brooke variation – or is the other way around? – that makes it more a nature name, less an eighties-style androgynous name.

Lark

English bird name

Lark is getting some new and well-deserved attention as a post-Robin and Raven bird name. Although it was first recorded as a name in the 1830's, it has never appeared on the Social Security list.…

Byrdie

Variation of Birdie, English

"little bird"

Just the kind of vintage nickname (think Hattie, Josie, Mamie, Millie) that's coming back into style in a big way. Actress Busy Phillips named her little girl Birdie.

Arbor

Nature name

Arbor is an original unisex tree-related choice we're sure to hear more of. Highly unusual now, Arbor takes its place alongside other new arborial names ranging from the mighty Oak (or Oakley) to the…

Jessenia

Variation of Yesenia, Spanish nature name

Jessenia and Yesenia are drawn from the Spanish name for a South American tree, making them new nature names .

Fawn

Nature name

"a young deer"

The doe-eyed Fawn is as gentle and soft as the baby deer it represents. And much like that baby deer, it carries with it the potential of new life. Fawn was featured at the bottom of the Top 1000…

Ocie

Short form of Ocean, nature name

Ocie is antiquated ie-ending nickname that was popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s and has seen a slight uptake in interest in recent years. What's Ocie short for? Ocean in all its forms is the…

Soley

Icelandic nature name, variation of Sólja, Faroese

"buttercup"

Sóley is the Icelandic word for the buttercup flower, derived from the words meaning "sun" and "island." It is also used on the Faroe Islands as a short form of Sólja.

Rivers

Nature name and surname, English

"rivers"

Rivers is an indisputably unisex surname with is strong nature connotation and its connection to the character Diana Rivers from Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre . Rivers is also the first name of…

Cricket

Nature name

Nickname name from the era of Father Knows Best , though we can see it making something of a comeback, a la Clover and Pippa. Cricket has new potential especially since it has recently been chosen by…

Apple

English nature name

"apple"

When people talk about unique baby names, Apple is often one of the first examples they mention. Apple made international headlines when Gwyneth Paltrow chose this wholesome fruit name for her…

Anise

Nature name

Name of the licorice plant, this spice comes in the shape of a star, giving this name an extra level of sweetness.

Clove

English word name

"clove"

Clove is a spice name that is a tad more piquant than Saffron or Cinnamon. It might get more attention now as a member of The Hunger Games family of names.

Bay

English word, Old English

"an inlet of the sea where the land curves inward; berry"

One of the most usable of the pleasant, newly adopted nature/water names (like Lake and Ocean), especially in middle position. It's gentle, slightly whimsical, but grounded by its similarity to May…

Brazos

Spanish

"arms; nature name"

The name of a river that flows through Texas into the Gulf of Mexico is given to a dozen or so baby boys and a handful of girls each year. The name derives from Spanish río de los Brazos de Dios…

Glacier

Nature name, French

"ice"

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

Oak

Nature name

Ten times as many boys are named Oak as girls: about 50 boys last year to five girls. Of course, nature names don't have any traditional gender identification the way names like John and Mary do, so…

Leaf

Nature name

Leaf is a hippieish choice that, for girls, still retains an evergreen quality.