More and more parents are taking inspiration from nature when it comes to naming their babies. We can find inspiration and beauty in the natural world around us, so it’s no surprise that we want to impart that on our little ones.
Earthy boy names are perfect for moms and dads looking for meaningful and distinctive names that ground families in nature. And there’s no better gift to give to a brand new baby boy than the strength of our planet.
Let’s explore the top 50 earthy boy names, along with their meanings, origin and popularity.
- Rowan
Rowan is an earthy boy name that has seen a huge spike in popularity in recent years. It was a relatively uncommon name in the early 90s, with less than 100 babies per million being given the name every year in the US. But fast forward to 2022 and over 2000 babies per million were given the name.
Rowan is a Gaelic name that has a modern feel and means little red one. Linked with the majestic rowan tree, it’s a great start to the list of top earthy boy names.
- Oliver
Oliver is a popular boy name in the US, with over 8000 babies per million being given the name in the US in 2022. It has both French and Latin origins and means ‘olive tree’, symbolizing peace and reconciliation.
- Leo
Think Leo, think lion! This strong and powerful name oozes courage and bravery. It has Latin origins and a very modern feel. It’s a very popular name in the US that, in recent years, has appeared in the top 10 names for baby boys many times.
- Asher
Asher has Hebrew origins and means ‘happy’ and ‘blessed’, making it the perfect symbolic name for a baby boy. Asher is included in this list of Earthy boy names due to its link with the olive tree. In the Bible, the Asher tribe’s symbol was the olive tree, which offered wealth and prosperity to the group.
- Jasper
Jasper is a name of Persian origin that means ‘speckled stone’. Jasper is also a patterned variety of quartz used historically as a stone to carve artifacts. It’s spiked in popularity in the US in recent years.
- Forrest
Forrest – or Forest – is the ultimate earthy name for a baby boy. It has English origins and means ‘woodsman’. The healing power of trees and forests is immense, making it a very popular choice for nature-loving parents. Whilst the name is increasing in popularity in the US, it actually peaked in popularity in the late 1800s and early 1900s!
- Heath
Heath is another earthy name with English origins. It means ‘land where shrubs grow’ and has a strong and powerful feel to it. The name peaked in popularity in the US back in the 1970s and with only around 150 babies per million being given the name in 2022, it’s become a very unique name.
- Clay
Clay is an English name that’s quite rare in the US. It means ‘mortal’ and is heavily linked with resilience – a great trait to pass on to a new baby boy.
- Glen
Glen is a vintage name that’s rooted in nature. It has Gaelic origins and means ‘a narrow valley’. Scotland is home to many beautiful and majestic glens, so it’s no wonder the country is a popular destination for nature lovers. The name was incredibly popular in the US throughout the first half of the 20th century, but is a very uncommon name now. In fact, less than 50 babies per million were given the name in America in 2022.
- River
The name River has a calm and serene feel to it. It’s a great name for grounding your little boy in the beauty of the world around us. This English name means ‘flowing body of water’ and symbolizes continuous movement. It wasn’t really known as a name until the early 1990s in America, but it’s gaining in popularity at an incredible rate. In 2022, around 2000 babies per million were given the name. It can be used as a name for girls too, but we love it as a name for little boys.
- Sage
Sage is often seen as a gender neutral name. It has Latin origins and means ‘wise’, just like mother nature herself! Sage is seen as a herb that can battle negativity and bring positive and happy thoughts to a space. Sage wasn’t known as a baby name until the 1960s and it’s skyrocketed in popularity in recent years.
- Cedar
Cedar is an English name that’s linked with resilience and immense strength. It’s a pretty uncommon name for boys in the US, with only around 100 babies per million being given the name in 2022.
- Basil
Basil is a vintage name inspired by nature. It has Greek origins and means ‘King’ – a lovely meaning to pass on to your brand new baby boy! It was a very popular name in the US in the late 1800s and and 1900s, but it’s a very rare and unique name in modern times. Only around 50 babies per million were given the name in America in 2022.
- Orion
Heading away from earth and into the sky, Orion is the name of a constellation of stars, many of which are some of the brightest in space. The name has Greek origins and the constellation was named after a prominent hunter in Greek mythology. Whilst it isn’t a common name, it’s been gaining in popularity over recent years. Over 500 babies per million were given the name in America in 2022.
- Kai
The name Kai is deeply rooted in nature. In Japanese, the name has several meanings, including ‘shell’, ‘ocean’ and ‘recovery’. It’s also a Hawaiian word that means ‘sea’, so it makes a great earthy name for baby boy who lives on the coast! Kai wasn’t known as a name in any significant way in the US until the mid-1990s. In recent years, it’s boomed in popularity, with over 3000 babies per million being given the name in 2022.
- Canyon
Canyon is a unique earthy name that means ‘footpath’. It has Spanish origins and speaks to the grandeur and majesty of the natural world. The name has always been a unique one in the US, and it remains uncommon in modern times.
- Flint
Flint is an English name that represents the spark of life. It’s a very uncommon name in the US, with less than 50 babies per million being given the name in 2022.
- Dale
Dale has Old English origins and means ‘valley’. With such a deep connection to the earth, it makes a great addition to the list. The name peaked in popularity in the US in the mid 1900s, and is a rare baby boy name today.
- Wolf
Wolf is a name of German origin linked with instinct, freedom and cunning. Although the name has become more popular in recent years, it’s still a pretty rare name in the US.
- Pine
A name with both Old English and French origins, Pine is a unique nature-inspired name that will ground your baby boy in the power of nature. It’s such a rare name in the US that there’s no readily available data explaining how popular it is!
- Hawk
Hawk is a name of English origin, and a pretty cool one at that. And with less than 10 babies per million given the name in the US in 2022, your little Hawk is unlikely to meet another boy with the same name at school! Linked with sharpness, skill and power, these are great traits to pass on to your little Hawk.
- Reed
Reed is often seen as a gender-neutral name, but it’s more popular as a name for little boys than for little girls. It’s a name of English origin that means red-haired and, of course, it’s also a wetland plant that can grow up to 20 feet tall! The name was used throughout the 20th century, but was quite uncommon. Its popularity peaked in 2014 in the US and has been steadily declining since.
- Cliff
In years gone by, Cliff was often short for the traditional name Clifford or even Clifton. But it’s now used as a name in its own right, symbolizing reliability and steadfastness. It has English origins and is a very unique name in the US in modern times. Less than 30 babies per million were given the name in 2022 in America!
- Stone
Stone is another nature-inspired name of English origins. Symbolizing solidity and strength, giving your little boy this name will instill a deep connection with the earth around him. Like many names on this list, Stone is a rare and unique one. Just over 100 babies per million were gifted the name in America in 2022.
- Wilder
Wilder is a name with both English and German origins. It’s the perfect for a little boy born to travel and explore the world; it means ‘untamed’, ‘wild’ and ‘free’! Your little adventurer will have a relatively uncommon name, too. Around 500 babies per million were given the name in America in 2022. Its popularity has seen a sharp rise in recent years.
- Fox
This earthy, badass name has English origins and means ‘cunning person’. It’s always been an uncommon name in the US, but it’s increased in popularity in recent years. Still, your little Fox cub is unlikely to meet another Fox, with only just over 100 babies per million being given the name in America in 2022!
- Lake
Lake is a calm and peaceful name that’s synonymous with nature’s beauty. It has English origins and is often seen as a gender neutral name. If you’re looking for an unusual name that’s inspired by nature, you’ve found it. Only around 50 babies per million were given this name in the US in 2022.
- Alder
Pronounced OL-DER, this English name is very unique in the US. Whilst it means ‘old’, don’t let that put you off! This rare and strong name is the name of a species of tree – the wisest part of mother nature’s family. It was gifted to fewer than 100 babies per million in 2022 in the US.
- Storm
Symbolizing power and change, Storm is a strong earthy name for a baby boy. It has English origins, is often seen as a gender-neutral name and is very uncommon in the US in modern times.
- Cove
Like many names on this list, Cove has English origins. Linked with peacefulness and tranquility, it’s the perfect calming name for a baby boy who’s sure to love nature. It means ‘small bay’ and is very rarely used as a name in the US.
- Brook
Like many other water-inspired names, Brook is intrinsically linked with calm. It has English origins and is another nature-inspired gender-neutral name. In the US, it’s a very rare and unique name for baby boys, and more often used as a name for baby girls.
- Dune
This highly unusual name has French origins. Perfect for baby boys who will grow up by the beach, Dune is often seen as a gender-neutral name, but it’s incredibly rare. It only appeared on data as a name used in the US a few years ago, and only around 10 babies per million were given the name in the US in 2022!
- Moss
Moss is a name of English origins that’s heavily linked to softness and growth. It was actually a lot more popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s in America than it is today. In fact, only about 10 babies per million were given the name Moss in the US in 2022! If you’re looking for a rare earthy boy name, you’ve found it.
- Ridge
Linked with nature’s majesty, Ridge is a seriously cool name for a little boy. It has English origins and, until recent years, was very rare. In fact, only a handful of babies were given the name throughout the 20th century. In 2022, though, over 300 babies per million were given the name in the US.
- Drake
Made a lot more popular by the uber-famous rapper Drake, this English name symbolizes mystery and power. Also a great celebrity-inspired name, Drake peaked in popularity in America in 2010. In 2022, around 250 babies per million were given the name in the US.
- Elm
A true symbol of strength and stature, Elm is a simple but powerful earthy boy name. It has English origins and is so rare as a baby boy name that there’s no data readily available to demonstrate its popularity in the US. This makes it a truly unique and rare name.
- Tide
This unusual nature name represents the rise, fall and rhythm of the ocean. It’s incredibly rare as a baby boy name, so much so that you can count the number of babies per million who were given the name in America in 2021 on one hand! It’s the perfect choice for baby boys who will grow up on the coast.
- Birch
The name Birch has always been rare in the US, with a handful of babies per million being given the name every year. It means ‘shining’ and ‘bright’ – beautiful traits and qualities to pass on to your little nature-loving baby boy.
- Marsh
Symbolizing adaptability and resilience, Marsh has English origins and is a peaceful name. It’s another incredibly rare name in the US, with only a few babies per million being given the name in 2022.
- Quartz
Quartz is a very unique name for a baby boy. The name has German origins and is intrinsically linked to nature and Earth. In fact, 20% of the Earth’s crust is made up of quartz, so there’s no better name to give to a baby boy to root them in the majesty of our world! It’s such a rare name that there’s no data readily available to demonstrate its popularity in the US.
- Lynx
Lynx is a seriously badass name for a baby boy. Meaning ‘wild cat’, it has Greek origins and is very uncommon. Only around 30 babies per million were given the name in the US in 2022.
- Oak
The oak tree symbolizes nobility, strength and endurance. It’s a wonderful earthy boy name, and has English origins. Whilst it’s increased in popularity in the US in recent years, the name was still given to fewer than 30 babies per million in America in 2022!
- Frost
Frost is a great earthy boy name for little ones born in the colder months. It’s a name of English origin that’s quite common as a surname, but not common as a first name at all – so much so that there’s no data readily available that demonstrates its popularity!
- Leaf
Leaf is a gentle name for a baby boy. It has English origins and is intrinsically linked with growth and life. It’s the perfect unique nature name for a little boy, with only a handful of babies per million being given the name in the US in 2022!
- Thorn
Don’t let the spiky nature of this name put you off. Thorn represents protection and bravery and makes a highly unusual earthy name for your little boy. It has English origins and is very unique. Like many names on this list, only a handful of babies per million were given the name in America in 2022.
- Cloud
Perfect for a baby boy with big dreams, Cloud is a very uncommon name in the US. Fewer than 30 babies per million were given the name in the US in 2022, but the popularity of this name is on the up!
- Blaze
Brimming with passion and energy, Blaze is the perfect name for a baby boy who’s going places. Its popularity has boomed in recent years and around 200 babies per million were given the name in 2022 in America.
- Spruce
Another name of English origin, Spruce is a type of evergreen tree, and a great choice for baby boys who will be at one with nature. Only a handful of babies per million were given the name in America in recent years, so it makes a wonderful choice for parents looking for a unique baby name, too.
- Linden
Linden is often seen as a gender neutral name, but it’s more often used as a name for baby boys. Meaning ‘lime tree’, it has German origins and is heavily linked with peace, harmony and love. Whilst it’s been an uncommon name in the US for years, its popularity has increased slightly in recent times. But it still makes a great unusual nature name for little boys.
- Bear
Bear wasn’t seen as a first name in the US until the 1990s, and its popularity has been increasing ever since. The perfect name for your brand new snuggly baby boy, the name remains an unusual one.
Conclusion
Earthy boy names connect your little one to the beauty of the natural world as soon as they enter it. Nature is a constant source of inspiration and wonder, so it’s no surprise that earthy names are becoming more and more popular as choices for brand new boys and girls.
Whether you are drawn to the the peace of ‘Oliver’ or the free spirit of “Wilder’ or the passion of ‘Blaze’, all the earthy names on this list will inspire a love for the nature that surrounds us all.
