Nature, Place and Word Names · Baby Name Meanings
585+ Botanical Baby Names
Across 33 pages
of 33
Selby
English
"from the willow farm"
British last name that, though rather gentle, feels like a sharper, sleeker Shelby. Todd Selby, known primarily by his last name, is a hip photographer of interiors.
Senna
Botanical name; Arabic
"brightness"
Senna is a flowering bush common in the tropics, with bright yellow flowers. In herbal medicine, Senna has gained some notice as the active ingredient in so-called "dieter's teas," which works mainly…
Hollis
English
"dweller at the holly trees"
Hollis is a surname-name used quietly for both genders. At last count, it was given to over 200 baby boys and 160 baby girls in the US. Now a Top 1000 name for boys, it could well break into the…
Sericea
Plant name
The common name for the invasive weed scientists call Lespedeza cuneata has a Roman feel that's become sought after among certain parents. But soundalikes Circe and Servilia have much longer…
Shoshanna
Spelling variation of Shoshana, Hebrew
"lily"
Shoshanna is a variation of one of the best-known original Hebrew baby names for girls , the original of Susanna. This is the spelling used by Shoshanna Lonstein, a designer who creates the Shoshanna…
Sireli
Estonian
May derive from Estonian "sirel", meaning "lilac flower".
Snapdragon
Flower name, from English
"dragon's mouth"
Feisty floral name that would work better as a middle name than as a first, so called because of the flower's resemblance to a dragon's open mouth.
Snow flower
She may have been an appealing Chinese heroine in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, but her name won't translate for a modern American girl. Better choices: Snow, or Flora.
Soma
Hungarian tree name, Hindi, Sanskrit, Japanese
"Dogwood tree; elixir, to extract; sound of the wind + genuine"
Popular in Hungary, but rare elsewhere, Soma is a botanical boy name, relating to the dogwood tree, notable for its white blooms and red twigs. Pronounced as SHO-maw, it ranked at #36 in its native…
Sorrel
Botanical name and French
"reddish brown"
Sorrel is a gentle, amber-hued herbal and autumnal name that's used most often to describe the color of a horse. Sorrell is a variant spelling. Both make excellent names for autumn babies and can be…
Lupin
Flower, animal, and literary name, from Latin
"pertaining to the wolf"
Lupin is an unusual flower name with roots in Old French, from the Latin lupinus , meaning "pertaining to the wolf". In the literary world, it's the surname of Remus Lupin, a popular character in the…
Stockard
English
"tree stump"
Stockard Channing -- "West Wing" 's first lady -- picked this strong, Waspy first name over her original, Susan.
Romaine
French
"a Roman"
In this country, likely to conjure up visions of leafy lettuce.
Susan
English diminutive of Susannah, Hebrew
"lily"
Although Susan had her heyday from the thirties to the sixties, and is now common among moms and new grandmas, and though most modern parents would prefer Susanna/Susannah, we have spotted some…
Susannah
Hebrew
"lily"
Susannah is by far the most stylish form of the classic name now that Susan and Suzanne have retired. Susannah has biblical and musical pedigrees, is impervious to trends, and has an irresistible,…
Suzanne
French variation of Susan
"lily"
Suzanne became popular along with Susan but has just dropped out of the Top 1,000. Wait a generation (or two) in the US, though in France Suzanne is once again tres chic.
Suzette
French diminutive of Susannah, Hebrew
"lily"
Suzette has a kind of clunky retro charm – so kitsch it's almost cool again.
Sycamore
Nature name
"fig mulberry"
Tree name with a pleasant sound and rhythm.
Lowri
Welsh, from Latin
"laurel"
This unusual and appealing form of Laura is popular in sections of Wales.
Jonquil
English flower name, from Latin
"reed"
Jonquil is an unusual flower name that is less outlandish than Daffodil and less common than Daisy. It just might appeal to parents seeking a singular botanical option. Unlike most flower names,…