Nature, Place and Word Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 17 pages
of 17
Armenian word name
"mint"
A rare Armenian word name with that ever-cool X factor.
Latin
"corn, grain"
The Roman goddess Annona personified Rome's grain supply. Her name is derived from the Latin word annōna , meaning "corn" or "grain," which ultimately originated from annus , "year."
"she who supplies corn"
In Roman mythology, Annonaria was an aspect of the goddess Fortuna. Her name is derived from the Latin annona , meaning "corn" or "grain".
Japanese
"apricot"
A representative Japanese name with a meaning symbolizing ripeness.
Fruit name
A very unique fruit name heard more often on peachy-colored dogs than on baby girls.
Greek or Latin
"the best; ear of corn"
From the root for aristocrat, an upwardly mobile choice -- or if you go by its other meaning, an earthy delicious choice. Arista is a rare name for girls that has the popular A beginning-and-ending…
Word name, English from Spanish and Portuguese
"banana"
Banana is one fruity name we wouldn't recommend. Pick Plum instead. There is a Japanese novelist whose pen name is Banana Yoshimoto--birth name Mahoko.
English
"field of beans, dweller near the bean farm"
An upper-crusty-sounding name with humble origins, Bancroft is a surname and a place name that may appeal to those who like Banks and Banner but prefer something rarer (or who've found Bancroft in…
English "barley valley"
"barley valley"
Rarely heard last-name-first choice with nice gardenlike feel.
"grower or seller of barley"
A bit too bad-boy (think bars, beer, Harley) for us, as well as being the name of a grain.
"grain farm"
Perfect choice if your baby has grandpas named Barry and Eric, but also a bit military.
English word, Old English
"an inlet of the sea where the land curves inward; berry"
Like River and Lake, a cool, refreshing modern water-related choice. This name is also associated with bay leaves, the bay laurel, the contemporary term of endearment, "bae", and the Old English word…
Variation of Bay, Latin
"berry"
Solves the Bay/bae issue, and gives you the cool -s ending of Banks and Brooks.
English word name
"an edible seed, typically kidney-shaped"
Bean is a unisex word name with a cute and quirky feel. Early reader series Ivy and Bean features a young girl named Bean, short for Bernice Blue. It has appeal as a casual nickname or middle name,…
"an immature bean pod used as a vegetable"
The unisex word name Bean, distant cousin of the infamous Apple, was used for the name of a child in Louise Penny's novel "A Rule Against Murder." A cute choice, it's likely best reserved for a…
"ford where barley grows"
Upper-crusty hotelish surname.
Nature name
With the recent arrival of fruit names like Apple and Plum, this more traditional example, symbolic of fertility, might rise in popularity. Photographer Berry Berenson was born Berinthia.…
Spelling variation of Bethany, Hebrew
"house of figs"
Bethenny is the spelling introduced to the world by and closely associated with Real Housewife of New York Bethenny Frankel. While the name has a bit of charm, we recommend sticking with the original…
English surname and herb name
A jaunty English surname which may derive from "betony", the name of a pretty purple-flowering shrub. A famous bearer is British historian and broadcaster Bettany Hughes.
Hebrew
"eggs"
Biblical family with 323 children. That's a lot of eggs.
