999+ Nature Names for Babies

If you prefer the woods to the ocean, you'll want to name your son (or daughter) Beech instead of Beach.

Heron fits in with the modern nature names that are so stylish at the moment, but it also has history as the name of a Greek inventor and Egyptian saint. Both were male, but Heron's image as a word name makes it accessible for girls as well.

A gem named for its green hue.

Now that parents are increasingly considering previously-female nature names, like Rose and Holly, for boys, Jasmin could be viable as a male name too. It already is in Bosnia.

Arbor is a quirky nature name with holiday vibes.

Oceanus was the Titan in ancient Greek mythology who rules what they thought was the body of water that surrounded the Earth. Oceanus was, appropriately enough, the name of the baby born on the Mayflower. Modern variations include Ocean, Oceana, and Oceane, a popular French name for girls.

Depending on the kanji characters used, this attractive and energetic Japanese name can have a variety of meanings relating to nature.

Not quite a nature name and not quite a surname — whatever Laken is or isn't, we know it's definitely a name to watch.

The Latin name for the holly tree would make an interesting nature-inspired alternative to Alex.

Yarrow is a flowering herb that grows wild in Europe and North America, and has long been used in several Native American and European cultures as a healing plant. Named for the mythical god Achille, Yarrow is a symbol of enduring love.

A subtle nature name which would nevertheless make for a bold choice, saint’s name Corbinian derives from Latin corvus ("crow; raven"). It’s a traditional yet rare choice in parts of southern Germany, where it’s usually spelt Korbinian.

This kind of plainspoken nature name (think River and Sunshine) may still carry a whiff of the hippie, but this one has a nice, airy feel. It's slight similarity to Claude and Clyde helps to ground it.

Clover has been one of the fastest-rising girl names in recent years, with parents loving the quirky, offbeat nature vibe. Spelling variation Klover is following in these footsteps and is on the rise as well.

A gentle-sounding name with a pretty meaning to match, Laylani is a close cousin to names like Lily and Layla that have been very trendy in the last few years. We're somewhat agnostic about this spelling compared to original Leilani. Though we tend to favor the original in such cases, it might be easier for non-Hawaiians to figure out how to pronounce this one.

With Clementine on the rise and Clemence and Clemency considered chic in Europe, this unusual Latinate option could be a fresh alternative. Clementia is another, more common, spelling.

A merry surname cousin of Kerrigan, could make a lively choice for a happy little girl.

Pansy is an early floral name that lost credibility when it became a derogatory slang term for gay people. Better these days: Posy or Poppy.

A blend of Mervyn and Marvin that is every bit as dated as either of the originals. That -erv sound is difficult no matter what. Mervin is still used today among Amish families.

A popular nature name in Turkey, where it was in the Top 10 from 2005-2013. Spelt Yağmur in Turkish.

Zippy and multicultural, Sarika can be considered a pretty nature name, referring to a myna bird in Hindi and Sanskrit and to a blackbird in Khmer (or Cambodian). In these contexts, it would be pronounced as SAHR-ka (Sanskrit) and saw-ree-GAW (Khmer).