Baby Name Meanings · Nature, Place and Word Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 28 pages
of 28
Navajo
"owl"
A Navajo nature name with a cool, fresh sound.
Arabic
"panther"
Projects an air of power and speed.
Breton
"lamb"
A too-literal spin on Owen.
Breton variation of Agnes
"lamb."
Kind of a combination of Agnes and Inez, a name rarely heard in the US.
Nahuatl
"jaguar, jaguar warrior"
In Nahuatl — a language spoken by indigenous people of Southern Mexico and Central America – Ocelotl both means "jaguar", and also refers to Jaguar Warriors of the Ancient Aztect empire. The name…
Hebrew
"my fawn"
"raven"
Idiosyncratic Hebrew choice.
Latin
"golden"
A bird name from the same Latin root as Aurelia, Oriole is extremely rare as a name: No babies were given the name in the US in 2022. But most people are aware of the Oriole bird, which makes this…
Old Danish and Old Swedish
"serpent, snake"
Orm was a common name in the Viking Age, when children were often given names of animals. Animal names were thought to provide protection to those who had them.
English surname from Norse
"serpent"
An old money surname passed down in notable American families. Christopher Plummer's middle name was Orme. Orme was derived from the Middle English given name Orm, which in turn came from the Old…
Italian variation of Ursula
"little female bear"
The advantage of Orsa over the arguably-more-attractive Ursula is that it breaks the tie to the hideous she-witch of The Little Mermaid. Orsa definitely feels more ready for modern life now that…
Italian variation of Orson
"bearlike"
Orson is being rediscovered and Orsino is every bit as attractive.
Spanish name
"dweller at the sign of the grouse"
Dashing Latin surname name -- but also a well-known brand of Spanish packaged foods.
Finnish
"bear"
A common animal name in Finland, it could work as an alternative to Otto or Otis.
Animal name
While we don't see many parents adopting Otter as a name for their own babies, Zooey Deschanel put this one in the lexicon when she used it as a middle name for her adorably-named daughter Elsie…
Feminine variation of Ovidius, Roman family name
"shepherd or sheep"
Ovidia is the unusual feminine form of the ancient Roman Ovidius, most famous as the name of the exiled 1st century Roman poet Ovid. Modern male form Ovidio is known in Spain and Portugal. Ovida is…
Japanese
"big stork"
Has good vibes via the stork's intimations of longevity.
Spanish, diminutive of Francisco; Native American
"eagle"
Another winning and relaxed but energetic o-ending Latin name, sometimes associated with designer Paco Rabanne.
Native American, Miwok
"deer jumping as she runs downhill"
Unusual and lithe.
Hawaiian
"a bird"
Pacific island member of the currently-in-favor Lila/Leila family and one of the most attractive and unique girls' names starting with P .
