Girl Names Lists · Nature, Place and Word Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated October 2026
Across 31 pages
of 31
Plant and color name
"vivid purplish-red; tubular flower"
A plausible color name, it was chosen by the singer Sting as a middle name for his daughter, after a character in the Gormenghast fantasy trilogy, of which he's a big fan. Another bearer is Fuchsia…
Greek
"she who is milk-white"
This name's meaning derives from the material from which the mythical sculptor Pygmalion chiselled his ideal woman - she was carved from ivory. Pygmalion fell in love with his creation and Aphrodite,…
Spelling variation of Gail
When Gail was popular, half a century ago, Gale was a plausible choice. Gale does put a slightly more masculine spin on the name, but it's dated in any version.
French color and botanical name
This botanical name, referring to the vivid deep red color and to the madder plant from which it derives, is almost unknown to English speakers. But it's been trending in France recently, reaching…
Latin
"keeper of the garden"
One of the most pleasant and evocative of the hot new occupational names. Related name: Gardner, as in Ava.
Word name
Garland is fragrant and celebratory, and also has a celebrity-tribute tie to the star of The Wizard of Oz .
Flower name, from Greek
"crane"
Offbeat flower name, sure to raise some eyebrows. But with Lily, Rose, and even Daisy starting to wilt, more alluring blooms such as Geranium, Magnolia, and Azalea may blossom.
Italian, Greek
"hyacinth"
Flora and operatic in style, Giacinta comes from the Greek Hyacinthus, itself derived from the name of the purple hyacinth flower. The Italian relative of Spanish Jacinta, Giacinta is also the name…
Nature name
Quirky tree name with baby name potential.
Flower name, from Latin
"little sword"
A floral name with a sharp, cool meaning, Gladiola derives rom the Latin gladiolus , translating to "little sword", and given in reference to the spiked shape of gladioli flowers. This form appears…
Scottish
"narrow valley"
Former traditional male name now in middle-aged limbo, but with a nice naturey meaning to endear it to modern parents. Actress Glenn Close is a famous female bearer.
"grove of trees"
Fresh, evocative choice.
Celtic
"long-winged swimming birds"
Suggests the salty, windswept air of the seashore.
Cornish form of Guinevere, Welsh
"white shadow, white wave"
Gwenora teeters on the line between unique gem and modern invention. But it's not a smoosh name fashioned from Gwen and Nora but an old Cornish form of Guinevere, like its much more famous sister…
"kingfisher bird"
This highly unusual name -- the Halycyone was a mythic bird who could calm the seas -- conjures up images of utter peace and tranquility because of the phrase "Halycon days"...and the sleeping pill.
Finnish, Estonian diminutive of Helena, Greek
"torch; shining light"
More modern than Helen or Helena, and an interesting alternative to Hayley and Hallie. By coincidence, heli also means "saltwater" in Welsh.
botanical name
Despite the beauty of this flower's appearance and fragrance, this is one of the clumsier flower names.
"water serpent"
Hydra is the largest of the 88 constellations, whose name was inspired by Hydra of Lerna, a serpentine, multi-headed monster of Greek mythology who resided in Lake Lerna.
"water vessel"
Prettier than the other name the plant goes by, Hortensia.
"purple flower"
Like Violet, Lavender and Lilac, Ianthe is a purple flower name. Chosen by the poet Shelley for his daughter, Ianthe has a poetic, romantic, almost ethereal quality. In the ancient myth, she was the…
