Nature, Place and Word Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 17 pages
of 17
Modern invented name
Whether you think of it as Cale with a K, or a pet form of Kalen or Kaleb, this is just the kind of short, synthetic name finding a lot of favor now, but remember -- it's also the name of a vegetable.
Spanish
"blackberry"
Intriguing derivation, though people will assume it's a simplified form of Maura.
Hebrew
"date palm island"
In the Old Testament, Itamar (or Ithamar) was the youngest son of Aaron.
Nature name
"herb; regret"
Botanical choice that can work for either gender. Simple and straightforward. Caveats: rue means "regret" in English, and "street" in French. Now in the Top 1000 in England and Wales for girls and…
French
"honey"
A sweet way—literally—to honor a Melissa or a Pamela.
English, Scottish, Irish, Norwegian, or Korean surname
"roe deer; wise protector; son of Ruadh; red; clearing; ability"
In the US, the multicultural surname Roe is primarily associated with the landmark Supreme Court case Roe vs. Wade, which granted the federal right to abortion, though elsewhere it might be…
Word name
"tea"
Most people are likely to associate the name Chai with tea, but it's also a Chinese surname and Hebrew masculine name. The video game series Soulcalibur features a female character named Chai.
Fruit name
Peach is one of those names that, a generation ago, would have been placed in the wacky celebrity baby name category. But now with the proliferation of word, nature, and yes, food names, Peach sounds…
Georgian variation of Tamar, Hebrew
"date palm tree"
Tamar is a feminine Hebrew name, but this variation is used on girls and boys in the US. Tamari is also the name of a Japanese condiment similar to soy sauce.
Welsh
"berries; battle, slaughter"
Aeron is the name of a river in modern-day Wales, that possibly takes its name from a Celtic war goddess (Agrona). Alternatively, it could come from the word aeron meaning "berries, fruits, plum,…
English
"from the barley settlement"
More user-friendly, though less substantial, than Bartholomew.
"dark skinned, mulberry"
A French nickname and surname deriving from Maurice, or possibly from the French word for mulberry tree, mûrier .
English nature name
"apple"
When people talk about unique baby names, Apple is often one of the first examples they mention. Apple made international headlines when Gwyneth Paltrow chose this wholesome fruit name for her…
Diminutive of Melissa or Cherokee variation of Mary, Greek, Hebrew or Egyptian
"honeybee; drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
French place-name
Dijon is the capital city of the Burgundy region of eastern France, famed for its wine and yes, its mustard. As a first name, it's been brought to wider attention by a few prominent musicians and…
Short form of Dorotea or Mattea
"gift of God"
As Theo and Thea get more popular, so do Teo and Tea, short forms of the Latinate variations of Theodore and Matthew -- which include Dorotea and Mattea. But like Theo and Thea, Tea can stand…
Finnish place name; Japanese
"loaded with rice"
A unisex cultural crossover that has seen a little use from the 1990s onwards. In Japanese mythology, Inari is an androgynous deity associated with rice, tea and foxes. In Finland, it is the name of…
Latin
"grain"
An unusual possibility; Zea would fit right in with schoolmates named Tea and Leya.
Name of the licorice plant, this spice comes in the shape of a star, giving this name an extra level of sweetness.
Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Kazakh
Top 10 in Turkey and Top 500 in the Netherlands (which has a high Turkish population), this sleek and pretty name is virtually unknown elsewhere.
