Nature Names for Boys
- Marshall
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"one who looks after horses"Description:
Marshall is an occupational surname, not having to do with anything military or martial, but stemming from the Norman French for someone caring for horses. It's been used as a first name since the nineteenth century and has been on the Social Security list since it started to publish its data in 1880.
- Finch
Origin:
English word and nature nameMeaning:
"to swindle"Description:
It feels like Finch should be a modern bird name that's as popular as Wren or Lark, but that's not the case - so it's one to consider if you're looking for a nature name that's familiar but rare.
- Jet
Origin:
Mineral and word nameDescription:
This super-charged variation of Jett is on the rise -- along with the unlikely newcomer Jetson.
- Aire
Origin:
Word nameMeaning:
"air"Description:
Aire is a bygone spelling of "air", now reserved for poetic uses and in Kylie Jenner's case, baby names. Jenner originally announced her son's name to be Wolf, but quickly changed her mind and left the public in the dark. Weeks before his first birthday, she revealed her son's new name to be Aire.
- Oak
Origin:
English tree nameMeaning:
"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.
- Merlin
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"sea fortress"Description:
This name of the famous fifth-century sorcerer and mentor of King Arthur may or may not be a bit wizardy for a real-life modern child. Its most noted modern bearer: football star turned actor Merlin Olsen, whose father was named Merle.
- Rowen
Origin:
Spelling variation of RowanDescription:
While the Rowan spelling is in the Top 1000 for both boys and girls, this spelling is much more unusual and more heavily weighted toward the boys' side. That may be because of its spelling similarity to stylish brothers Owen and Bowen.
- Drake
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"dragon; or, male duck"Description:
A simple one-syllable name that has been on the popularity list since the mid-1980s, Drake is most associated today with the single-named rapper (born Aubrey). The name peaked at Number 197 in 2010 and has since been on a slow decline, but it still can be counted among the stylish contemporary boy names starting with D.
- Hawthorne
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"lives where hawthorn hedges grow"Description:
The great American novelist sets this above many other surnames (and nature names, for that matter), but it's still an imposing and adventurous choice. Do nicknames Hawk or Thorne make it more approachable? The timid should stick with Nathaniel.
- Slate
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
One of the more unusual of the current crop of strong, single-syllable boys' names, evoking the images of both old-fashioned blackboards and modern stepping-stones and countertops.
- Raul
Origin:
Spanish variation of RalphMeaning:
"wolf counsel"Description:
Raul and French brother Raoul are much more appealing than flat-footed daddy Ralph. Puerto Rican actor Raul Julia, who starred in the Addams Family movies, brought fame to the name before his death in 1994.
- Indigo
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"Indian dye"Description:
Indigo is one of the most appealing and evocative of the new generation of color names. Color names have joined flower and jewel names -- in a big way -- and Indigo, a deep blue-purple dye from plants native to India, is particularly striking for both girls and boys. Although most people don't think of it like this, Indigo might also be considered among the most stylish Greek baby names in use today. Some cultural references: The Indigo Girls are a folk duo, 'Mood Indigo' is a classic Duke Ellington jazz composition, and there is a 1970's New Age theory that Indigo children possess special, sometimes supernatural abilities. Indigo is the name of a character in the Ntozake Shange novel Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo, and was used for his daughter by Lou Diamond Phillips.
- Dale
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"valley"Description:
A light and breezy nature name that's currently in style limbo, despite its pleasant meaning.
- Ridge
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"an elevated body part or structure"Description:
Ridge may be the quintessential daytime drama name, but it's still better than most. This is one word name rising rapidly through the ranks, reentering the US Top 1000 in 2015 for the first time since 1989.
- Rollo
Origin:
Latin form of RolfMeaning:
"wolf"Description:
Rollo is a livelier, roly-poly, o-ending version of Roland.
- Glenn
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"valley"Description:
Glenn appealed to a lot of post-World War II parents for its cool, leafy image, also calling up the Big Band sounds of Glenn Miller and the calm, composed image of actor Glenn Ford, whose name at birth was the Welsh Gwyllyn. It could possible be in line for a comeback in the more nature-evoking spelling of Glen, as used by Glen Campbell, or possibly even the Welsh Glyn.
- Hawk
Origin:
Nature nameMeaning:
"hawk, a bird"Description:
Animal names are on the rise, especially more of the aggressive Hawk-Fox-Wolf variety than cute little Bunnys or Robins, and Hawk is a prime example.Hawk is more commonly heard as a surname, represented by uber-skateboarder Tony Hawk, a pioneer of modern vertical skateboarding. Variations include Hawke, as in actor Ethan, Hawks, as in Golden Age movie director Howard, Hawking, as in scientist Stephen, and Hawkins, as in musicians Coleman, Screamin' Jay and Sophie B, and was recently given to his baby boy by quarterback Tony Romo. There have been characters named or nicknamed Hawk in The Revenant, The Path and Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels. Hawk ranks at Number 699 on Nameberry.
- Lynx
Origin:
Animal nameDescription:
One of the fierce new animal names new to name lists, helped by its strong x-ending.
- Grover
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"lives near a grove of trees"Description:
Forget the furry blue Muppet, forget corpulent President Cleveland (not too difficult), and consider this name anew. We think it's spunky, a little funky, and well worth a second look.
- Dune
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"sand hill"Description:
Dune is a name of several layers. It's a modern nature name, like Ocean, Bay and Reef, although rarer, conjuring up images of breezy sand dunes on summer beach days.