31 Unique Nature Names

Lilac

• Origin:

  English, from Persian

• Meaning:

  "bluish or lilac"

• Description:

  Could Lilac be the next Lila or Lily or Violet? It certainly has a lot going for it--those lilting double 'l's, the fabulous fragrance it exudes, and the fact that it's a color name as well, providing a ready made nursery theme. In addition, the lilac is symbolic of first love.

Moss

• Origin:

  English

• Meaning:

  "descendant of Moses"

• Description:

  This evocative green nature name, heard much more frequently as a surname, is associated with playwright Moss Hart (born Robert), who co-wrote (with George S. Kaufman) such enduring Broadway comedies as The Man Who Came to Dinner and You Can't Take it With You.

Asteria

• Origin:

  Greek

• Meaning:

  "star"

• Description:

  Asteria is an Anglicized spelling of the Greek Astraea or Astraia, the goddess of justice and innocence. She became the constellation Virgo, so all forms of this name would be especially appropriate for a child born in late August or early September.

Fraser

• Origin:

  Scottish from French

• Meaning:

  "strawberry"

• Description:

  Though TV's "Frasier" made the name famous, and Frazier is a well-used variation, Fraser is the original, used mostly in Scotland.

Saffron

• Origin:

  Spice name

• Description:

  Spice names are increasingly appealing to the senses of prospective parents; this one, belonging to a precious spice derived from the crocus has a vaguely orange-scented-incense sixties feel.

Leaf

• Origin:

  Nature name

• Description:

  The nature boy version of the Scandinavian Leif, which actually means "heir". In the creative-naming Phoenix family, Leaf is the former name of the actor we know as Joaquin.

Dune

• Origin:

  Nature name

• Description:

  Sibling of Beach and Ocean.

Cricket

• Origin:

  Nature name

• Description:

  Nickname name from the era of Father Knows Best, though we can see it making something of a comeback, a la Clover and Pippa. Cricket has new potential especially since it has recently been chosen by Busy Philipps. Still, it's one of the quirkier girl names starting with C.

Peony

• Origin:

  Flower name; Latin

• Meaning:

  "healing"

• Description:

  One of the rarest of the floral names, though not without some teasing potential. Peony is a historical 1948 novel by Pearl S. Buck.

Petal

• Origin:

  English from Greek

• Meaning:

  "leaf"

• Description:

  Petal is the soft and sweet-smelling name of a character in the novel and film, The Shipping News. With the rise of such flower names as Poppy and Posy, we believe Petal — down-to-earth yet romantic — has its own appealingly distinctive style.

Bloom

• Origin:

  Word Name

• Description:

  A fragrant floral name that would be great as a middle name. Bloom is the name of the character in TV's Winx Club who, Harry Potter-style, gets sent to fairy college.

Birch

• Origin:

  Tree name

• Description:

  Birch is a rarely used nature name that calls to mind the lovely image of the tall, strong but graceful white-barked tree.

Pike

• Origin:

  American animal name

• Meaning:

  "pike, a fish"

• Description:

  The field of nature names is constantly expanding to include all species of flowers and trees and animals and birds and even fish. In addition to its appeal for anglers, Pike recalls Zebulon Pike, the explorer who discovered and gave his name to Pike's Peak.

Elm

• Origin:

  English, German, Norse, Danish tree name

• Meaning:

  "red, brown"

• Description:

  Strong, straight, and leafy, one of the new tree names used mostly as middles.

Thorn

Marine

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "from the sea"

• Description:

  Marine is an extremely popular and fashionable name in France that's virtually unknown here — and is ready to set sail. Marine feels more contemporary than Marina and less hippie-esque than Oceane, another popular name for girls in France.

Banyan

• Origin:

  Indian

• Meaning:

  "the God tree"

• Description:

  This evocative name of a dramatic tropical Indian fig tree is ready to move west.

Field

• Origin:

  Nature name

• Description:

  More unusual than Forest or Forrest, Field is a nature name that is simple, evocative, and fresh--sort of the male equivalent of Meadow.

  Field and Fields are both relatively common surnames, noted bearers including department store owner Marshall Field, poet Eugene Field (Wynken, Blynken and Nod) and actress Sally. Those with the plural include W.C. Fields, cookie company founder Debbi, and entertainers Gracie and Kim Fields.

Crane

• Origin:

  English surname

• Meaning:

  "crane"

• Description:

  This elegant surname has great potential to turn into an unusual first name, especially with its literary associations to both Stephen and Hart Crane.

Spruce

• Origin:

  Nature name

• Description:

  A handsome, spruced-up post-Bruce tree name.