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Forest Guardian

lavenderwitch
By lavenderwitch
Updated Thu May 25 2023
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. Phineas

    • Origin:

      English, Egyptian

    • Meaning:

      "the Nubian"

    • Description:

      Phineas is the English variation of Phinehas, a Hebrew name likely derived from the Egyptian name Pa-nehasi. Pa-nehasi, meaning "the Nubian" can also be translated as "the bronze-colored one." The Egyptians distinguished themselves from their Nubian neighbors through differences in skin tone.
  2. 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.
  3. Zephyr

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "west wind"

    • Description:

      If you're looking for a name that's light and breezy, this could be it. A name from mythology: Zephyrus/Zephyr was the Greek god of the west wind, and with its similarity in sound to the likes of Stefan or Seth, its zippy Z initial and cool Y, it is primed to rise up the US charts.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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 recent US statistics, 51 percent of the babies named Arden were boys to 59 percent girls.
  7. Leander

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "lion-man"

    • Description:

      Leander was once an almost unknown name, however, with the popularity of Leo and the rise of Leandro, it now feels like a perfectly accessible alternative to Leon or Alexander. In Greek legend, Leander was the powerful figure who swam across the Hellespont every night to visit his beloved Hero, a priestess of Venus.
  8. Sage

    • Origin:

      Herb name and also Latin

    • Meaning:

      "wise and knowing"

    • Description:

      A modern, multifaceted name, Sage is short, sweet, and strong. A unisex possibility, it is also a virtuous word name associated with wisdom, and a nature name linked to a fragrant herb.
  9. Peregrine

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "traveler, pilgrim"

    • Description:

      Peregrine is considered to be an elegantly aristocratic name in England, but has never made it to the U.S., where it has been seen as extravagantly eccentric. In the new naming climate, though, it's not beyond consideration — in fact it's already been chosen by at least one Berry.
  10. Lochlan

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Lachlan

    • Description:

      Lochlan and Lachlan are running neck and neck and both rising into the Top 1000. Which spelling you use is purely a matter of taste.
  11. Lysander

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "liberator"

    • Description:

      Lysander is a distinctive Greek name that could be thought of as a more creative cousin of Alexander. In ancient history, Lysander was the name of an esteemed Spartan naval commander and his literary cred comes from one of the two star-struck young men in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, as well as one of the twin sons (the other being Lorcan) of Luna Lovegood, whom we learn about in the Harry Potter epilogue.
  12. Sylvan

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "wood, forest"

    • Description:

      One of the many variations of Silvanus, the name of the Roman forest god, and a little-used member of the freshly stylish Sylv- family of names. Silvan is the sleek German and Dutch form. Given to less than 100 boys each year in the US, it's nevertheless in the Nameberry Top 500.
  13. Oberon

    • Origin:

      Variation of Auberon

    • Meaning:

      "elf king; noble bear"

    • Description:

      The Shakespearean character Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream is King of the Fairies, but the name, with its bold 'O' beginning has plenty of strength alongside its magical qualities.
  14. Sylvester

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "wood, forest"

    • Description:

      This name of three early popes has been associated in recent years with a cocky cartoon cat ("Thufferin' thuccatash!") and the Italian Stallion hero of the Rocky and Rambo movies (who was born Michael) — and yet we think it just might be ready to move further back into the mainstream.
  15. 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, Switzerland, Poland, and France, St Florian was the venerated patron saint of those in danger from water and the patron saint of firefighters.
  16. Roland

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "famous throughout the land"

    • Description:

      Roland is a chivalrous old name made famous by the supposedly eight-foot-tall romantic hero and nephew of Charlemagne, celebrated in medieval poetry and song. It is more widely heard in the US now in its Spanish form, Rolando. You might want to consider rollicking short form Rollo, either on its own or as an abbreviation of Roland. Orlando is the graceful Italian form.
  17. Tadhg

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "poet"

    • Description:

      The name of several ancient kings and princes of Ireland, Tadhg became so common at one point that it was used to represent a kind of Irish Gaelic everyman, or man in the street, as Paddy and Mick would later. Tadhg has seen a major resurgence in recent years and is also now ranked in England.

      It is sometimes used as the Irish equivalent of Timothy and is also anglicized as Teague and Thaddeus. Tadleigh and Thad are pet forms. Pronunciation is like tide ending with a g or like the first syllable of tiger.
  18. 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'.
  19. Everest

    • Origin:

      Place-name, world's tallest mountain

    • Meaning:

      "from Évreux"

    • Description:

      This twist on the popular Everett takes it to lofty heights and gives it a geographical and nature-inspired link. The snow-capped Everest could make a name that stands out without feeling too out there, and it may be seen more often in the classroom (that is, outside of the textbooks) in coming years.
  20. Neo

    • Origin:

      Latin or Tswana

    • Meaning:

      "new or gift"

    • Description:

      This nouveau name of Keanu Reeves's character in The Matrix has not enjoyed the same burst of popularity as its female counterpart, Trinity, but it definitely sounds, well, newer. Neo Rauch is an interesting contemporary German artist.