A Lexicon of International Nature Names
Nature has always been a spring (pun intended) that people have used for inspiration when coming up with names for their children. Many of them are heard time and time again, and the search for fresh alternatives never ceases. I know even in my own case, I’ve scoured the Internet for unusual scientific names for trees, flowers, and more for potential names. But what about nature names in other languages? This is an untapped source for new ideas. Here are some to get you started!
Lavender: Lavendel (German, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish)
Lily: Lelie (Dutch), Lys (French), Lilia (Polish)
Flower: Fleur (French), Fiore (Italian), Flor (Spanish), Blume (German)
Ivy: Lierre (French), Edera (Italian)
Lilac: Syrin (Norwegian), Lilla (Italian), Lilas (French)
Violet: Fiolett (Norwegian), Jolanda (Greek), Yolanthe (French)
Hyacinth: Jacinta (Spanish), Giacinta (Italian), Jakinda (Basque)
Rose: Rosyn (Welsh), Rois, Roisin (Irish)
Poppy: Rosella (Catalan), Amapola (Spanish)
Oak-tree: Ektra (Swedish)
Azalea: Azalee (German, Romanian)
Lotus: Loto (Spanish)
Huckleberry: Airelle (French)
Cedar: Zedro (Basque), Zeder (German)
Chestnut: Castan (Welsh, Romanian)
Apple: Mela (Italian), Manzana (Spanish)
Pear: Pera (Spanish, Italian), Madari (Basque)
River: Riu (Catalan), Elv (Norwegian), Rio (Spanish)
Saffron: Azafran (Spanish)
Sage: Salvia (Spanish, Italian)
Sapphire: Safir (Swedish, Norwegian, Catalan), Saphir (German, French), Sapphira (Greek)
Sky: Zerua (Basque), Ciel (French) Cielo (Italian, Spanish)
Lake: Meer (Dutch), Loch (Irish), Llyn (Welsh), Jezero (Czech), Lago (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese)
Bay: Baia (Italian), Badia (Basque), Bahia (Spanish)
Forest: Foresta (Italian), Floresta (Portuguese), Silva (Latin)
Grove: Llwyn (Welsh), Lehto (Finnish)
Hawk/Falcon: Falco (Italian, also a Nintendo character), Halcon (Spanish)
Eagle: Adler (German), Aquila (Italian), Arrano (Basque)
Fern: Varen (Dutch)
Lark: Alosa (Catalan), Kiuru (Finnish), Alouette (French
Fox: Vos (Dutch), Azeria (Basque), Kettu (Finnish), Rev (Norwegian), Renard (French), Zorro (Spanish)
Wolf: Susi (Finnish), Lupo (Italian), Lobo (Spanish)
Emerald: Maragda (Catalan), Esmeralda (Spanish)
Winter: Zima (Croatian, Polish), Talvi (Finnish)
Summer: Sivi (Estonian), Vasara (Latvian, Lithuanian), Vara (Romanian)
Spring: Jaro (Czech), Primavera (Spanish)
Snow: Elurra (Basque), Neve (Italian, Portuguese), Nieve (Spanish)
Rain: Xita (Maltese), Lluvia (Spanish), Chuca (Portuguese)