Names Categorized "trees"

This is a list of names in which the categories include trees.
gender
usage
​
Acacia f English (Rare)
From the name of a type of tree, ultimately derived from Greek ἀκή (ake) meaning "thorn, point".
Æsc m Anglo-Saxon
Means "ash tree" in Old English. This was the nickname of a 5th-century king of Kent, whose birth name was Oeric.
Ainsley f & m Scottish, English (Modern)
From an English surname that was from a place name: either Annesley in Nottinghamshire or Ansley in Warwickshire. The place names themselves derive from Old English anne "alone, solitary" or ansetl "hermitage" and leah "woodland, clearing".... [more]
Airi 1 f Japanese
From Japanese 愛 (ai) meaning "love, affection" combined with 莉 (ri) meaning "white jasmine" or 梨 (ri) meaning "pear". Other combinations of kanji characters are possible.
Alani f English (Modern)
Possibly a variant of Alana, or possibly from Hawaiian ʻalani meaning "orange (tree or fruit)".
Allon m Biblical
Means "oak" in Hebrew. This name is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament.
Alon 1 m Hebrew
Means "oak tree" in Hebrew.
Alona f Hebrew
Feminine form of Alon 1.
Altwidus m Germanic (Latinized)
Derived from the Old German elements alt "old" and witu "forest".
Amarante f French (Rare)
French form of Amarantha.
Amir 2 m Hebrew
Means "treetop" in Hebrew.
Amira 2 f Hebrew
Feminine form of Amir 2.
Anahí f Spanish (Latin American)
Possibly from the Guarani name for the cockspur coral tree (species Erythrina crista-galli). In a Guarani legend this is the name of a young woman burned at the stake by the conquistadors, after which she is transformed into the flowering tree.
Anar 2 f Kazakh
Variant of Anara.
Anara f Kazakh, Kyrgyz
From Kazakh and Kyrgyz анар (anar) meaning "pomegranate", a word ultimately derived from Persian.
Anargul f Kazakh
Means "blooming pomegranate tree" in Kazakh.
Ankur m Indian, Hindi, Marathi
Means "sapling, sprout, shoot" in Sanskrit.
Aritz m Basque
From Basque haritz meaning "oak tree".
Arlie f & m English
Diminutive of Arline and other names beginning with Arl.
Arnviðr m Old Norse
Old Norse form of Arvid.
Arve m Norwegian
Variant of Arvid.
Arvid m Swedish, Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Arnviðr, derived from the elements ǫrn "eagle" and viðr "tree".
Arvīds m Latvian
Latvian form of Arvid.
Ascelin m Germanic
Derived from a diminutive of the Old German element asc meaning "ash tree" (Proto-Germanic *askaz).
Asco m Germanic
Derived from the Old German element asc meaning "ash tree" (Proto-Germanic *askaz).
Ash m & f English
Short form of Ashley. It can also come directly from the English word denoting either the tree or the residue of fire.
Ashlea f English (Modern)
Feminine variant of Ashley.
Ashlee f English (Modern)
Feminine variant of Ashley.
Ashleigh f English (Modern)
Feminine variant of Ashley.
Ashley f & m English
From an English surname that was originally derived from place names meaning "ash tree clearing", from a combination of Old English æsc and leah. Until the 1960s it was more commonly given to boys in the United States, but it is now most often used on girls. It reached its height of popularity in America in 1987, but it did not become the highest ranked name until 1991, being overshadowed by the likewise-popular Jessica until then. In the United Kingdom it is still more common as a masculine name.
Ashlie f English (Modern)
Feminine variant of Ashley.
Ashlyn f English (Modern)
Combination of Ashley and the popular name suffix lyn.
Ashlynn f English (Modern)
Variant of Ashlyn.
Ashton m & f English (Modern)
From an English surname, itself derived from a place name meaning "ash tree town" in Old English. This was a rare masculine name until the 1980s, when it gradually began becoming more common for both genders. Inspired by the female character Ashton Main from the 1985 miniseries North and South, parents in America gave it more frequently to girls than boys from 1986 to 1997. Since then it has been overwhelmingly masculine once again, perhaps due in part to the fame of the actor Ashton Kutcher (1978-).
Ask m Norse Mythology
Derived from Old Norse askr "ash tree". In Norse mythology Ask and his wife Embla were the first humans created by the gods.
Askr m Norse Mythology
Old Norse form of Ask.
Aspen f English (Modern)
From the English word for a variety of deciduous trees in the genus Populus, derived from Old English æspe. It is also the name of a ski resort in Colorado.
Asse m Frisian
Originally a short form of Germanic names beginning with the elements asc meaning "ash tree" or ansi meaning "god".
Aswathi m Indian, Malayalam
From Sanskrit अशवत्थ (ashvattha) meaning "sacred fig tree".
Avalon f English (Rare)
From the name of the island paradise to which King Arthur was brought after his death. The name of this island is perhaps related to Welsh afal meaning "apple", a fruit that was often linked with paradise.
Ayla 1 f Hebrew
Alternate transcription of Hebrew אֵלָה (see Ela 3).
Ąžuolas m Lithuanian
Means "oak tree" in Lithuanian.
Bai m & f Chinese
From Chinese 白 (bái) meaning "white, pure", 百 (bǎi) meaning "one hundred, many" or 柏 (bǎi) meaning "cypress tree, cedar" (which is usually only masculine). Other Chinese characters can form this name as well. This name was borne in the 8th century by the Tang dynasty poet Li Bai, whose given was 白.
Barclay m English (Rare)
From a Scottish and English surname that was derived from the English place name Berkeley, itself from Old English beorc "birch" and leah "woodland, clearing".
Basajaun m Basque Mythology
Means "lord of the woods" from Basque baso "woods" and jaun "lord". This is the name of a character in Basque folklore, the Old Man of the Woods.
Bedivere m Welsh Mythology, Arthurian Romance
From the Welsh name Bedwyr, possibly from bedwen "birch" and gwr "man". In Arthurian legends Bedivere was one of the original companions of King Arthur. He first appears in early Welsh tales, and his story was later expanded by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th century. He is the one who throws the sword Excalibur into the lake at the request of the dying Arthur.
Bentley m English
From a surname that was from a place name, itself derived from Old English beonet "bent grass" and leah "woodland, clearing". Various towns in England bear this name.
Bessarion m Late Greek
Meaning uncertain, possibly from Greek βῆσσα (bessa) meaning "wooded valley". This was the name of a 5th-century Egyptian hermit who was a disciple of Saint Anthony the Great. It was later adopted by the scholar Basilios Bessarion (1403-1472), a Greek born in Byzantine Anatolia who became a Roman Catholic bishop.
Bile m Irish Mythology
Possibly an Irish form of Belenus, though it may derive from an Irish word meaning "sacred tree, scion, hero". In Irish mythology this was the name of one of the Milesians who was drowned while invading Ireland.
Bipin m Indian, Marathi, Hindi
Variant of Vipin.
Birkir m Icelandic
From Icelandic birki meaning "birch", specifically the downy birch (species Betula pubescens).
Björk f Icelandic
Means "birch tree" in Icelandic.
Blong m Hmong
Means "leaf" in Hmong.
Bor m Slovene
Short form of names containing bor, such as Borislav or Boris. It is also a South Slavic word meaning "pine tree".
Boróka f Hungarian
Hungarian diminutive of Borbála. It also means "juniper" in Hungarian.
Boyce m English
From an English surname that was derived from Old French bois "wood".
Brin m Slovene
Means "juniper" in Slovene.
Briscoe m English (Rare)
From an English surname that was derived from a place name meaning "birch wood" in Old Norse.
Cassia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Cassius.
Cassiopea f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Variant of Cassiopeia.
Cassiopeia f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Κασσιόπεια (Kassiopeia) or Κασσιέπεια (Kassiepeia), possibly meaning "cassia juice". In Greek myth Cassiopeia was the wife of Cepheus and the mother of Andromeda. She was changed into a constellation and placed in the northern sky after she died.
Cedar f & m English (Rare)
From the English word for the coniferous tree, derived (via Old French and Latin) from Greek κέδρος (kedros).
Celyn m & f Welsh
Means "holly" in Welsh. It appears briefly in the Welsh tale Culhwch and Olwen, belonging to a son of Caw, but was not typically used as a given name until the 20th century.
Chandan m Indian, Hindi, Bengali, Odia
Derived from Sanskrit चन्दन (chandana) meaning "sandalwood".
Chandana f & m Indian, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Bengali, Sinhalese
Feminine form of Chandan, as well as the Sinhala masculine form.
Cherry f English
Simply means "cherry" from the name of the fruit. It can also be a diminutive of Charity. It has been in use since the late 19th century.
Çınar m Turkish (Modern)
Means "plane tree" in Turkish (genus Platanus), derived from Persian چنار (chenar).
Clementine f English
English form of Clémentine.
Cochise m Indigenous American, Apache (Anglicized)
Meaning uncertain, possibly from Apache go-chizh "his firewood" or go-chįh "his nose". This was the name of a 19th-century chief of the Chiricahua Apache.
Codrin m Romanian
From Romanian codru meaning "forest", a word of uncertain origin.
Cornel m Romanian
Romanian form of Cornelius.
Cyprian m Polish, History (Ecclesiastical)
From the Roman family name Cyprianus, which meant "from Cyprus". Saint Cyprian was a 3rd-century bishop of Carthage and a martyr under the emperor Valerian.
Dafina f Albanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian
Means "laurel" in Albanian, Bulgarian and Macedonian, of Greek origin.
Daiki m Japanese
From Japanese 大 (dai) meaning "big, great" combined with 輝 (ki) meaning "brightness", 樹 (ki) meaning "tree" or 貴 (ki) meaning "valuable". Other combinations of kanji can also form this name.
Dalit f Hebrew
From Hebrew דָּלִיָּה (daliyyah) meaning "hanging branch".
Daphne f Greek Mythology, English, Dutch
Means "laurel" in Greek. In Greek mythology she was a nymph turned into a laurel tree by her father in order that she might escape the pursuit of Apollo. It has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since the end of the 19th century.
Dara 1 m Irish
Anglicized form of Dáire.
Darach m Irish
Means "of oak" in Irish, from the genitive case of dair.
Daragh m Irish
Anglicized form of Dáire or Darach.
Darragh m Irish
Anglicized form of Dáire or Darach.
Deforest m English
From a French surname meaning "from the forest". It was originally given in honour of American author John Deforest (1826-1906).
Deforrest m English (Rare)
Variant of Deforest.
Dekel m Hebrew
Means "palm tree" in Hebrew.
Diệp f & m Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese 葉 (diệp) meaning "leaf".
Dikla m & f Hebrew
Alternate transcription of Hebrew דִּקְלָה (see Diklah).
Diklah m & f Hebrew, Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Possibly means "palm grove" in Hebrew or Aramaic. In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of Joktan. In modern times it is also used as a feminine name.
Dionysos m Greek Mythology
From Greek Διός (Dios) meaning "of Zeus" combined with Nysa, the name of the region where young Dionysos was said to have been raised. In Greek mythology Dionysos was the god of wine, revelry, fertility and dance. He was the son of Zeus and Semele.
Doubravka f Czech
Czech feminine form of Dubravko.
Dubravka f Croatian, Serbian
Feminine form of Dubravko.
Dubravko m Croatian, Serbian
From the old Slavic word dubrava meaning "oak grove".
Ebony f African American
From the English word ebony for the black wood that comes from the ebony tree. It is ultimately from the Egyptian word hbnj. In America this name is most often used in the black community.
Eglė f Lithuanian
Means "spruce tree" in Lithuanian. In a Lithuanian folk tale Eglė is a young woman who marries a grass snake. At the end of the tale she turns herself into a spruce.
Ela 3 f Hebrew
Modern Hebrew form of Elah, usually used as a feminine name.
Elah m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Means "terebinth tree" in Hebrew. This was the name of the fourth king of Israel, as told in the Old Testament. He was murdered by Zimri, who succeeded him.
Elmer m English
From a surname that was derived from the Old English name Æðelmær. In the United States it is sometimes given in honour of brothers Jonathan (1745-1817) and Ebenezer Elmer (1752-1843), who were active in early American politics.
Elon m Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
Means "oak tree" in Hebrew. According to the Old Testament this was the name of one of the ruling judges of the Israelites. A notable modern bearer is the entrepreneur Elon Musk (1971-), who was born in South Africa and also holds Canadian and American citizenship (he is not Jewish).
Elowen f Cornish
Means "elm tree" in Cornish. This is a recently coined Cornish name.
Elwood m English
From an English surname that was derived from a place name meaning "elder tree forest" in Old English.
Embla f Norse Mythology, Icelandic, Swedish, Norwegian
Meaning uncertain, perhaps related to Old Norse almr "elm". In Norse mythology Embla and her husband Ask were the first humans. They were created by three of the gods from two trees.
Eógan m Old Irish, Irish Mythology
Old Irish form of Eoghan.
Eoghan m Irish, Irish Mythology
Possibly means "born from the yew tree", from Old Irish eó "yew" and the suffix gan "born". Alternatively, it might be derived from the Latin name Eugenius. It was borne by several legendary or semi-legendary Irish figures, including a son of the king Niall of the Nine Hostages.
Erez m Hebrew
Means "cedar" in Hebrew.
Erwan m Breton
Breton form of Ivo 1 or Yves.
Erwann m Breton
Variant of Erwan.
Euan m Scottish
Anglicized form of Eòghann.
Evander 2 m Scottish
Anglicized form of Iomhar.
Evette f English
Variant of Yvette.
Evonne f English
Variant of Yvonne.
Ewan m Scottish
Anglicized form of Eòghann.
Ewen m Scottish
Anglicized form of Eòghann.
Fidan f Turkish, Azerbaijani
Means "sapling" in Turkish and Azerbaijani.
Forest m English
Variant of Forrest, or else directly from the English word forest.
Forrest m English
From an English surname meaning "forest", originally belonging to a person who lived near a forest. In America it has sometimes been used in honour of the Confederate Civil War general Nathan Bedford Forrest (1821-1877). This name was borne by the title character in the movie Forrest Gump (1994) about a loveable simpleton. Use of the name increased when the movie was released, but has since faded away.
Garrick m English
From an English surname, of French Huguenot origin, that was derived from Occitan garric meaning "oak tree grove".
Ginevra f Italian
Italian form of Guinevere. This is also the Italian name for the city of Geneva, Switzerland. It is also sometimes associated with the Italian word ginepro meaning "juniper".
Golnar f Persian
Means "pomegranate flower", derived from Persian گل (gol) meaning "flower" and نار (nar) meaning "pomegranate".
Grover m English
From an English surname derived from Old English graf meaning "grove of trees". A famous bearer was the American president Grover Cleveland (1837-1908), who popularized the name in the United States at the end of the 19th century. The name is now associated with a muppet character from the children's television program Sesame Street.
Gwydion m Welsh, Welsh Mythology
Probably means "born of trees" from Old Welsh guid "trees" and the suffix gen "born of". In the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, Gwydion is the nephew of King Math of Gwynedd, and like him a powerful magician. In an elaborate plot to give his brother a chance to rape his uncle's footbearer, he arranged a war between Gwynedd and the neighbouring kingdom of Dyfed. Gwydion himself killed King Pryderi of Dyfed at the end of the war. In punishment for the rape, Math transformed Gwydion and his brother into different animals over the course of three years. Gwydion was the uncle of Lleu Llaw Gyffes, whom he fostered. Math and Gwydion fashioned Lleu a wife, Blodeuwedd, out of flowers and they later aided him after her betrayal. Gwydion also appears in older Welsh poetry such as the Book of Taliesin.
Hadas f Hebrew
Means "myrtle tree" in Hebrew.
Hadassah f Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
From Hebrew הֲדַס (hadas) meaning "myrtle tree". In the Old Testament this is the Hebrew name of Queen Esther.
Haregewoin f Eastern African, Amharic
Means "grape vine" in Amharic.
Haritz m Basque
Variant of Aritz.
Haze m & f English (Rare)
Variant of Hayes, sometimes used as a short form of Hazel.
Hazel f English
From the English word hazel for the tree or the light brown colour, derived ultimately from Old English hæsel. It was coined as a given name in the 19th century and quickly became popular, reaching the 18th place for girls in the United States by 1897. It fell out of fashion in the second half of the 20th century, but has since recovered.
Hideki m Japanese
From Japanese 秀 (hide) meaning "excellent, outstanding" or 英 (hide) meaning "excellent, fine" combined with 樹 (ki) meaning "tree". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.
Hiroki m Japanese
From Japanese 大 (hiro) meaning "big, great" and 輝 (ki) meaning "brightness" or 樹 (ki) meaning "tree". Other kanji combinations are also possible.
Hlynur m Icelandic
Means "maple" in Icelandic.
Hode f Yiddish (Rare)
Yiddish short form of Hadassah.
Hodel f Yiddish (Rare)
Diminutive of Hode. This is the name of Tevye's second daughter in the musical Fiddler on the Roof (1964), based on late 19th-century stories by Sholem Aleichem.
Hollie f English
Variant of Holly.
Hollis m & f English
From an English surname that was derived from Middle English holis "holly trees". It was originally given to a person who lived near a group of those trees.
Holly f English
From the English word for the holly tree, ultimately derived from Old English holen. Holly Golightly is the main character in the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) by Truman Capote.
Huxley m English (Modern)
From an English surname that was derived from the name of a town in Cheshire. The final element is Old English leah "woodland, clearing", while the first element might be hux "insult, scorn". A famous bearer of the surname was the British author Aldous Huxley (1894-1963).
Iben f Danish, Norwegian
Possibly a feminine form of Ib. It is associated with Danish ibenholt meaning "ebony".
Ieva f Lithuanian, Latvian
Lithuanian and Latvian form of Eve. This is also the Lithuanian and Latvian word for a type of cherry tree (species Prunus padus).
Ilan m Hebrew
Means "tree" in Hebrew.
Ilana f Hebrew
Feminine form of Ilan.
Ilanit f Hebrew
Feminine form of Ilan.
Íomhar m Irish
Irish form of Ivor.
Iomhar m Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Ivor.
Islwyn m Welsh
From the name of a mountain in Wales that means "below the forest" from Welsh is "below" and llwyn "forest, grove".
Itamar m Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew, Portuguese (Brazilian)
Hebrew form of Ithamar, also used in Brazil.
Ithamar m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
From the Hebrew name אִיתָמָר ('Itamar) meaning "date palm island". This is the name of a son of Aaron in the Old Testament.
Itsuki m Japanese
From Japanese 樹 (itsuki) meaning "tree", using the kanji's nanori reading. Other kanji or kanji combinations can also form this name.
Iva 1 f Bulgarian, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian
Means "willow tree" in South Slavic.
Iva 3 f Czech
Feminine form of Ivo 1.
Ivar m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Estonian
Scandinavian form of Ivor.
Ívarr m Old Norse
Old Norse form of Ivor.
Ives m History (Ecclesiastical)
English form of Yves, used to refer to Saint Ives (also called Ivo) of Huntingdonshire, a semi-legendary English bishop.
Ivet f Bulgarian, Catalan
Bulgarian and Catalan form of Yvette.
Iveta f Czech, Slovak, Latvian
Czech, Slovak and Latvian form of Yvette.
Ivette f Catalan
Catalan form of Yvette.
Ivka f Croatian, Bulgarian, Slovak, Czech
Diminutive of Iva 1, Iva 2 or Iva 3.
Ivo 1 m German, Dutch, Czech, Italian, Portuguese, Estonian, Latvian, Germanic
Germanic name, originally a short form of names beginning with the element iwa meaning "yew". Alternative theories suggest that it may in fact be derived from a cognate Celtic element. This was the name of saints (who are also commonly known as Saint Yves or Ives), hailing from Cornwall, France, and Brittany.
Ivona f Czech, Slovak, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian
Form of Yvonne in several languages.
Ivonette f Portuguese (Rare)
Diminutive of Ivone.
Ivonne f German, Dutch
German and Dutch variant of Yvonne.
Ivor m Irish, Scottish, Welsh, English (British)
From the Old Norse name Ívarr, which was probably derived from the elements ýr "yew tree, bow" and herr "army, warrior". During the Middle Ages it was brought to Britain by Scandinavian settlers and invaders, and it was adopted in Ireland (Irish Íomhar), Scotland (Scottish Gaelic Iomhar) and Wales (Welsh Ifor).
Iwo m Polish
Polish form of Ivo 1.
Iwona f Polish
Polish feminine form of Yvon.
Jannatul Ferdous f Bengali
From the Arabic phrase جنّات الفردوس (jannat al-firdaws) meaning "gardens of paradise".
Javor m Croatian, Serbian
Means "maple tree" in South Slavic.
Jela f Serbian, Croatian, Slovak
Short form of Jelena or Jelisaveta. It also means "fir tree" in Serbian and Croatian.
Jelena f Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, Estonian, Lithuanian
Form of Yelena in several languages. In Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia it is also associated with the South Slavic words jelen meaning "deer, stag" and jela meaning "fir tree".
Jelka f Slovene, Croatian, Serbian
Diminutive of Jelena. It also means "fir tree" in Slovene.
Jesenia f Spanish (Latin American)
Variant of Yesenia.
Jessenia f Spanish (Latin American)
Variant of Yesenia.
Jinan m & f Arabic
Means "garden" or "paradise" in Arabic.
Juniper f English (Modern)
From the English word for the type of tree, derived ultimately from Latin iuniperus.
Junípero m Various
This was the name assumed by the 18th-century Spanish Franciscan monk Miguel José Serra, a missionary to California. He named himself after one of Saint Francis's companions, who was named from Latin iuniperus "juniper".
Kaede f & m Japanese
From Japanese 楓 (kaede) meaning "maple" or other kanji that are pronounced the same way.
Kalin m Bulgarian
Masculine form of Kalina.
Kalina f Bulgarian, Macedonian, Polish
Means "viburnum tree" in Bulgarian, Macedonian and Polish.
Karmela f Croatian
Croatian form of Carmela.
Kassiopeia f Greek Mythology
Greek form of Cassiopeia.
Kauri m Maori
From the name of a type of tree found in New Zealand (species Agathis australis).
Kazuki m Japanese
From Japanese 一 (kazu) meaning "one" or 和 (kazu) meaning "harmony, peace" combined with 輝 (ki) meaning "brightness", 希 (ki) meaning "hope" or 樹 (ki) meaning "tree", as well as other combinations of kanji characters.
Keith m English, Scottish
From a Scottish surname that was originally derived from the name of a place in East Lothian, itself possibly derived from the Celtic root *kayto- meaning "wood". This was the surname of a long line of Scottish nobles. It has been used as a given name since the 19th century, becoming fairly common throughout the English-speaking world in the 20th century.
Keitha f English (Rare)
Feminine form of Keith.
Kekoa m Hawaiian
Means "the warrior" from Hawaiian ke, a definite article, and koa "warrior, koa tree".
Ketzi'ah f Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Keziah.
Kezia f Biblical
Variant of Keziah.
Keziah f Biblical
From the Hebrew name קְצִיעָה (Qetzi'ah) meaning "cassia, cinnamon", from the name of the spice tree. In the Old Testament she is a daughter of Job.
Kiefer m English (Modern)
From a German surname meaning either "pine tree" or "barrel maker".
Kingsley m English (Modern)
From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "king's wood" in Old English. This name may have received a boost in popularity after the release of the 2007 movie Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, featuring the character Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Kiraz f Turkish
Means "cherry" in Turkish.
Kiri f Maori
Means "skin of a tree or fruit" in Maori. This name has been brought to public attention by New Zealand opera singer Kiri Te Kanawa (1944-).
Kizzie f English
Diminutive of Keziah.
Kizzy f English
Diminutive of Keziah. This particular spelling was repopularized in the late 1970s by a character in the book and miniseries Roots (1977).
Koa m Hawaiian
Means "warrior, koa tree" in Hawaiian.
Kyo m & f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 協 or 京 or 郷 or 杏 (see Kyō).
Kyou m & f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 協 or 京 or 郷 or 杏 (see Kyō).
Laura f English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Catalan, French, Finnish, Estonian, Hungarian, Polish, Slovene, Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, Dutch, Lithuanian, Latvian, Late Roman
Feminine form of the Late Latin name Laurus, which meant "laurel". This meaning was favourable, since in ancient Rome the leaves of laurel trees were used to create victors' garlands. The name was borne by the 9th-century Spanish martyr Saint Laura, who was a nun thrown into a vat of molten lead by the Moors. It was also the name of the subject of poems by the 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch.... [more]
Laurel f English
From the name of the laurel tree, ultimately from Latin laurus.
Laurelle f English (Rare)
Variant of Laurel.
Laurence 1 m English
From the Roman cognomen Laurentius, which meant "from Laurentum". Laurentum was a city in ancient Italy, its name probably deriving from Latin laurus "laurel". Saint Laurence was a 3rd-century deacon and martyr from Rome. According to tradition he was roasted alive on a gridiron because, when ordered to hand over the church's treasures, he presented the sick and poor. Due to the saint's popularity, the name came into general use in the Christian world (in various spellings).... [more]
Laverne f & m English
From a French surname that was derived from a place name, ultimately from the Gaulish word vern "alder". It is sometimes associated with the Roman goddess Laverna or the Latin word vernus "of spring".
Lennox m & f English (Modern)
From a Scottish surname that was derived from the name of a district in Scotland. The district, called Leamhnachd in Gaelic, possibly means "place of elms". This name steadily rose in popularity in the 2000s, at the same time as the similar-sounding (but unrelated) names Lennon and Knox.
Les m English
Short form of Leslie or Lester.
Lesleigh f English (Rare)
Variant of Leslie.
Lesley f & m English
Variant of Leslie.
Leslie f & m English
From a Scottish surname that was derived from a place in Aberdeenshire, probably from Gaelic leas celyn meaning "garden of holly". It has been used as a given name since the 19th century. In America it was more common as a feminine name after the 1940s.
Lesly f English (Modern)
Variant of Leslie.
Lessie f English
Diminutive of names containing the sound les, such as Leslie.
Liepa f Lithuanian
Means "linden tree" or "July" in Lithuanian.
Lim m & f Chinese
Hokkien Chinese form of Lin.
Lin m & f Chinese
From Chinese 林 (lín) meaning "forest" or 琳 (lín) meaning "fine jade, gem". Other characters can also form this name.
Lina 1 f Arabic
Means either "palm tree" or "tender" in Arabic.
Linden m & f English
From a German and Dutch surname that was derived from Old High German linta meaning "linden tree".
Lindon m English (Rare)
From a surname that was a variant of Lyndon.
Linford m English (Rare)
From a surname that was originally taken from place names meaning either "flax ford" or "linden tree ford" in Old English.
Linton m English
From a surname that was originally from place names meaning either "flax town" or "linden tree town" in Old English.
Linwood m English
From an English surname that was originally from a place name meaning "stream forest" in Old English.
Lora f English
Variant of Laura.
Lorelle f English (Rare)
Variant of Laurel.
Loreto f & m Spanish, Italian
From the name of a town in Italy, originally called Lauretum in Latin, meaning "laurel grove". Supposedly in the 13th century the house of the Virgin Mary was miraculously carried by angels from Nazareth to the town. In Spain it is a feminine name, from the Marian title Nuestra Señora de Loreto, while in Italy it is mostly masculine.
Lotus f English (Rare)
From the name of the lotus flower (species Nelumbo nucifera) or the mythological lotus tree. They are ultimately derived from Greek λωτός (lotos). In Greek and Roman mythology the lotus tree was said to produce a fruit causing sleepiness and forgetfulness.
Lovorka f Croatian
From Croatian lovor meaning "laurel tree".
Lubna f Arabic
Means "storax tree" in Arabic. According to a 7th-century legend Lubna and Qays were a couple forced to divorce by Qays's father.
Lucina f Roman Mythology
Derived from Latin lucus meaning "grove", but later associated with lux meaning "light". This was the name of a Roman goddess of childbirth.
Lyndon m English
From an English surname that was derived from a place name meaning "linden tree hill" in Old English. A famous bearer was American president Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973).
Lynton m English (Rare)
Variant of Linton.
Lynwood m English
Variant of Linwood.
Macdara m Irish, Old Irish
Means "son of oak" in Irish. This was the name of a 6th-century saint from Connemara.
Mai 1 f Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese 梅 (mai) meaning "plum, apricot" (refers specifically to the species Prunus mume).
Maple f English
From the English word for the tree, derived from Old English mapul. This is the name of a girl in Robert Frost's poem Maple (1923) who wonders about the origin of her unusual name.
Marley f & m English (Modern)
From an English surname that was taken from a place name meaning either "pleasant wood", "boundary wood" or "marten wood" in Old English. A famous bearer of the surname was the Jamaican musician Bob Marley (1945-1981).
Mayra f Spanish (Latin American), American (Hispanic)
Hispanic variant of Myra.
Mei 1 f Chinese
From Chinese 美 (měi) meaning "beautiful" or 梅 (méi) meaning "Chinese plum" (species Prunus mume), as well as other characters that are pronounced similarly.
Melia f Greek Mythology
Means "ash tree" in Greek, a derivative of μέλι (meli) meaning "honey". This was the name of a nymph in Greek myth, the daughter of the Greek god Okeanos.
Mélina f French
French form of Melina.
Méline f French
French form of Melina.
Mielikki f Finnish Mythology
Derived from Finnish mieli meaning "mind, mood". This was the name of a Finnish goddess of forests and hunting. By some accounts she is the wife of the god Tapio.
Moriko f Japanese
From Japanese 森 (mori) meaning "forest" and 子 (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji combinations are also possible.
Mu m & f Chinese
From Chinese 慕 (mù) meaning "admire, desire", 木 (mù) meaning "tree, wood", or other characters with similar pronunciations.
Mwenya f & m Southern African, Chewa
From the Chewa word for a type of flowering tree (species Breonadia salicina).
Myra f English
Created by the 17th-century poet Fulke Greville. He possibly based it on Latin myrra meaning "myrrh" (a fragrant resin obtained from a tree). Otherwise, he may have simply rearranged the letters from the name Mary. Although unrelated etymologically, this is also the name of an ancient city of Anatolia.
Myrrhine f Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek μύρρα (myrrha) meaning "myrrh".
Naoki m Japanese
From Japanese 直 (nao) meaning "straight, direct" and 樹 (ki) meaning "tree", as well as other combinations of different kanji with the same pronunciations.
Narine f Armenian
Probably from Persian نار (nar) meaning "pomegranate", considered a sacred fruit in Armenian culture. Alternately, it could be derived from Arabic نار (nar) meaning "fire".
Nash m English (Modern)
From an English surname that was derived from the Middle English phrase atten ash "at the ash tree". A famous bearer of the surname was the mathematician John Nash (1928-2015).... [more]
Ngaio f Maori
Maori name that is derived from the name of a type of tree, also called the mousehole tree. This name was borne by New Zealand crime writer Dame Ngaio Marsh (1895-1982).
Nīkau m Maori
From the name of a type of palm tree found in New Zealand (species Rhopalostylis sapida).
Nîpisiy f Indigenous American, Cree
Means "willow" in Cree.
Noll m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Oliver.
Norwood m English
From a surname that was originally taken from a place name meaning "north wood" in Old English.
Nyssa f Various
From the name of an ancient town of Asia Minor where Saint Gregory was bishop in the 4th century. Nyssa is also the genus name of a type of tree, also called the Tupelo.
Oakley m & f English
From an English surname that was from various place names meaning "oak clearing" in Old English. A famous bearer of the surname was the American sharpshooter Annie Oakley (1860-1926).
Ogden m English (Rare)
From a surname that was derived from a place name meaning "oak valley" in Old English. A famous bearer was the humorous American poet Ogden Nash (1902-1971).
Oihan m Basque
Means "forest" in Basque.
Oihana f Basque
Feminine form of Oihan.
Oli m English
Short form of Oliver.
Olinda f Literature, Portuguese, Spanish (Latin American)
The name of a princess of Norway in the medieval Spanish tale of the knight Amadis of Gaul. It is perhaps related to Greek ὀλύνθη (olynthe) meaning "wild fig tree" (similar to Olindo). Olinda is also the name of a Brazilian city.
Oliva f Late Roman, Spanish
Late Latin name meaning "olive". This was the name of a 2nd-century saint from Brescia.
Olive f English, French
From the English and French word for the type of tree, ultimately derived from Latin oliva.
Olivér m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Oliver.
Oliver m English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Estonian, Catalan, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, Czech, Slovak
From Old French Olivier, possibly derived from a Germanic name, perhaps Old Norse Áleifr (see Olaf) or Frankish Alawar (see Álvaro). The spelling was altered by association with Latin oliva "olive tree". In the Middle Ages the name became well-known in Western Europe because of the French epic La Chanson de Roland, in which Olivier was a friend and advisor of the hero Roland.... [more]
Olivera f Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian
Feminine form of Oliver.
Olivette f Literature
Feminine form of Oliver. This was the name of the title character in the French opera Les noces d'Olivette (1879) by Edmond Audran.
Olivia f English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
This name was used in this spelling by William Shakespeare for a character in his comedy Twelfth Night (1602). This was a rare name in Shakespeare's time that may have been based on Oliva or Oliver, or directly from the Latin word oliva meaning "olive". In the play Olivia is a noblewoman who is wooed by Duke Orsino but instead falls in love with his messenger Cesario, who is actually Viola in disguise.... [more]
Olivier m French, Dutch
French and Dutch form of Oliver. This is also the French word meaning "olive tree".
Oliviero m Italian
Italian form of Oliver.
Oliwer m Polish
Polish form of Oliver.
Oliwier m Polish
Polish form of Oliver.
Ollie m & f English
Diminutive of Oliver, Olivia or Olive.
Oren m Hebrew
Means "pine tree" in Hebrew.
Orna 2 f Hebrew
Feminine form of Oren.
Ornella f Italian
Created by the Italian author Gabriele d'Annunzio for his novel La Figlia di Jorio (1904). It is derived from Tuscan Italian ornello meaning "flowering ash tree".
Owen 2 m Irish
Anglicized form of Eoghan.
Palmer m & f English
From an English surname meaning "pilgrim". It is ultimately from Latin palma "palm tree", since pilgrims to the Holy Land often brought back palm fronds as proof of their journey.
Palmira f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Feminine form of Palmiro.
Palmiro m Italian
Means "pilgrim" in Italian. In medieval times it denoted one who had been a pilgrim to Palestine. It is ultimately from the word palma meaning "palm tree", because of the custom of pilgrims to bring palm fronds home with them. The name is sometimes given to a child born on Palm Sunday.
Perry m English
From a surname that is either English or Welsh in origin. It can be derived from Middle English perrie meaning "pear tree", or else from Welsh ap Herry, meaning "son of Herry". A famous bearer of the surname was Matthew Perry (1794-1858), the American naval officer who opened Japan to the West.
Philis f English (Rare)
Variant of Phyllis.
Phillida f English (Rare)
Variant of Phyllida.
Phillis f English
Variant of Phyllis.
Phyliss f English
Variant of Phyllis.
Phyllida f English (Rare)
From Φυλλίδος (Phyllidos), the genitive form of Phyllis. This form was used in 17th-century pastoral poetry.
Phyllis f Greek Mythology, English
Means "foliage" in Greek. In Greek mythology this was the name of a woman who killed herself out of love for Demophon and was subsequently transformed into an almond tree. It began to be used as a given name in England in the 16th century, though it was often confused with Felicia.
Pihla f Finnish
Derived from Finnish pihlaja meaning "rowan tree".
Piloqutinnguaq f Indigenous American, Greenlandic
Means "little leaf" in Greenlandic, from piloqut "leaf" and the diminutive suffix -nnguaq.
Pinja f Finnish
Means "stone pine" in Finnish.
Pino m Italian
Short form of names ending in pino.
Pinocchio m Literature
Means "pine eye" from Italian pino and occhio. It was created by the Italian author Carlo Collodi for his novel The Adventures of Pinocchio (1883), about a boy made out of wood whose nose grows longer every time he lies. The story was later adapted into a 1940 Disney movie.
Pomona f Roman Mythology
From Latin pomus "fruit tree". This was the name of the Roman goddess of fruit trees.
Randa f Arabic
Means "scented tree" in Arabic.
Ritva f Finnish
Means "birch branch" in Finnish.
Roscoe m English
From an English surname, originally derived from a place name, itself derived from Old Norse rá "roebuck" and skógr "wood, forest".
Rowan m & f Irish, English (Modern)
Anglicized form of the Irish name Ruadhán. As an English name, it can also be derived from the surname Rowan, itself derived from the Irish given name. It could also be given in reference to the rowan tree, a word of Old Norse origin (coincidentally sharing the same Indo-European root meaning "red" with the Irish name).
Rowanne f English (Rare)
Feminine variant of Rowan.
Sakura f Japanese
From Japanese 桜 (sakura) meaning "cherry blossom", though it is often written using the hiragana writing system. It can also come from 咲 (saku) meaning "blossom" and 良 (ra) meaning "good, virtuous, respectable" as well as other kanji combinations.
Samara f English (Modern), Portuguese (Brazilian)
Possibly derived from the name of the city of Samarra (in Iraq) or Samara (in Russia). The former appears in the title of the novel Appointment in Samarra (1934) by John O'Hara, which refers to an ancient Babylonian legend about a man trying to evade death. Alternatively, this name could be derived from the word for the winged seeds that grow on trees such as maples and elms.... [more]
Sawda f Arabic
Possibly means "palm-tree garden" in Arabic. This was the name of a wife of the Prophet Muhammad. She was said to have lived for a time in Abyssinia (modern Ethiopia and Eritrea).
Selbi f Turkmen
Means "cypress" in Turkmen (derived from Persian, ultimately from Sumerian).
Selby m & f English (Rare)
From an English surname that was from a place name meaning "willow farm" in Old Norse.
Sequoia f & m English (Rare)
From the name of huge trees that grow in California. The tree got its name from the 19th-century Cherokee scholar Sequoyah (also known as George Guess), the inventor of the Cherokee writing system.
Shaw m English (Rare)
From a surname. As an English surname it is derived from Old English sceaga meaning "thicket". As a Scottish surname it is derived from the Gaelic byname Sitheach meaning "wolf".
Shelby m & f English
From an English surname, which was possibly a variant of Selby. Though previously in use as a rare masculine name, it was popularized as a feminine name by the main character in the movie The Woman in Red (1935). It was later reinforced by the movie Steel Magnolias (1989) in which Julia Roberts played a character by this name.
Sherwood m English
From an English place name (or from a surname that was derived from it) meaning "bright forest". This was the name of the forest in which the legendary outlaw Robin Hood made his home.
Silas m English, Greek, Danish, German, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
The name of a companion of Saint Paul in the New Testament. It is probably a short form of Silvanus, a name that Paul calls him by in the epistles. It is possible that Silvanus and Silas were Latin and Greek forms of the Hebrew name Saul (via Aramaic).... [more]