In a world where nature’s beauty provides endless inspiration, many parents are turning to Mother Nature when naming their little ones. For baby girls and boys, whimsical nature-inspired names are linked with beauty, strength, adventure, and a deep connection to the earth.
From the beautiful flowers of Iris and Poppy to the gentle breeze of Ash and Cedar, these names not only carry a sense of wonder but also a rich history rooted in the environment.
More and more of us around the world are appreciating the importance of nature and taking care of the environment that does so much for us. So it’s no wonder that names rooted in nature are so important to many families. They show an appreciation of the ocean, the trees, the flowers and the wildlife all around us that we couldn’t survive without.
In this article, we’ll explore 40 whimsical nature names for boys and girls and look closer at their origins and meanings.
Let’s take a walk through the beauty of the natural world and pass its wonder on to the next generation!
The top 20 whimsical nature names for girls
1. Iris
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Rainbow
Iris is an increasingly popular name for girls that means ‘rainbow’ – the perfect meaning for a new baby girl! The name has Greek origins.
2. Willow
Origin: English
Meaning: Graceful tree known for its slender branches
Willow is a whimsical nature name for girls that means ‘graceful tree’. It has English origins.
3. Aurora
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Dawn
Aurora is a whimsical name inspired by Disney! The name of the princess in ‘Sleeping Beauty’, this Latin name means ‘dawn’, and is inspired by the Northern Lights, or ‘Aurora Borealis’.
4. Luna
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Moon
Luna is a light-inspired name with Latin origins. It means ‘moon’.
5. Hazel
Origin: English
Meaning: Hazel tree
Hazel is a super cute nature name that’s associated with wisdom. It has English origins.
6. Celeste
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Heavenly
Celeste is a whimsical nature name with Latin origins. It means ‘heavenly’, so it’s also often found on lists of angelic names for little ones.
7. Poppy
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Bright red flower
Poppy is an adorable nature name for little girls. It has Latin origins and symbolizes beauty.
8. Elowen
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Elm tree
Elowen is an unusual name for girls that means ‘elm tree’. The name has Cornish (Cornwall is an area in southern England) roots and makes a wonderful whimsical nature name for parents looking for something a little different.
9. Maple
Origin: English
Meaning: Tree known for its vibrant fall leaves
Maple is a beautiful name for little girls that has English roots. The maple tree is well known for its vibrant colors in fall, so it’s a wonderful choice for little ones born in this season.
10. Sylvie
Origin: French
Meaning: From the forest
Sylvie is a French name that means ‘from the forest’.
11. Fawn
Origin: English
Meaning: Baby deer
Fawn is a simple yet beautiful name with English roots. It means ‘young deer’ and symbolizes grace.
12. Daphne
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Laurel tree
Pronounced ‘DAF-KNEE’, this Greek name means ‘laurel tree’ and symbolizes victory.
13. Briar
Origin: English
Meaning: Thorny bush
Briar is an unusual baby name with English origins. It means ‘thorny bush’ and is linked with the wilderness.
14. Ivy
Origin: English
Meaning: Climbing plant
Ivy is a timeless name for girls that also has English origins. The climbing ivy plant is linked with eternity.
15. Rosalie
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Rose
Rosalie is a beautiful and whimsical nature name. It has Latin origins and means ‘rose’.
16. Sorrel
Origin: French
Meaning: Reddish brown plant
Sorrel has French origins and is a red/brown plant. The name is linked with joy and warmth – lovely meanings to pass on to a little one. And the name is very unique, too!
17. Fern
Origin: English
Meaning: Hardy plant found in forests; symbolizes sincerity.
Fern is another timeless name for girls with English origins. The fern plant is found in forests and is linked with honesty and sincerity.
18. Meadow
Origin: English
Meaning: A field of grass and wildflowers
19. Juniper
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Shrub
Juniper is an unusual name for little girls with Latin origins. It’s an evergreen plant linked with healing.
20. Rhea
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Flowing stream
Rhea is a whimsical nature name for girls that has Greek origins. It means ‘flowing stream’ and is linked with Titaness Rhea, the mother of Gods in Greek mythology
The top 20 whimsical nature names for boys
21. Ash
Origin: English
Meaning: Ash tree
Ash is a super cool name for boys that has English roots. The ash tree is linked with strength and resilience.
22. River
Origin: English
Meaning: Flowing body of water
River is a beautiful whimsical nature name. It has English origins and represents life.
23. Cedar
Origin: English
Meaning: Strong, aromatic tree
Cedar means ‘strong’ – a lovely meaning to pass on to a brand new baby boy in the family! It has English roots and is linked with protection.
24. Orion
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Hunter
Orion is an unusual name for boys that has Greek origins. Orion is the name of the famous star constellation and it means ‘hunter’.
25. Flint
Origin: English
Meaning: Hard quartz rock
Flint is a whimsical nature name with English roots. Flint symbolizes toughness and reliability.
26. Rowan
Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: Rowan tree
The Rowan tree is associated with protection and power and has Gaelic roots.
27. Hawthorn
Origin: English
Meaning: Thorny tree or shrub
Hawthorn is a unique name for little boys that also has English roots. The name symbolizes protection and love.
28. Forest
Origin: English
Meaning: Woods or woodland
Forest is a unisex nature name, but we love it for little boys. This English name is rooted in mother nature.
29. Sage
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Wise
Sage is another nature name that’s often considered to be unisex. It has Latin origins and means ‘wise’.
30. Caspian
Origin: Latin
Meaning: From the Caspian Sea
Caspian is an unusual name for boys that has Latin origins. It’s linked with adventure and exploration!
31. Peregrine
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Traveler
Peregrine is a very uncommon baby name for boys that means ‘traveler’. It has Latin origins and the name of a swift falcon – the ultimate nature name!
32. Heath
Origin: English
Meaning: Open, uncultivated land
Heath is a strong English name. It means ‘open, uncultivated land’, symbolizing freedom, wilderness and the beauty of Mother Earth.
33. Basil
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Brave
Basil is a Greek name taking influence from a very popular herb! It has a wonderful meaning for a little boy: ‘brave’.
34. Wolf
Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Wild animal
Wolf is a wild nature name with German origins. It symbolizes strength and freedom.
35. Hawke
Origin: English
Meaning: Bird of prey
Hawke is an English baby boy name, inspired by the bird of prey. It symbolizes razor-sharp vision and independence.
36. Linden
Origin: German
Meaning: Linden tree
Linden is a whimsical nature name with German origins. The Linden tree is associated with love and peace – beautiful meanings to pass on to a new baby boy in the family.
37. Bay
Origin: English
Meaning: Bay tree
Bay is a super cool name for little boys. It has English origins and symbolizes longevity. It’s also a great choice for little boys growing up by the sea!
38. Ocean
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Large body of water
Ocean is an increasingly popular nature name for boys that has Greek origins. It’s a wonderful choice for little ones growing up on the coast and is sure to instill a love of the natural world!
39. Thorne
Origin: English
Meaning: Thorny bush
Thorne is a strong nature name for little boys that has English origins. It symbolizes ruggedness and protection.
40. Zephyr
Origin: Greek
Meaning: West wind
The last whimsical nature name for boys on our list is the unusual Zephyr. It has Greek origins and means ‘west wind’, symbolizing tranquility.
Conclusion
Choosing a name for your baby is a wonderful journey, and nature-inspired names offer a meaningful connection to the beautiful world around us.
Whether you’re drawn to floral names for girls like Iris and Poppy or adventurous names for boys like Hawke or Caspain, giving your little one a whimsical nature name roots them in the magic of Mother Earth.
These meaningful names not only stand out for their uniqueness but also for their rich symbolism.
As you consider the perfect name for your baby, we hope these options inspire you. And if you’re looking for even more inspiration, don’t miss our roundup of the top nature names, ocean-inspired names and names that mean ‘soul’.
From our family to yours!
