Are you looking for a nature-inspired name for your little boy? This list of earthy baby names will inspire you.
Choosing the perfect name for your new baby boy is a big decision. After all, he’ll have this name for the rest of his life.
Among the hundreds of options available, nature and earthy boy names have gained popularity in recent years.
JUMP TO: List of earthy baby boy names
These monikers, inspired by the natural world, often have a timeless appeal that you don’t find with modern names.
From forests to mountains and trees to rivers, parents often seek baby names that have a deep connection mother nature.
Why Choose an Earthy Baby Name?
Naming babies after elements of nature is a practice that spans different cultures and eras. In ancient times, nature names were often chosen for their symbolic meanings.
For instance, names of Old English origin like Ash and Linden were common, drawing inspiration from the ash tree and linden tree alike.
Animal names are also popular among parents. Names like Wren, meaning “small bird,” and Orson, meaning “bear,” draw directly from the animal kingdom.
Jonah, a Hebrew name meaning “dove,” and Bernard, meaning “bear,” are other examples of nature-inspired names linked to animals.
RELATED: Earthy baby girl name ideas inspired by nature
Similarly, earthy names inspired by plants and trees are particularly popular. Ash, Birch and Cedar are all botanical baby names.
Earthy names often have roots in different cultures, adding a layer of richness to your child’s identity. For example, Kai has Hawaiian origins, Jasper is a name of Persian origin, and Silas comes from Latin.
Greek mythology is also packed full with names inspired by celestial bodies and natural phenomena, such as Orion, a constellation, and Zephyr, meaning “the west wind”.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of earthy names for boys. Parents are increasingly drawn to nature baby names for their timeless appeal. Names like River, Flynn, and Arlo are becoming more common.
For parents seeking unique names, earthy boy names offer a treasure trove of options. Names like Acker, Ivo, and Flint stand out for their rarity.
Whether you are drawn to Old English names, Greek mythology, or names from different cultures, there is a perfect earthy baby name that is bound to suit your new baby boy.
Check out these nature-inspired names – hopefully you’ll find inspiration for your little one!
Check out this list of earthy baby boy names below.
Earthy Baby Boy Names
Aaron
- Meaning: Aaron is a Biblical name, given to the brother of Moses. Its meaning is uncertain, but through folk-etymology, Aaron has been associated with the Hebrew har-on meaning “mountain of strength.”
- Origin: Although it origin is uncertain, it most likely stems from Egyptian rather than Hebrew origin.
Acer
- Meaning: Acer is the Latin botanical name for “maple tree,” and its use as a name is associated with the tree.
- Origin: Latin
Acker
- Meaning: This name can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period, where it was commonly used to describe a field or cultivated land. Acker comes from Old English “æcer” meaning “field.”
- Origin: English
Adair
- Meaning: Adair is of Scottish origin and means “oak tree ford.” In Scottish folklore, oak trees were often considered sacred and were associated with various deities.
- Origin: Scottish
Alan
- Meaning: The meaning “rock” is often associated with Alan. However, Alan’s exact meaning is debated, and it may also derive from “harmony” or “little rock.”
- Origin: Celtic
Alden
- Meaning: Alden means “old friend” or “wise protector” in Old English.
- Origin: Old English
Alder
- Meaning: Alder refers to the tree of the same name.
- Origin: English
Ari
- Meaning: Ari in Hebrew means “lion.” In Old Norse, Ari means “eagle.”
- Origin: Hebrew, Indian, Icelandic Scandinavian and English origin
Arlo
- Meaning: The exact origin is unclear, but it is often linked to Old English and Spanish origins, possibly meaning “fortified hill.”
- Origin: Celtic, Italian, Spanish, and Old English origin
Arrow
- Meaning: Arrow means “fired from a bow”.
- Origin: English
Ash
- Meaning: Ash tree. The ash tree is a prominent figure in Norse mythology, where Yggdrasil, the world tree, is often depicted as an ash tree. Ash is also used as a diminutive of Ashton.
- Origin: English
Ashby
- Meaning: Originally a place name derived from Old Norse, meaning ‘ash tree farm’.
- Origin: Old Norse
Asher
- Origin: Hebrew and Old English
- Meaning: Asher is a Biblical name meaning ‘happy’ and ‘fortunate’ in Hebrew. In Old English, its derived from a surname, asche, used for someone who lived by an ash tree.
Atlas
- Origin: Greek origin
- Meaning: ‘Bearer of the heavens’ in Greek mythology – Atlas was a Titan who held up the sky. Also refers to a collection of maps.
Bay
- Meaning: Bay refers to a sea inlet or body of water partially enclosed by land. As a female name, its derived from the the plant known as bay, which is similar to laurels.
- Origin: English
Bear
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Derived directly from the word ‘bear’. Bear comes from Old English “bera.”
Beckett
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Beckett means “bee cottage” or “little brook.”
Benton
- Meaning: Derived from Old English meaning “bent grass settlement.”
- Origin: Old English
Bernard
- Origin: Old French name of German origin
- Meaning: This name is derived from ‘bear’ and ‘hard’, meaning ‘hardy, brave, strong’.
Birch
- Meaning: Birch is an English name referring to the tree.
- Origin: English
Blair
- Meaning: Blair is a Scottish surname now commonly used as a first name, from the Gaelic word blàr means “field” or “plain”.
- Origin: Scottish
Blake
- Meaning: The name Blake comes from the Old English words blæc, which means “black” or “dark”, and blac, which means “white” or “pale”.
- Old English
Branch
- Meaning: Not a common name, but refers to the branches of a tree.
- Origin: English
Bray
- Origin: Irish and English
- Meaning: Bray can mean “hill” in Irish and English place names.
Briar
- Meaning: A briar is a thorny bush of wild roses or brambles.
- Origin: English
Brock
- Meaning: Of The name comes from the Old English word “brocc” meaning “badger.” Brock is a surname now used as a first name.
- Origin: Anglo-Saxon
Bruce
- Meaning: Bruce, once a surname, is derived from a Norman place name, likely “Brix” in France.
- Origin: French, introduced to Scotland by the Normans.
Bryn/Brynn
- Meaning: Meaning ‘hill’ or ‘mound’.
- Origin: Welsh
Bryce
- Meaning: Bryce is a Scottish surname that has become a popular first name, from the medieval given name Brice, possibly derived from a word meaning “speckled.”
- Origin: Scottish/Gaulish
Cairn
- Meaning: Referring to the stones marking the summit of a hill or mountain
- Origin: Scottish
Calder
- Meaning: Calder comes from Gaelic “coille dor,” meaning “wooded stream.”
- Origin: Scottish
Callan
- Meaning: Callan is a Celtic name meaning “battle” or “rock.”
- Origin: Irish and Scottish Gaelic.
Canyon
- Meaning: A large ravine. Canyon comes from the Spanish word “cañón.”
- Origin: Spanish
Cary
- Meaning: Cary is a surname turned given name, after an old Celtic river name. “Pleasant stream” is the most common meaning.
- Origin: English
Cedar
- Meaning: Cedar refers to the tree.
- Origin: English
Clay
- Meaning: Clay worker. Clay is a surname derived from an occupation related to clay.
- Origin: Old English
Cliff
- Meaning: Short for Clifford or Clifton, Cliff comes from the surname from the Old English clif, meaning ‘cliff, slope, riverbank’
- Origin: Old English
Clove
- Meaning: From the name of the spice (the word clove comes from the Old French from Latin clavus meaning ‘nail’, referring to the dried shape of the flower buds). As a feminine name, Clove is also a short from of Clover.
- Origin: French
Colby
- Meaning: Colby is mainly popular in the US and means “from the dark town” or “coal town.”
- Origin: English
Cole
- Origin: English
- Meaning: It’s thought Cole might be derived from the Old English col meaning ‘charcoal’ and byname Cola, meaning ‘swarthy’ and ‘coal-black’.
Cosmo
- Meaning: Cosmo is an Italian form of the Greek “kosmas.”
- Origin: Greek
Cove
- Meaning: Small coastal inlet
- Origin: English
Crispin
- Meaning: Crispin means “curly-haired” in Latin.
- Origin: Latin
Cullen
- Origin: Irish and English origin
- Meaning: ‘Young hound’ or ‘coal’
Cypress
- Meaning: Cypress tree
- Origin: Greek
Dale
- Meaning: Dale is a surname turned given name. It was originally used for someone who lived in a valley.
- Origin: English
Denver
- Meaning: The name Denver likely means “green valley,” though its exact origin is debated. It may also be the Old English dene plus faer, meaning ‘ford crossing’.
- Origin: English
Douglas
- Origin: Scottish origin
- Meaning: ‘Dweller by the dark stream’ or ‘from the dark river’.
Drake
- Meaning: Drake is derived from the Old English name Draca meaning “dragon” or “snake.” It also could be from Middle English word drake meaning ‘male duck’.
- Origin: English
Dylan
- Meaning: Dylan is of Welsh origin, meaning “sea.” In ancient Welsh mythology, Dylan is the name of of the son of Arianrhod, who became a divinity of the sea.
- Origin: Welsh
Elder
- Meaning: Elder means “older person.”
- Origin: English
Elon
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: ‘Tree’, or ‘oak tree’.
Evan
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: ‘Young warrior’, ‘God is good’, or ‘rock’. It’s the Welsh variant of ‘John’ and Scottish variant of ‘Euan’.
Fenn
- Meaning: Derived from a surname, it was the name given to someone who lived in a marshy area, from Old English fenn – ‘marsh, fen’.
- Origin: Old English
Fenton
- Meaning: Fenton means “marsh town.” Derived from Olen English fenn meaning ‘marsh, fen’ and ‘enclosure, settlement’
- Origin: English
Field/Fielder
- Meaning: Open land
- Origin: English
Finn
- Origin: Irish, Norse and English origin
- Meaning: Means “fair” in Irish, “Finnish” in some contexts, “swamp” or “marsh” in Old English.
Flint
- Meaning: Flint is more commonly associated with a stone/hard rock.
- Origin: Old English
Flynn
- Meaning: Derived from an Irish surname, meaning ‘red(dish), ruddy’.
- Origin: Irish
Forest
- Meaning: The name “Forest” means “wood” or “woodland” and is a nature-inspired name that is primarily masculine and of French origin.
- Origin: French
Fox
- Meaning: The name “Fox” is of English origin and comes from the Old English word “fuchs”, which also means “fox”. The Irish name “Sionnach” also means “fox”.
- Origin: English
Gale
- Meaning: Gale is a gender-neutral name Derived from the Old English word gal, which means “pleasant” or “merry,” but is also related to wind.
- Origin: English
Garrett
- Meaning: Garrett is derived from the name Gerard – gēr or gār meaning ‘spear’ and hard ‘brave’, ‘hard’ or ‘strong’.
- Origin: Germanic and of Old French origins
Glen
- Meaning: Glen means “valley” in Scottish Gaelic (gleann).
- Origin: Scottish
Grove
- Meaning: From the name Grover, once a surname used for someone who lived near a grove of trees.
- Origin: Old English
Hawk
- Meaning: The name Hawk is a masculine name of English origin that means “bird of prey”. The name may also have originated from the Old English personal name Hafoc, which was a nickname derived from the word “hawk” or “falcon”.
- Origin: English
Heath
- Meaning: This name was used for someone who lived on a patch of heathland – such as heather and grass.
- Origin: Old English
Holden
- Meaning: The name Holden is of English origin and means “deep valley” or “hollow in the valley”.
- Origin: English
Hollis
- Meaning: The name Hollis is a gender-neutral name that means “holly trees” or “near the holly bushes.”
- Origin: English
Hunter
- Origin: English origin
- Meaning: Meaning ‘someone who hunts’, this surname turned given name was given to people who hunted, such as stags and wild boar.
Irving
- Meaning: Irving means “green river” or “fresh water.”
- Origin: Scottish
Ivo
- Origin: Germanic
- Meaning: Ivo means ‘yew tree’.
Jarrah
- Meaning: Type of eucalyptus tree. In Hebrew, Jarrah means “God gives sweetness” or “honey”.
- Origin: Aboriginal, Hebrew
Jasper
- Meaning: The name Jasper has biblical references, being one of the three wise men. Of Persian origins, Jasper means “treasurer”. Jasper is also a gemstone.
- Origin: Persian
Jay
- Origin: English origin/Sanksrit
- Meaning: Jay is derived from a type of bird. It also means ‘victory’ in Sanskrit.
Jonah
- Origin: Hebrew origin
- Meaning: Jonah is a biblical name of Hebrew origin that means “dove” or “pigeon”.
Kai
- Meaning: Kai has several meanings across different cultures, but in Hawain it means “sea” and in Japanese it means “sea” or “shell.”
- Origin: Hawaiian, Japanese
Kirk
- Meaning: The name Kirk is a boy’s name of Scottish origin that means “church” or “kirkyard”. It comes from the Old Norse word kirkja, which also means “church”.
- Origin: Scottish
Lachlan
- Meaning: Lachlan is a masculine name of Irish origin that means “from the land of lakes” or “from the fjord land”.
- Origin: Scottish
Lake
- Origin: English
- Meaning: The name Lake is a gender-neutral name of British origin that means “body of water”. It comes from the Old English word lacu.
Landon
- Meaning: Landon is of English origin and means “long hill” or “ridge”.
- Origin: English
Leo
- Origin: Latin origin
- Meaning: Leo means ‘lion’ after the constellation. It’s also the fifth sign of the zodiac.
Leonard
- Origin: Germanic
- Meaning: This name means ‘brave as a lion’ or ‘lion-hearted’.
Lennox
- Meaning: The name Lennox is of Scottish and Gaelic origin and means “with many elm trees” or “elm grove”.
- Origin: Scottish
Linden
- Meaning: The name Linden means “linden tree” which has heart-shaped leaves.
- Origin: English
Logan
- Meaning: Logan is a Scottish name that means “little hollow” and comes from the Scottish Gaelic word lagn.
- Origin: Scottish
Lyndon
- Origin: Old English origin
- Meaning: Lyndon is a boy’s name of Old English origin that means “linden tree hill”. The linden tree has a sweet, floral, and musky scent and is a sacred symbol in many mythologies.
Mason
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Mason means “one who works with stone”. It originated as an occupational surname for people who worked in stonemasonry
Mars
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Derived from the Derived from the Roman god of war in Roman mythology. Mars is also the fourth planet in our solar system.
Marshall
- Origin: Old French origin
- Meaning: The name Marshall is derived from an occupational surname that means “caretaker of horses” or “horse servant.”
Marsh
- Meaning: A toponymical name, meaning “swamp or bog”, that comes from the Middle English word mersche given to people who lived near marshy land.
- Origin: English
Montague
- Origin: French origin
- Meaning: The name Montague means “pointed hill” and is of Norman origin.
Moss
- Meaning: The name Moss is an English surname that comes from the Old English word mos, which means “moss bog”. Moss can alo mean “descendant of Moses.”
- Origin: English
Oak
- Meaning: Oak refers to the tree, a symbol of strength, wisdom, and longevity. The name “Oaks” is a British name of Old English origin that means “near the oak trees”.
- Origin: English
Oakley
- Origin: English
- Meaning: The name Oakley is of English origin and means “meadow of oak trees” or “oak clearing.
Oliver
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Oliver is of of Latin origin, meaning ‘olive tree’.
Onyx
- Meaning: Onyx is a black gemstone, known for its strength and protection qualities. It also means “claw” or “nail” in Greek.
- Origin: Greek
Oscar
- Origin: Irish and Old Norse origin
- Meaning: Oscar has multiple meanings, including “deer-lover,” “god spear,” or “champion warrior.”
Orson
- Meaning: The name Orson is a male name of French and Latin origin that means “bear cub.”
- Origin: Latin
Perry
- Meaning: Perry is thought to have originated from the Middle English word pirie, which means “pear tree”.
- Origin: English
Philip
- Origin: Greek origin
- Meaning: Philip is of Greek origin meaning “fond of horses” or “horse-loving. Alternative spellings include ‘Felipe’.
Phoenix
- Meaning: Phoenix refers to the mythical bird.
- Origin: Greek
Quinn
- Meaning: The name Quinn is a gender-neutral name with Irish origins that means “wise,” “sense,” or “reason”
- Origin: Irish
Rain
- Meaning: The name Rain is a gender-neutral name of Old English and German origin that means “abundance from above”.
- Origin: Old English, German
Ray
- Meaning: The name Ray has multiple meanings and origins, but it means “ray of light” or “beam”. It’s also a topographic name for someone who lived by a spring or rushing stream in French.
- Origin: English , French, German
Reed
- Meaning: The name Reed comes from the Middle English word rede, which means “red”.
- Origin: English
Rhodes
- Origin: Greek origin
- Meaning: Rhodes comes from the Old English word rod, which means “a clearing in the woods”. It can also mean “where roses grow” and is derived from the Old English surname Rhoades.
Rio
- Origin: Spanish and Portuguese
- Meaning: The name Rio is a gender-neutral name of Spanish origin that means “river”
River
- Meaning: The name River is a gender-neutral name of English origin that means “a flowing body of water”.
- Origin: English
Robin
- Origin: German
- Meaning: he name Robin means “bright fame” and is of Germanic origin. The name is alsoe associated with the bird.
Rocky
- Origin: English and American origin
- Meaning: ‘Rock’ or ‘rest’.
Ronan
- Meaning: The name Ronan is of Irish origin and means “little seal”.
- Origin: Irish
Ross
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: Ross comes from the Gaelic word ros, which means “promontory” or “headland”.
Rowan
- Meaning: The name is derived from the Irish name Ruadhán, which means “little redhead”. It also refers to the rowan tree which has red berries. In folklore, the Rowen tree was thought to protect against witchcraft and enchantment.
- Origin: Irish
Royce
- Meaning: Royce is more commonly a surname derived from “rose.”
- Origin: English
Rylan
- Origin: English origin
- Meaning: The name Rylan is a gender-neutral name of Old English origin that means “little king” or “dweller at the rye land”
Silas
- Meaning: Silas is derived from the Latin name Silvanus, meaning “wood” or “forest.”
- Origin: Latin
Taron
- Meaning: Taron is a variant of the masculine name “Taran”, which is thought to come from the name of the Celtic thunder god, Taranis.
- Origin: Celtic
Thorne
- Meaning: Comes from the Middle English word thorn, which means a sharp, spiny plant. It was likely given to people who lived near or worked with thorn bushes.
- Origin: English
Tor
- Origin: Nordic origin
- Meaning: A masculine name that means “thunder” and is derived from the Norse god of thunder, Thor.
Torben
- Origin: Old Norse and Danish origin
- Meaning: Torben is a Scandinavian boy’s name of Danish and Old Norse origin that means “thunder bear”
Vale
- Meaning: Vale is a Latin-derived name means “lives in the valley”. It can also mean “farewell”.
- Origin: English
Vaughn
- Meaning: The name Vaughn comes from the Welsh word bychan, which means “small”.
- Origin: Welsh
Warren
- Meaning: Warren is of French and English origin that means “animal enclosure” combined with “to protect” or “guard”
- Origin: English and French
Wells
- Meaning: From the Old English word wælla, the name Wells which means “spring” or “spring stream”.
- Origin: English
Weston
- Meaning: The name Weston is a masculine name of British origin that means “from the Western town”
- Origin: English
Wilder
- Meaning: The name Wilder is a German and English surname and given name that means “untamed” or “wild”.
- Origin: English, German
Wolf
- Meaning: Wolf refers to the animal. In ancient English culture, wolves symbolized strength, courage, and cunning.
- Origin: English
Woody
- Origin: English
- Meaning: This name is a short version of Woodrow, which can mean “from the lane in the woods” or “from the row of wooden houses”.
Wren
- Meaning: The name Wren means “small brown songbird” and is of English origin.
- Origin: English
Wyatt
- Meaning: The name Wyatt is an Old English name that means “brave at war”.
- Origin: Old English
Zale
- Meaning: Zale has many meanings. It can mean “on the other side of the forest” or “on the other side of the water meadow”. Zale is also the origin of the name Zayle, which is of Greek origin and means “sea-strength”.
- Origin: Greek
Zephyr
- Meaning: The name Zephyr is a gender-neutral name of Greek origin that means “west wind”. It comes from the Greek god Zephyrus, who symbolized the arrival of spring and mild weather.
- Origin: Greek
Zion
- Meaning: The name Zion is of Hebrew origin and means “highest point”.
- Origin: Hebrew
With a rich history, deep meanings, and timeless appeal, earthy baby boy names are a wonderful way to honor the elements of the earth and mother nature to your child’s identity. Happy naming!
This article showed you a list of earthy baby boy names.
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