Forest Guardian

Names in this category run the gamut from man to myth and god to monster - shamanistic ancestors and prehistoric hunters, woodland elves and forest faeries, horned gods and green men. Colors and textures are green, green, green - pine and sage, spring and kelly, emerald and spruce - with bits of mist white, heartwood brown, and the grey-blue of rain clouds; the springiness of moss and the sponginess of mushrooms; the crumbling softness of rotting logs; the quiet drip of dewdrops from the canopy above; the soft gleam of animal bones against the forest floor; the cryptic shapes of antlers against deep green shadows; the smell of the earth after it rains.
  1. Tane
    • Abraxas
      • Origin:

        Persian mythology name
      • Description:

        Abraxas is a sci-fi-sounding name with earthly possibilities, but some playground challenges.
    • Adler
      • Origin:

        German
      • Meaning:

        "eagle"
      • Description:

        Adler is a German-Jewish surname that is beginning to be used occasionally as a first and is among the stylish new German names for boys. Among the distinguished bearers of Adler as a last name are Freud colleague Alfred Adler, actress and influential acting teacher Stella Adler and Guns N' Roses drummer Steve Adler.
    • Alden
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "old, wise friend"
      • Description:

        Hot young actor Alden Ehrenreich, the new Han Solo, gives this formerly-stodgy surname name an attractive new image, making it a fresh successor to Aiden or Holden. Before it got this fresh shine, Alden was among the classic Thanksgiving baby names.
    • Alder
      • Origin:

        English tree name or surname
      • Meaning:

        "old"
      • Description:

        Alder is an occasionally-used name that derives from an old English surname and also might refer to the alder tree, whose wood is used to make electric guitars.
    • Amias
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "loved"
      • Description:

        Amias or Amyas is a unique name with an attractive sound and feel and a lovely meaning. Though it might sound like a Biblical name, it is not, but is a surname that may be related to Amadeus or even be a male version of Amy--which would make it one of the few boys' names to be derived from a girls'.
    • Arden
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "valley of the eagle; high"
      • Description:

        Arden is a gender-neutral name that's sleek and stylish but always seems to bob just below the surface of popularity, despite ticking all the boxes with its fashionable two-syllable, N-ending shape and its awesome nature-inspired meanings. In the 2021 US statistics, 41 percent of the babies named Arden were boys to 59 percent girls.
    • Aspen
      • Origin:

        Nature and place-name
      • Description:

        As trendy as the chic Colorado ski resort and film festival, Aspen is fast becoming more popular for girls than for boys, but this nature name would work equally well for either.
    • Atlas
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "bearer of the heavens"
      • Description:

        Atlas is one of those names that was previously thought too powerful for a baby boy, who would have to be strong enough to carry the world on his shoulders. Now Atlas has joined the pantheon of Greek and Roman god and goddess names in the realm of possibility, along with Mars, Zeus and Apollo.
    • Ardian
      • Arywode
        • Dacre
          • Origin:

            English
          • Meaning:

            "trickling stream"
          • Description:

            A locational surname with its origins in the North of England, occasionally also used as a first name. Notable bearers include actor Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things) and author and filmmaker Dacre Stoker, the great-grandnephew of Dracula author Bram Stoker.
        • Daere
          • Evander
            • Origin:

              Scottish; Greek
            • Meaning:

              "bow warrior; strong man"
            • Description:

              Evander is a name that could build on the popularity of shorter form Evan, and could work and play well with schoolmates like Zander and Xander.
          • Everest
            • Origin:

              Place-name, world's tallest mountain
            • Description:

              A twist on the standard Everett takes it to lofty heights. The snow-capped Everest would surely stand out in a classroom, yet has an acceptable name-like feel.
          • Elswyth
            • Fiachra
              • Origin:

                Irish
              • Meaning:

                "crow, raven"
              • Description:

                In Irish legend Fiachra was one of the four children of Lir who were turned into swans for 900 years. St Fiachra is the patron saint of gardeners.
            • Finbar
              • Origin:

                Irish
              • Meaning:

                "fair-haired"
              • Description:

                This is an ancient saints' name well used in Ireland but a rarity here and unlikely to ever reach the popularity of other Finn-ish names. St. Finbarr (the more common spelling) is the patron saint of Cork and in Irish folklore, Finbarr was king of the fairies.
            • Firth
              • Origin:

                Scottish nature name
              • Meaning:

                "estuary or arm of the sea"
              • Description:

                Highly unusual water name -- and actor Colin surname -- with a Scottish burr. Firth derives from the Old Norse word fjord.
            • Florian
              • Origin:

                Latin
              • Meaning:

                "flowering"
              • Description:

                If Flora and Florence have returned full force, Florian, with its trendy Latinate ending, could also have a chance. Popular in Germany, Austria and Switzerland -- he was the venerated patron saint of those in danger from water and of firefighters -- might sound a tad feminine and floral to English speakers. But as a middle name, Florian could be a great way to honor grandma Florence (or any other flower name).