Earthy Names

  1. Day
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "day"
    • Description:

      A bright and optimistic middle name choice.
  2. Cloud
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "water vapor in the atmosphere"
    • Description:

      This kind of plainspoken nature name (think River and Sunshine) may still carry a whiff of the hippie, but this one has a nice, airy feel. It's slight similarity to Claude and Clyde helps to ground it.
  3. Hurricane
    • Origin:

      Spanish from Native American word name
    • Meaning:

      "hurricane"
    • Description:

      Hurricane is a storm, but it's also an American name, thanks to rising tennis star Hurricane Black -- whose sister's name is Tornado. There's no reason this tempestuous choice can't work for boys too, inasfar as the name can work for any child. As a name, Hurricane is definitely original and attention-getting, but is it a name you'd want to carry around for life?
  4. Snowdrop
    • Description:

      Snowdrop is a delicate nature-inspired feminine name derived from the early-blooming white flower that often emerges while snow still covers the ground. This botanical name symbolizes hope, purity, and resilience as snowdrops are among the first flowers to bloom at winter's end. Though uncommon as a given name, Snowdrop belongs to the category of modern flower and nature names that have gained popularity in recent decades. The name carries a whimsical, ethereal quality that appeals to parents drawn to nature-themed names. Snowdrop combines the purity associations of snow with the gentle beauty of a small flower, creating a name that's both distinctive and meaningful.
  5. Day
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "the time of light between one night and the next"
    • Description:

      Many African tribes have a tradition of naming children for the day or time they were born -- Friday, Afternoon -- a practice finding new life in the Western world as word names become more popular.
  6. Begonia
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "Begon's flower"
    • Description:

      Begonia is a pretty flower named for French administrator and amateur horticulturalist Michel Bégon, who was an avid naturalist but also a proponent of slavery. A rare floral choice which has never really caught on as a baby name, Begonia would certainly stand out from the Lilys and Roses.
  7. Oak
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Description:

      Ten times as many boys are named Oak as girls: about 50 boys last year to five girls. Of course, nature names don't have any traditional gender identification the way names like John and Mary do, so Oak works well for all babies. Oakley is the most popular Oak name for babies of all genders.
  8. Ash
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Ashley, English
    • Meaning:

      "ash tree"
    • Description:

      Ash is a gender-neutral choice that calls to mind the '80s favorite: Ashley. But view it as a nature name -- as in the tree, not the charred bit of soot in the fireplace -- and it makes a cool choice that fits with today's trends.
  9. Lake
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Description:

      Evocative modern unisex choice brought into the spotlight by actress Lake Bell.
  10. Tornado
    • Origin:

      Spanish word name
    • Meaning:

      "tornado"
    • Description:

      Tornado first meant thunderstorm and only later came to mean whirlwind, the common modern meaning. More recently, Tornado is the first name of a tennis-playing teen whose sister is called the equally attention-getting Hurricane. Both names work for either gender, if you think you can withstand the storm jokes.
  11. Season
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "time of sowing"
    • Description:

      Winter, Summer, and Autumn are all mainstream names; this covers all bases.
  12. Flower
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "flower"
    • Description:

      It may sound sweet smelling, but remember, it was the name of the little skunk in Bambi. Better to pick a single bloom from the bouquet, like Violet or Lily or Daisy.
  13. Windy
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "windy"
    • Description:

      And her sisters, Stormy and Sunny.
  14. Bloom
    • Lotus