Baby Name Meanings · Nature, Place and Word Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 28 pages
of 28
Word name
Yes, nature lovers are starting to name their children after all forms of life, including fish, but consider carefully before you cast your line into these tease-infested waters.
Scandinavian
"wolf"
A common Scandinavian name , but hard to imagine being used elsewhere.
Basque or Portuguese, 'magpie'
Urraca was the name of many infantas and queens of several medieval Iberian kingdoms (most notably Leon). Despite its royal roots, Urraca is one of the names best left to the history books.
Italian from Latin
"bear"
Cool bearlike option, though Orson might be easier to embrace.
Chinese
"the ox"
In China, the ox represents patience and determination, a commendable combination.
French
"one who raises cows"
This is a French occupational namename brought to the fore by poet Vachel Lindsay, born Nicholas Vachel (Vachel being his father's first name), considered the founder of modern poetry intended to be…
Greek from German
"courage of the bear"
Rhythmic and powerful, if you don't mind the nickname Vern.
Dutch
"butterfly"
A known but not overused female name in Dutch-speaking countries and regions, Vlinder ranked in the top 400 girls’ names in the Netherlands from 2009-2012.
Germanic
"fox"
Voss is a German name, that is seen in Norway and Australia (in the former it is associated with a region, in the latter it is associated with the protagonist of Patrick White's novel by the same…
Nature name
Fox, okay. Buck, maybe. But Wolverine? You gotta be kidding us. On the plus side, your five-year-old will love you for giving him this superhero name. Your fifteen-year-old, not so much.
Greek
"yellow horse"
Famous as the long-suffering wife of the philosopher Socrates.
Animal name
More commonly known as the Mongolian Gazelle, the Zeren is an antelope that lives on the steppes of central Asia. Zeren is a highly unusual but user-friendly animal name that works for both girls and…
Hungarian
"bison"
Bird name, Nahuatl
"large beautiful tail feather"
A quetzal is a beautiful, brightly-colored bird found in Mexico and Central America. It is the national bird of Guatemala, as well as the name of their currency. Quetzal is given as a baby name to a…
Nahuatl
A quetzal is a beautiful, brightly-colored bird found in Mexico and Central America. It is the national bird of Guatemala, as well as the name of their currency.
Latin
"small female donkey"
Asella is ultimately derived from the Latin word asinus , meaning "donkey." As a word, asella would have been used to refer to a small female donkey. Though both Latin in origin, with similar…
"spider"
In Greek mythology, Arachne was a woman who bested Athena in a weaving competition. She later killed herself from the shame, but Athena reincarnated Arachne as a spider.
Cherokee
"fawn"
For the doe-eyed daughter.
Greek; Japanese
"mythological name; wild boar"
Ino was one of the Queens of Thebes who, after her death, became an immortal. Ino raised her nephew, Dionysus (son of Semele and Zeus), provoking the wrath of Hera. In desperation Ino threw herself…
Soft and rhythmic addition to the collection of names that mean butterfly .
