Nature, Place and Word Names · Baby Name Meanings
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 13 pages
of 13
Irish
"old and wise"
Irish place-name -- it's a river, a town, and an airport -- once popular but now supplanted by such newer immigrants as Saoirse and Seanan.
Diminutive of Linda, English, Welsh
"pretty, soft, tender; lake"
Lynn arrived in the 1940s, spinning off from the wildly popular Linda to become a top mid-century middle (and first) name, ranking at #58 during its 1956 peak. Now, however, Lynn is out of the…
Turkish
"sea"
A super popular nature name in its native Turkey, currently Top 50 for both boys and girls there.
Arabic
"a drink of water"
Nahla is a lovely name chosen by Halle Berry for her daughter. Not to be confused with the Disneyfied Nala.
Hindi
"ocean"
This popular Indian name is heard in the US. Bollywood actor Akshay Khanna has a son named Arnav.
Greek
"gift of the ocean"
Doris had long been on our so-far-out-it-will-always-be-out-for-babies list, and seemed to be written there in indelible ink. But there are signs of a sea change, that Doris could profit from the…
Word name
We've seen Haven take off as a nouveau girls' name; Harbor could follow in its wake.
Place name
"river by a field"
As all good Anne of Green Gables buffs would know, Avonlea is the fictional Canadian town created by L. M. Montgomery that Anne Shirley considers home. The literary creation inspired a real Canadian…
Modern invented name
Riverlyn is a contemporary feminine name combining nature elements with a lyrical suffix. This modern compound name blends 'River'—representing flowing water, continuity, and natural beauty—with the…
"pool, lake"
A name that has many close, more familiar relatives, like Mira and Myra.
Latin
"of the Tiber"
The name of an important ancient Roman emperor, Tiberius might sound a bit heavy for a modern boy to carry, but with the rise of Atticus, Tiberius and brothers begin to feel more baby-friendly, much…
English
"wide river crossing"
Brad in a Brooks Brothers suit.
If you're a lover of the beach and sea, and want a name that relates to the largest body of water, there are several variations you could consider. Oceana is the female form of Oceanus, the god of…
Nature name
This body of water runs deep; the best of a group of new possibilities that includes Bay, Ocean, River, and the more established Brook. It has received attention via the actress Lake Bell. Lake would…
English, Irish
"black, dark"
Cary Grant's debonair image has stood the test of time: he is still rated as one of the most handsome and admired men in Hollywood. Charming, succinct, and witty, Cary (also spelled Carey) was a…
"nebula, mist"
More unusual alternative to Tiara.
English surname and place-name
"Wynn's channel or stream"
Winslet is one of a legion of surnames newly considered fair game as first names. The inspiration may be British star Kate, but she's not the only reason parents are attracted to Winslet, one of…
Yiddish variation of Moses, Egyptian
"delivered from the water"
A name commonly heard on New York's Lower East Side at the turn of the last century.
German
"eagle"
Subtract the last two letters of Arnold, and you're left with a much more modern-sounding name. Arno is also the name of the main river in Florence, upon which sits the famed Ponte Vecchio. The…
"one who lives by the stream"
If you want a nature name with surname style that speaks to your love of basketball, we suggest Laker.
