110 Beautiful Names That Mean Forest and Their Meanings

Some names carry the hush of tall trees and mossy ground, from the wild Germanic ring of Silvan to the soft green sound of Hazel. Forest names feel rooted and outdoorsy, which suits a child born to wander.

This list gathers 110 names that mean forest or grow straight from woodland roots: 28 for girls, 65 for boys, and 17 gender-neutral picks. Every entry gives you the meaning and the origin, and the better-documented names come with their latest US ranking so you know what you are signing up for.

Follow the trail below and see which forest name feels like it was waiting for your little one all along.

28 Magical Names That Mean Forest for Girls

Forest names for girls run from woodland goddesses to soft green tree words, and every entry below carries its meaning and origin so you can see where it grew from.

There is no shortage of inspiration: forests cover about 34 percent of all land in the United States, according to the US Forest Service ⁽¹⁾.

1. Aase: A pretty Scandinavian name meaning “tree-covered mountain.” It carries an airy, two-syllable ease that plays well next to longer sibling names.
2. Abnoba: A rare choice inspired by a Gaulish forest and nature goddess. Few outside mythology circles will have heard it, which suits parents chasing something truly unclaimed.
3. Aja: Named for the Yoruba orisha of the forest, said to teach the secrets of herbal healing, and a sweet three-letter pick. Its brevity makes it just as comfortable as a nickname for a longer given name.
4. Aranyani: Named for the elusive Hindu goddess of the forest, honored in her own hymn of the Rigveda. The name’s flowing vowels give it a lyrical, storybook quality.
5. Artemis: Borne by the Greek goddess of the hunt and wild places, twin of Apollo and guardian of young creatures. It has grown into a bold, mythology-rich choice well beyond its ancient origins.
6. Avalon: A Welsh girl’s name from Arthurian legend, referring to “the Island of Apple Trees.” The legend behind it gives the name an enchanted, otherworldly feel.
7. Devana: A stylish name inspired by a Slavic goddess of hunting and forests. Its crisp ending gives it a modern edge despite the ancient source.
8. Diana: A royal name meaning “divine,” carried by the Roman goddess of the hunt, the moon, and the wild woodland she ran through. 364,848 American girls have been named Diana since 1926, according to Social Security Administration records.
9. Ebony: An English name taken from the dark, dense heartwood of the ebony tree. The rich, dark imagery behind the word gives the name real visual weight.
10. Fauna: Reminding us of baby deer, this name takes inspiration from a Roman goddess of woodlands and animals. It pairs naturally with nature-themed sibling names like Flora or Wren.
11. Fiadh: An Irish female name meaning “deer” or “wild,” now one of the most popular girls’ names in Ireland. American parents are increasingly drawn to its soft, one-syllable Irish sound.
12. Forestina: Or Forestine, both represent pretty, feminine takes on Forest. The extra syllables soften Forest into something more delicate for a daughter.
13. Forestra: A feminine spin on Forestina for parents who want the forest sound in a shape nobody else on the playground is using. Its invented feel makes it a genuinely rare pick.
14. Keitha: A feminine form of the Celtic masculine name Keith, meaning “root.” Root imagery gives it a grounded, steady quality that wears well through adulthood.
15. Kimberley: A popular English name meaning “from the woodland of the royal fortress.” It shortens naturally to the tree-friendly nickname Kim.
16. Lâm: A Vietnamese pick among 3-letter names that mean “forest.” Its single syllable makes it an easy fit across cultures.
17. Medeina: This pretty name belonged to a Lithuanian goddess of forests and trees. The name’s soft middle syllables keep it approachable despite its unfamiliar origin.
18. Mielikki: A Finnish name for the Kalevala goddess of the forest and the hunt, keeper of the woodland animals. Its unusual double consonants make it a striking, hard-to-forget choice.
19. Moriko: A Japanese girl name joining “mori” (forest) and “ko” (child) for a little “forest child.” The gentle rhythm of its syllables gives it real everyday wearability.
20. Oihana: A feminine form of Oihan, which is a masculine name meaning “forest” in Basque. Its Basque roots make it a distinctive pick far outside the usual naming pool.
21. Olivia: A perennial favorite meaning “olive tree,” popularized by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. It has been the number one girls’ name in the United States every year since 2019, according to Social Security Administration rankings ⁽²⁾.
22. Silvestra: A pretty variant of Silvia for a female who comes “from the forest.” It offers a fuller, more formal alternative to the shorter Silvia.
23. Silvia: A Latin name from “silva” (wood), borne by Rhea Silvia, the legendary mother of Romulus and Remus. Its Roman pedigree gives it a timeless, classical ring.
24. Sylwia: A Polish variant of Silvia, meaning “woodland.” The swapped spelling gives it a distinctly Eastern European look on the page.
25. Tuulikki: A Finnish name meaning “little wind,” borne by a woodland maiden and daughter of the forest god Tapio in the Kalevala. Its folklore ties make it a rich pick for parents drawn to Finnish mythology.
26. Xinlin: A romantic Chinese name with various meanings, such as “forest” and “dawn.” The dual meaning gives parents a poetic story to tell about the name.
27. Xyla: From the Greek “xylon” (wood), this rare Greek girl’s name means “woodland dweller.” Its short, punchy sound makes it easy to say across languages.
28. Xylina: A longer form of Xyla, also from Greek “xylon” (wood), for a “woodland-dwelling girl.” The added syllable gives it a softer landing than the clipped Xyla.

65 Adventurous Names Meaning Forest for Boys

Boy names meaning forest lean sturdy: old surnames, plain tree words, and the gods who were said to rule the deep woods.

1. Adahy: A sweet Native American name for a boy who “lives in the woods.” Its gentle sound suits a child with an outdoorsy, easygoing nature.
2. Adare: A unique but captivating Gaelic name for a boy “from the oak grove.” It also doubles as an Irish town name, giving it a real-world anchor.
3. Adoeete: A Native American forest-themed name, meaning “tree” in Kiowa. Its unusual spelling guarantees a boy will rarely meet another with the same name.
4. Ailill: This spiritual Old Irish mythology name means “elf,” as though it originated deep in the woodlands. The double L gives it a soft, almost musical ending.
5. Alf: A magical fantasy elven name from Nordic folklore that brings forest mischief to mind. Its short, punchy form works just as well as a standalone name or a nickname.
6. Altwidus: A classic Germanic name meaning “old forest.” The weighty, old-world sound suits a boy meant to carry a family legacy.
7. Arvid: A Scandinavian name from Old Norse “arn” (eagle) and “vidr” (tree, wood), often read as “eagle in the forest.” The eagle imagery gives it a strong, adventurous edge.
8. Berstuk: Named after an evil forest god from Slavic mythology. Its darker backstory makes it an unusual pick for parents drawn to folklore with an edge.
9. Boise: A U.S. state capital name rooted in French, meaning “wooded.”
10. Bosque: The Spanish word for “woodlands, forest,” making a cozy but cool name for men. It also works well as a nature-inspired middle name.
11. Boyce: An ultra-masculine English name meaning “woods,” rooted in French. Its crisp single syllable gives it real staying power as a first name.
12. Brisbois: A French surname traditionally given to a forest cleaner, meaning “breaks wood.” The occupational history behind it gives it a hardworking, rugged feel.
13. Briscoe: Meaning “birch wood,” this sturdy English surname looks rather stylish as a given name. It reads equally well in a boardroom or a campsite. The birch reference gives it a crisp, wintry undertone.
14. Calhoun: A standout Irish and Scottish last name, meaning “narrow woods.” It has a confident, presidential ring to it. The surname-as-first-name trend has kept it in steady circulation.
15. Chesney: An autumnal pick meaning “camp” or “oak grove.” Its soft ending gives it a slightly unisex flexibility. Fall-born babies in particular seem to suit the name’s seasonal feel.
16. Dagwood: A fun, edgy name with the Old English meaning of “shining forest.” Comic-strip associations with Dagwood Bumstead give it a playful, retro charm. It works as a warm, old-fashioned nickname too.
17. Dubois: Or Du Bois, another French surname meaning “from the forest.” The name carries real literary weight thanks to the scholar and civil rights leader Du Bois. Either spelling reads as distinguished on a birth certificate.
18. Ealdwode: A very old English name that means “old forest.” Its archaic spelling gives it a medieval, storybook look. Parents drawn to Old English roots will find few names this deep in the language’s history.
19. Elwood: An English place name meaning “elder-tree forest,” long a surname before its move to first-name use. Pop culture keeps it familiar through the Blues Brothers’ Elwood Blues. It shortens comfortably to El or Woody for everyday use.
20. Faunus: Inspired by the Roman god of forests, fields, and herds, later identified with the Greek Pan. The mythological pairing gives parents two traditions to draw from. Its ending gives it a classical, Latin cadence.
21. Firth: An Old English surname relating to a “woodland.” Its single syllable keeps it simple to spell and say. The Colin Firth association lends it a touch of understated polish.
22. Forrest: This spelling of “forest” caught on with the hit movie Forrest Gump. Forrest ranked 374th among US boys born in 2025 with 850 births, and its births over the last ten recorded years run 252 percent above the ten years before them, according to Social Security Administration data ⁽³⁾.
23. Garwood: A strong English surname meaning “fir forest” or “spearhead.” The dual meaning gives it both a nature and a warrior edge. It shortens naturally to Gary or Woody as a child grows.
24. Guido: A form of the Germanic Wido, meaning “wood,” and also meaning “guide” as an Italian boy’s name. The double meaning of wood and guide gives it a layered backstory. It has a warm, old-world Italian charm.
25. Guy: Derived from Guido, meaning “wood,” making a tough name for a lad. Its short, plain form has kept it in steady use for generations. It works equally well as a formal name or an everyday one.
26. Herne: Inspired by a creepy, forest-dwelling, antlered hunter ghost of English folklore. The folklore behind it gives the name a spooky, atmospheric pull. It suits parents who want something unusual with a story attached.
27. Horst: A dated German name for a man from the “woods.” Its old-fashioned feel has made it rare outside Germany in recent decades. The blunt, single-syllable sound gives it a no-nonsense character.
28. Jack: A classic English name meaning “God is gracious,” and a natural fit for a little lumberjack in the making. It ranked 15th with 8,748 births in 2025, per the Social Security Administration’s national tables.
29. Kalpvan: A Hindi male name believed to mean “forest of wishes.” The hopeful meaning behind it gives parents a lovely story to share. Its rarity outside India makes it a distinctive pick elsewhere.
30. Keith: A noble English and Scottish name meaning “wood.” It has stayed a familiar, easygoing classic for decades. Its short form suits both a toddler and a grown man equally well.
31. Kingsley: An English place name meaning “king’s wood” or “king’s meadow.” The royal reference gives it a distinguished, storybook weight. It shortens comfortably to King for everyday use.
32. Lafayette: A French surname and given name meaning “the beech grove,” from “la fayette.” Its ties to the Marquis de Lafayette give it real historical resonance in America. The name also carries a musical, multi-syllable elegance.
33. Laramie: Or Laramy, both elegant-sounding French names referring to leafy woodlands. Its Wild West associations with the Wyoming city give it a rugged undertone. The soft, flowing sound keeps it from feeling too tough.
34. Lee: A common first name and surname derived from an Old English word meaning “forest, clearing.” Its brevity has kept it a steady middle-name choice for generations. It works comfortably for a boy or a girl.
35. Lennox: A Scottish surname-turned-first-name from a district near Loch Lomond, meaning “elm grove.” Its strong ending has helped it climb in popularity in recent years. The Scottish place-name roots give it a real sense of place.
36. Leshy: Inspired by a spirit forest deity from Slavic mythology. The folklore behind it gives the name a wild, untamed personality. Its short, sharp sound makes it memorable despite its obscurity.
37. Lin: Beautiful and international, this Asian name has various meanings, including “forest” and “gem.”
38. Linwood: Gorgeously referring to a “linden tree valley,” making it a magical British boy name.
39. Manyam: Translating to “like the forest,” a rare yet magical Indian name to consider.
40. Mata: A punchy Portuguese surname meaning “forest, woods,” that makes a fun Matt alternative.
41. Nahele: Featuring Native American and Hawaiian origins, this cool boy name means “forest.”
42. Norwood: Originally an Old English surname meaning “northern woods.”
43. Oakley: An English name meaning “oak wood” or “oak clearing,” built from the Old English elements “ac” and “leah.” It is climbing fast: US births over the last ten recorded years run 673 percent above the ten years before them, according to Social Security Administration counts.
44. Oihan: A cute Basque entry among international names that mean “forest.”
45. Porvata: Named after a forest god from Polish mythology.
46. Ranger: An occupational name with a park-ranger ring to it, ready-made for a kid who would rather be out patrolling the woods than sitting still.
47. Selvans: A sacred Etruscan god of woodlands and forests.
48. Sherwood: Named after the famous British forest, home of legendary archer Robin Hood.
49. Silas: A Latin name for a man short for Silvanus, meaning “of the forest,” also borne by a companion of the apostle Paul.
50. Silvestro: A strong, earthy pick among woodland names from Latin.
51. Soto: A Hispanic surname meaning “wood, grove of trees.”
52. Sylvanus: Inspired by the Roman god of woodlands and fields, from Latin “silva” (forest).
53. Sylvester: This Silvestro alternative carries “wooded, wild” connotations.
54. Tāne: Inspired by Tane, the Maori god of forests and birds, embodied by the giant kauri tree Tane Mahuta.
55. Tapio: Inspired by the Kalevala’s Tapio, the Finnish god of forests, game, and the hunt.
56. Udell: This romantic English name takes inspiration from a valley of yew trees.
57. Vipin: A trendy pick among Indian names meaning “forest” for boys.
58. Vitold: A Germanic name meaning “ruler of the forest” or “chaser of the people” from Lithuanian.
59. Waldorf: This classic name means “village in the forest.”
60. Wido: From Old High German, this short yet sweet name means “wood.”
61. Widukind: A fierce Germanic boy’s name with the sweet meaning of “child of the forest.”
62. Witold: Similar to Vitold, a Polish name meaning “ruler of the forest.”
63. Wood: A handsome and earthy name traditionally used for a family living by a forest.
64. Woodrow: A presidential name (Woodrow Wilson) from Old English for a “row of houses by a wood.”
65. Woody: One of the warmest wood names on the list, friendly on a toddler and still comfortable on a grown man.

17 Glowing, Gender-Neutral Forest Names for Babies

These unisex forest names travel well. Each one sits easily on any child and ages into adulthood without a second thought.

1. Aranya: A gender-neutral Indian name meaning “forest” from Sanskrit.
2. Archer: Fit for any explorer, this occupational name sounds like it came straight from a forest.
3. Bambi: A cutesy Italian name meaning “child,” famously borne by the Disney deer of the forest.
4. Bwindi: Rare yet special, inspired by the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest jungle home of gorillas in Uganda.
5. Cedar: A strong nature name taken from the tall, fragrant evergreen prized for its lasting wood.
6. Enys: A rare unisex Celtic name meaning “island” and “forest clearing.”
7. Forest: The plain nature-word name itself, an easygoing unisex pick for a child of the woods.
8. Foster: A surname-turned-first-name from Old French “forestier,” a keeper of the forest.
9. Grove: Or Grover. Both are cool, forest-adjacent picks named for the small clusters of trees that give a wood its shape.
10. Hunter: An old occupational name that sounds right at home under a canopy of trees. It sat 69th among American boys in 2020, according to federal Social Security Administration data, and it reads just as easily on a girl.
11. Kanan: As an Indian name, Kanan means “forest” in Sanskrit.
12. Kim: From Kimberley, an internationally popular pick among “wood” nicknames, also meaning “gold” in Vietnam.
13. Pine: Named after the festive tree, inspired by the wondrous Crooked Forest in Poland.
14. Presley: A famous name from Old English, meaning “forest clearing of the priest.” It ranked 225th among US girls born in 2025 with 1,362 births, per the Social Security Administration’s annual list.
15. Sawyer: An occupational name for someone who saws wood, made famous by Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer.
16. Sequoyah: Means “sparrow” in Cherokee, but it makes us think of spectacular California redwood tree forests.
17. Silva: One of the most common Portuguese and Brazilian surnames, from Latin “silva” meaning “forest.”

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