The Great Big List of Cottagecore Names

  1. Oak
    • Origin:

      English tree name
    • Meaning:

      "tree from the genus Quercus"
    • Description:

      Oak, a symbol of solidity, strength, and longevity, is joining Cedar and Pine as a viable name, one that would work especially well in the middle.
  2. Marilla
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "shining sea"
    • Description:

      Marilla is a names that's familiar via its resemblance to Mary and variations, but also distinctive: It hasn't been on the Top 1000 since the 1800s and was given to only 27 baby girls last year.
  3. Chrysanthemum
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "gold flower"
    • Description:

      One of the rarest of the flower names, that of the blossom celebrated in Japan as a symbol of the sun and a possible object of meditation. One of the rare flower names counted among names for autumn babies, Chrysanthemum is also one of the most unusual nature-themed girl names starting with C.
  4. Thorne
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "thorn thicket"
    • Description:

      Rose and Briar are popular, and Hawthorn is cool – so why not the equally prickly Thorne? The E ending gives it a surnamey spin à la Hawthorne.
  5. Cadence
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "rhythm, beat"
    • Description:

      A once trendy name for girls but that's now in decline, this musical option has actually been slowly and quietly on the rise as a masculine option. Given to 115 boys in 2023, compared to 75 in 2017, it could be an alternative to Caleb or Caiden with a hint of creative flair about it.
  6. Walt
    • Origin:

      German, diminutive of Walter
    • Description:

      A straightforward, down-to-earth nickname many Walters, from Whitman to Disney, have chosen to go by.
  7. Petal
    • Origin:

      English from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "leaf"
    • Description:

      Petal is the soft and sweet-smelling name of a character in the novel and film, The Shipping News. With the rise of such flower names as Poppy and Posy, we believe Petal — down-to-earth yet romantic — has its own appealingly distinctive style.
  8. Fauna
    • Origin:

      Roman, English word name, from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "young deer; all the animals that live in a particular area"
    • Description:

      Fauna is the Roman goddess of the earth as well as one of the fairies who protected Disney's "Sleeping Beauty". It can also be considered a word name with a scientific, nature focused feel. Used to as a way to refer to all the animals in a particular area, habitat, or time period, many might think of the phrase "Flora and Fauna" on seeing the name.
  9. Jessamine
    • Origin:

      English from Persian
    • Meaning:

      "jasmine"
    • Description:

      Jessamine, a charming name occasionally heard in England, is just beginning to be appreciated in the U.S. as a possible successor to all the Jess names of the past. It's also spelled Jessamyn, as in Quaker novelist Jessamyn West, author of Friendly Persuasion--who started life with Jessamyn as her middle name.
  10. Cobalt
    • Origin:

      Color and nature name
    • Description:

      Even among the range of blue names on the current baby naming palette -- Blue itself, Azure, Cerulean, Teal, Aqua, Cyan, Indigo -- Cobalt remains the most unusual, not to mention the most masculine.
  11. Peony
    • Origin:

      Flower name; Latin
    • Meaning:

      "healing"
    • Description:

      One of the rarest of the floral names, though not without some teasing potential. Peony is a historical 1948 novel by Pearl S. Buck.
  12. Demeter
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "earth mother"
    • Description:

      Demeter, the Greek goddess of grain, agriculture, and the harvest, growth and nourishment, was Zeus's sister and Persephone's mother. Variation Demetria is the full name of actress Demi Moore. Though familiar, Demeter is not one of the Greek goddess namesthat's finding widespread modern favor.
  13. Pomona
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "apple"
    • Description:

      This name of the Roman goddess of fruit trees is also associated with a suburban town in Southern California.
  14. Peridot
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "a green gemstone"
    • Description:

      Peridot is the gem of the month of August, a vibrant green mineral, said to be good for helping people put the past behind them, and an interesting, undiscovered jewel name. It was regarded in ancient times as the symbol of the sun.
  15. Oleander
    • Origin:

      Botanical name
    • Description:

      The name of this pretty Mediterranean shrub is reminiscent of popular classic Oliver, and interestingly its etymology appears to overlap too: oleander most likely derives from Greek rhododendron "rose tree", with its form successively influenced by laurea "laurel" and olea "olive tree".
  16. Harvest
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Description:

      Harvest has been occasionally used as a name since the eighteenth century, originally as evenly unisex, but in the US data for last year was starting to lean more female, given to 29 girls and 11 boys. Harvest can be seen as pleasantly archaic, rich and ripe, fitting in with popular baby names like Harper and Harry, and is also a fresh take on names like Autumn and August and one of the best names for autumn babies.
  17. Acre
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "a unit of land area equal to 4,840 square yards"
    • Description:

      Acre feels at home with other modern, fresh word names like Rumor, Snow and Ace. But with the feeling of wide open spaces and nature, Acre also offers a softer, earthier tone that will appeal to those seeking a unique name with a distinctly Americana feel.
  18. Wolfe
    • Origin:

      Anglo-Irish surname and variation of animal name
    • Meaning:

      "wolf"
    • Description:

      The Wolfe spelling shifts this name from animal name to surname-name, aggressive to aristocratic. One source suggests that bearers of the Wolfe family name were all fierce and cunning and/or hunters of wolves. An intriguing choice.
  19. Tilda
    • Origin:

      Estonian and Spanish diminutive of Matilda, German
    • Meaning:

      "battle mighty"
    • Description:

      Actress Tilda Swinton injected this dated nickname name with some modern charm.
  20. Spruce
    • Origin:

      Tree name
    • Description:

      A handsome, spruced-up post-Bruce tree name.