Nature Names for Boys

Brook

English nature name

"small stream"

Now that the popularity of Brooke is waning, and surname style variant Brooks is on the rise, Brook seems live a newly fresh nature-inspired option.

Dune

English word name

"sand hill"

Dune is a name of several layers. It's a modern nature name, like Ocean, Bay and Reef, although rarer, conjuring up images of breezy sand dunes on summer beach days. It's also assocated with Frank…

Finch

English word and nature name

"to swindle"

It feels like Finch should be a modern bird name that's as popular as Wren or Lark, but that's not the case - so it's one to consider if you're looking for a nature name that's familiar but rare.…

Maize

English word name and nature name

One of the more unusual nature names , Maize is given to a dozen or so boys and girls each year and is almost completely unisex in terms of usage. Disclaimer: potential for "corny" jokes.

Layke

Spelling variation of Lake, nature name

Layke is one of the names of the Waldrop sextuplets: Layke Bryars. Though this Layke happens to be a boy, the nature name works equally well for girls.

Sparrow

Nature name

With other bird names such as Lark and Phoenix on the rise, why not chirpy Sparrow? Nicole Richie and Joel Madden named their son, born in 2009, Sparrow James Midnight.

Gale

Nature name

Gale for boys is more a storm name than a short form of Abigail. Since Gale has resurfaced as the name of Liam Hemsworth's daring character in The Hunger Games , it has new force for boys.

Siar

Irish, Turkish, Kurdish, Albanian, nature name

"to the west; slogan, motto; explorer, leader; like gold; yellow-flame tree"

A name with a variety of meanings, depending on which etymological root you follow. From an Irish word mean "west" to an Albanian name meaning "gold", it was a fast rising name in England and Wales…

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…

Osier

Surname and nature name

"willow tree or shoot"

A handsome nature name – and an intriguing alternative to Willow – that is also found as a rare English surname.

Rue

Nature name

"herb; regret"

Botanical choice that can work for either gender. Simple and straightforward. Caveats: rue means "regret" in English, and "street" in French. Now in the Top 1000 in England and Wales for girls and…

Tide

Nature name

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

Berry

Nature name

If not for Motown founder Berry Gordy, this name would now be totally in the girl group.

Birch

Tree name

Birch is a rarely used nature name that calls to mind the lovely image of the tall, strong but graceful white-barked tree. The best known bearer of the name is former high-ranking Democratic Senator…

Falcon

Bird name

There is a whole new species of bird names open to the baby namer, from the light and feminine Lark to the sleek and powerful Falcon.

Lightning

Nature name

Usain Bolt chose Lightning as the middle name for his daughter — Olympia Lightning Bolt. Mainstream parents have taken a liking to Lightning as a boy name — it debuted on the charts in 2021, and was…

Marsh

English nature name

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

Field

Nature name

More unusual than Forest or Forrest, Field is a nature name that is simple, evocative, and fresh--sort of the male equivalent of Meadow. Field and Fields are both relatively common surnames, noted…

Clove

Nature name

Clove is one of a whole tantalizing genre of spice names that might work for a boy. Clovis could be considered a long form.

Quarry

Nature name

Has the offbeat quality and macho feel -- like Stone and Flint -- that appeals to increasing numbers of modern parents.