Skip to main content

Nature names for boys and girls – let the outdoors inspire you

Start your child out as a nature lover with a name that matches

A parent holding up a baby outside in the snow.
Evgenia Efremova / Shutterstock

Nature names for boys and girls are becoming increasingly popular, thanks to their calm and soothing meanings. Baby name inspiration comes from a variety of different places, but those who feel at one with nature or who love the great outdoors may want to choose a name for their child inspired by nature.

Mother Nature can provide an endless array of inspirational sources when looking for baby name ideas that are perfect for your little boy or girl. According to Nameberry, Sage, River, Briar, Dahlia, Fox, Ivy, Laurel, Magnolia, Willow, and Wren are all nature names that are found in the top 1,000 names in the U.S. So many of these names are gender-neutral, too, that you’ll never run out of options.

Mother holding daughter in a field of flowers
Maryna Auramchuk / Getty Images

Nature names for girls

The options for nature names for girls are almost as vast as nature itself. Whether you choose to give your baby girl a floral name, one inspired by the sea, animals, or other aspects of nature, here are a few nature names for girls that you’re sure to fall in love with.

Luna

Luna is the Latin word for moon and is the name of the Roman goddess of the moon.

Olivia

Olive is Latin and means olive tree, which is a sign of peace and tranquility.

Pearl

Named after the precious gem, this is the perfect nature-inspired name for your precious gem.

Brooke

Brooke is derived from both English and German and means water or small stream.

Willow

This old English word comes from the willow tree. The willow tree is symbolic of hope and safety.

A child reading outside
Andy Kuzma / Pexels

Nature names for boys

There is no shortage of nature names for boys to choose from. Whether you want something more botanical or seasonally inspired, here are some options to choose from.

Finn

Finn is a name of Irish origin meaning “fair” or ” blessed.”

Oskar

Oskar is of Swiss origin and means “friend of the deer.” This is the perfect name for a little boy in a family of nature and animal lovers.

Caspian

Not only is this the name of a large sea, but it’s also the name of Prince Caspian in the popular book series, The Chronicles of Narnia. Translated, Caspian means “white.”

August

If you’re looking for a seasonal name for your little boy, August is a great choice.

Ash

Symbolic of the ash tree, the name Ash also means “happy.”

Toddler playing guitar
ozgurcankaya / Getty Images

Gender-neutral nature names

Nature names are very commonly gender neutral, so if you’re looking for a name that works for anyone, here are a few great choices.

Sky

The perfect choice for any baby if you’re looking for a nature name that evokes peace, clarity, and calmness.

River

River simply means “a flowing body of water” and although has been predominantly used as a boy name, is gaining more popularity as a nature-inspired name for girls, too.

Sage

A fragrant herb, Sage means “wise” and is becoming a more common gender-neutral name.

Kai

In Hawaiian culture, Kai means “sea,” while in Japanese culture, it means “shell.” No matter what meaning speaks to you, this is a beautiful nature-inspired name for a boy or girl.

Rowan

A rowan tree is a tree with red berries. This name is another name that is quickly climbing the popular name charts for both girls and boys.

There is no shortage of baby names inspired by nature that is sure to suit your little one.

Kelli Catana
Contributor
Kelli is a freelance writer who has covered the world of entertainment, pop culture, parenting, and lifestyle for various…
We love these gorgeous aesthetic names for baby boys and girls
This new naming trend is becoming super popular
Toddler playing guitar

Baby name trends come and go, and aesthetic names for baby boys and girls are hugely popular right now. You may have even given your baby an aesthetic name without even realizing it. Although you may think this trend, popularized on social media apps like TikTok and Instagram, will be a short-lived one, giving your baby an aesthetic name simply means refusing to adhere to any conventional naming rules.

By definition, "aesthetic" means beautiful, stylish, artistic, and chic and parents are feeling more empowered than ever when choosing the perfect name for their little ones. They are no longer limited to "classic" or family names and can choose something unique, elegant, unexpected, or unusual if that's a name they love. If you've been looking for some aesthetic girl, boy, and gender-neutral name inspiration, we've compiled a list of some options you're sure to love.
Aesthetic baby girl names

Read more
Musical baby names that will make your heart sing
Share your love of all things melodic by giving your child one of these musical names
Baby listening to headphones

If you thought picking out a nursery theme was hard — just wait until you start thinking of what you are going to name your baby. It is one of the most meaningful and personal decisions you'll make for your little one, where some people like to carry on familial traditions, certain parents love a musical baby name, while others like to choose something truly unique. It's not uncommon to have the baby's name selected long before they even become pregnant, with others needing the entire nine months of pregnancy to decide on the perfect name.
People also turn to their personal tastes when it comes to choosing a name, and there is no shortage of inspiration if you go with a musical theme. Music-inspired names are great for anyone looking for a boy, girl, or gender-neutral option because the possibilities are endless. If you're looking for a melodic sound to call your bundle of joy, look no further than these musical baby names that will make your heart sing.

Names that come from musical words
Aria
Aria is the perfect name for any music lover's daughter because it means "song" or "solo melody" in Italian. It typically refers to a musical solo in an opera and has found quite a bit of popularity over the recent years, thanks to characters of the same name in hit shows like Pretty Little Liars and Game of Thrones.
Chord
If you're looking for a more unique name inspired by your love of music, Chord may be just what you're looking for. A chord is a group of notes or sounds strung together. While not a common name, it did become more popular when actor Chord Overstreet joined the cast of Glee.
Harmony
What better name to give a sweet baby girl than Harmony, which means the "musical combination of chords." It's an ideal name for the child of two music lovers. The name derives from the Greek word "Harmonia," the daughter of Ares (the god of war) and Aphrodite (the goddess of love) and was the immortal goddess of harmony and concord.
Lyric
Lyric is a beautiful gender-neutral name for someone who wants to express their love of music through their child's name. Lyric derives from the Greek word lyre which is an ancient stringed instrument. While many feel Lyric is a female name, celebrities like Soleil Moon Frye and Jeremy London both have sons named Lyric. Backstreet Boy singer A.J. McLean has a daughter named Lyric, which seems perfectly fitting.
Melody
Your baby will be as sweet as a song if you name her Melody. The name, which derives from the Green Melodia, means song tune and is a sweet and feminine ode to music and songs. The name has waned in popularity since it peaked in the 1980s, which means it's the perfect choice for someone looking for something a bit more mainstream yet not uber-trendy.
Strummer
If you want something a bit more rock-n-roll for your child, Strummer has the perfect pitch. While it literally means one who strums a stringed instrument, it's a match for an edgier name that still carries a musical tune.

Read more
Why you should celebrate your kids’ inchstones
These important moments are a reason for recognition
Cute baby crawling across a rug.

Marking baby milestones is certainly not a new trend. Parents have been capturing baby's first steps and words for ages. Baby milestones are always a big focus because they pinpoint important developmental achievements of little ones as they grow. The lack or delay of certain baby milestones is often a red flag for pediatricians, which is why so much attention is placed on them.

A new parenting trend taking hold recently is celebrating inchstones. While inchstones isn't a contemporary term, it may be unfamiliar to many parents. Inchstones is typically a word used by parents of children with special needs as they inch their way toward bigger milestones. So, why is the practice of recognizing inchstones growing in popularity, and why should parents get on board?

Read more