The first day of Spring is March 19, so maybe you’re feeling a bit springy, or maybe flowers are on your mind. While floral or nature-inspired names for babies like Rose, Daisy, Violet, and Lily were once popular names, they’re making a comeback. According to NameBerry, a platform focused on baby names, said that nature names for girls and boys “have never been more popular.” They also said that nature names in the U.S. top 1000 include Sage, River, Briar, Dahlia, Fox, Ivy, Laurel, Magnolia, Willow, and Wren.
Earthy baby names are usually drawn from all aspects of nature. These include the sky, earth, flowers, animals, and the sea, among others. Celebrities have also helped boost the popularity of nature-inspired baby names.
Summer Rain, River Rose, Blue Ivy, Bear Blaze
In 2021, singer Pink welcomed her daughter, Willow Sage, with her husband, Carey Hard. NFL player Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany Matthews named their daughter Sterling Skye in 2021. Celebrities like Christina Aguilera (Summer Rain), and Kelly Clarkson (River Rose). Megan Fox (Journey River), Kate Winslet (Bear Blaze), and Beyoncé (Blue Ivy) have also drawn from mother nature with their children’s names.
According to BabyCentre, a platform for pregnancy and parenting information, nature-themed names and nature-related names can evoke a sense of calm, beauty, and harmony with the natural world. They’re often gender-neutral, too.
Floral, Earthy, Nature names get mixed reviews.
Some people still have mixed feelings about these kinds of names. On Reddit, someone shared that it’s a “kind of a love-hate scenario.” They explained, “It’s like naming my kid ‘Rock’ or..I. Don’t know, Branch. I can’t imagine meeting an adult named Bunny or.. Poopy,,, for that matter.” Another person said, “I like them, especially the more traditional ones, but they are definitely having a trendy moment.” However, they did add that they believe kids with “floral or earthy” names might feel like their names are “dated” once they’re older.
Naming a child can become a stressful process for many parents-to-be. It could be the pressure of giving someone a name they will have for their entire life. Sometimes, parents name their kids after a family member, someone famous, fictional characters, or sometimes something that reminds them of a sweet memory.
Whether you are inspired by nature or hoping your child will grow up loving the great outdoors, here are some names to consider.
River
According to The Bump magazine, River is a gender-neutral name of English origin that means “a flowing body of water.” Typically, it’s used more for boys but the name seems to be gaining popularity for girls too. In fact, singer Kelly Clarkson named her daughter River Rose. People reported that Clarkson came about the name because River is her mother’s maiden name. “We were outside on our balcony, and we both looked at each other and were like, ‘What about River? That’s kind of cool,’” the singer told the outlet.
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Willow
The name Willow is inspired by the willow tree. The daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinket has the name Willow as does the daughter of Pink and Carey Hart. The name also appears in works from Shakespeare and Harry Potter. According to the Social Security Administration, it ranked as the 81st most popular name for baby girls in 2022, up from 125th in 2010.
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Oakley
Oakley is a gender-neutral name. According to The Bump,. it has English origins and was traditionally used as a last name. They also said that it translates to “meadow of the oak tree.” Mama Natural reported that the name was uncommon until the late 19th century and early 20th century. Someone commented on their report and said “We liked that it couldn’t be shortened and it was gender neutral. It’s also not a very common name.”
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Dahlia
The name Dahlia is a girl’s name of Scandinavian origin, meaning “Dahl’s flower,” according to NameBerry. The flower was named in honor of the pioneering Swedish botanist Andreas Dahl, which means dale. NameOfTheYear.com describes dahlia as a “perennial plant that grows from tuberous roots and produces stunning blooms in a variety of colors and shapes.” The name has also made appearances within pop culture. the name of a character in the 2019 film US. In the film, Dahlia is the doppelganger of Kitty Tyler.
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Briar
Briar is a gender-neutral name of British origins, meaning “thorny bush of wild roses” and “brambles.,” according to The Bump. Apparently, it’s one of the newly popular nature-word names, charting in the U.S. for the first time in 2015 for both genders. Interestingly, Briar-Rose is from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale “Little Briar-Rose” commonly known as Sleeping Beauty. So, it could be a great name for those wanting to capture nature and fairytale vibes.
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Lake
Lake is a gender-neutral name, relating to a body of water. The name Lake dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period and is derived from the Old English word lacu, according to Ancestry.com. It was mainly used as a surname and, over time, became a unique first name. Many people took notice of the name after seeing actress Lake Bell in movies such as “No Strings Attached,” “What Happens in Vegas,” and “Man Up.”
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