83 floral boy names plucked straight from our garden

5 popular floral boy names

These sweet boy names are currently ranked in the top 100 in the United States.

Aaron

Aaron's beard is also another name for a flowering shrub found in southeastern Europe known as St. John's wort. This biblical name is so ancient its meaning has been lost to time.

William

William refers here to the flower called sweet William. The English common name for a dianthus flower, "sweet William" is a common name for gallant young men in English folklore. The name is rooted in Germanic and means "resolute protector."

Anthony

Anthony is the English form of the ancient Roman family name Antonius, which has uncertain origins. The "th" in the name comes from people later tying it to the Greek word anthos, which means "flower."

Oliver

Oliver has a couple of potential origins: It could be rooted in the Old Norse name Oleifr, which means "ancestral relic," or it could come from the Latin word oliva, which means "olive tree." Okay, so it's not technically a flower – but olive trees do grow small, white, feathery flowers in addition to their fruit.

Rowan

Rowan trees, also known as mountain ash, are steeped in folklore and regarded as symbols of protection. The tree's small, creamy white flowers grow in dense clusters.

15 unique floral boy names

None of these special names have appeared in the top 500 boy names in the U.S. in the past decade – and many have never ranked in the top 500.

Aletris

Aletris, also known as the colicroot, colicweed, or unicorn root, is a perennial herb with grass-like leaves and white or yellow flowers. Its name comes from an ancient Greek word for a slave who ground grain.

Briar

The name Briar comes from an Old English word used to describe thorny bushes of wild roses.

Bud

Bud is a shortened form of the English name "Buddy," which means "friend" – but bud also refers to the early stage of a flower blossom.

Dianthus

Dianthus is the name of a genus of flowers with species including carnations and sweet William. These flowers come in vibrant shades of pink, purple, white, and red. Rooted in ancient Greek, Dianthus means "flowers of Zeus."

Floris

Floris is a Dutch form of the French name Florence, which means "blossoming, flourishing." It's originally rooted in the Latin word flos, which means "flower."

Florent

Florent is a masculine French variation of Florence. Another variation is the German Florenz.

Galanthus

Galanthus is another name for the snowdrop flower and derives from Greek words meaning "milk flower." Snowdrops are among the first flowers to bloom in late winter and symbolize hope.

Gulzar

A rare name in the U.S., Gulzar is rooted in Persian and means "rose garden."

Hyacinth

Hyacinth is a gender-neutral name with roots in Greek mythology. These fragrant, beautiful flowers symbolize forgiveness: Hyacinthus was a mortal man loved by the Greek god Apollo, but was accidentally killed when he was struck by a discus Apollo threw during a game.

Indigo

Indigo is a small shrub with delicate flowers in shades of pink, purple or blue. This plant was one of the original sources of indigo dye, and its name is rooted in a Greek word meaning "from India."

Larkspur

Larkspur is a tall, flowering plant with spiky blooms that resemble a lark's spur or claw – thus the name. It symbolizes levity and lifted spirits.

Lupin

Lupin comes from a Latin word meaning "wolf-like." Lupin flowers are vibrant and long-blooming.

Watson

Watson is an English surname meaning "son of Wat," a nickname for Walter. (Walter comes from a Germanic Frankish name meaning "army ruler.) The name Watson is also a nod to the Watsonia genus of flowers – also known as the bugle lily – which is named after the British botanist Sir William Watson.

Phlox

Phlox is rooted in a Greek word meaning "flame," so named because of the plant's intensely colored flowers.

Yarrow

Yarrow is a hardy plant known for its fern-like leaves and clusters of tiny flowers. Its name is thought to come from the same ancient root as the word "yellow," and in ancient times was used in medicine for its healing properties.

13 cute flower names for boys

Aster

Aster flowers' name comes from the Greek and Latin word for "star." They're associated with daintiness in floriography (the symbolic language of flowers) because of their long, delicate petals.

Ambrose

The name Ambrose shares Greek and Latin roots with Ambrosia, a genus of flowering plants. In Greek mythology, ambrosia was the food and drink of the gods – and the ancient Greek word ambrotos means "immortal."

Bahia

Bahia is a perennial flower from the aster family. This flower got its name, which means "bay" in Spanish, from Spanish botanist Juan Francisco Bahi.

Calyx

Calyx refers to the outer part of the flower that surrounds the growing bud. It comes from the Greek word kalyx, which means "seed" or "pod."

Cosmo

Cosmo comes from a Greek word meaning "order" and usually refers to the universe, though cosmos are also colorful annual flowers that adorn many gardens.

Florian

Florian comes from the ancient Roman name Florianus, which is rooted in a Latin word meaning "flowery."

Jacinto

Jacinto is the Spanish word for hyacinth.

Kamal

Kamal has meanings in a couple of languages. In Sanskrit, it means "pink" and is the name for a type of lotus flower. The Brahma kamal plant is sacred in Hindu traditions. In Arabic, Kamal means "perfection."

Reed

Reeds are tall, slender plants commonly found along bodies of water. Reed is also a variation of the Scottish name Reid, which comes from the Old English word for "red."

Ren

Ren is a Japanese name with a few different meanings, depending on the characters used to spell the name. One of its meanings is "lotus flower."

Senna

Senna is a group of flowering plants native to the tropics. Its name derives from an Arabic word that means "to shine."

Thistle

Thistle is a hardy, spiny plant that symbolizes resilience and protection. It's also the national flower of Scotland.

Zuhayr

Also spelled Zuhair, Zuhayr is an Arabic name that means "little flower."

20 plant names for boys

Aloe

Aloe is a shrub with thick leaves whose juice is historically known for its healing properties – aloe gel is still used for sunburn relief today.

Basil

Basil is rooted in a Greek word that means "kingly," and was so named because in antiquity the aromatic herb and its flowers were used to make royal perfumes.

Bay

Bay comes from the Old French word baie and is sometimes used as a nickname for Bailey. Bay leaves are also aromatic herbs used in cooking.

Celyn

Celyn is a Welsh word meaning "holly," a plant that symbolizes foresight and protection in many European pagan traditions.

Chandan

Chandan means "sandalwood" in Sanskrit, but more specifically refers to a paste made from the wood that's used in Hindu religious ceremonies.

Coleus

Coleus is a popular summer shrub known for its vibrant shades of green, yellow, pink and red. Its name comes from the Greek word koleon, meaning "sheath."

Dill

Dill most likely originated as a nickname for Dillon, a Welsh name connected to the Celtic word for "sea." Dill is also an aromatic herb known for its culinary, medicinal, and calming properties.

Fennel

Fennel is a flowering perennial herb with a sweet fragrance. It comes from a Latin word meaning "hay."

Fern

Ferns are ancient, non-flowering plants known for their feathery, divided leaves that uncoil and expand as they grow. The name Fern is thought to be rooted in ancient, proto-Indo-European root words meaning "feather" or "wing."

Gentian

Gentian was named after an ancient king who supposedly discovered the plant's use in beverages – it's now a common ingredient in aperitifs.

Kale

Kale has a couple of potential meanings as a name: It's a Hawaiian form of Charles (a French name meaning "free man"), and it's possibly an anglicized form of the Irish name Cathal (meaning "battle ruler"). Kale is also a type of cabbage known for its deep green, wrinkly leaves.

Lars

Lars is a Scandinavian form of Laurence, a French name thought to originally be rooted in the Latin word for laurel – also known as the plant bay leaves come from.

Monarda

Monarda is a genus of plants also known as bee balm or bergamot – a vibrant, aromatic prized for its round flowers in shades of red, pink, purple or white. The genus is named after Spanish botanist Nicolas Monardes.

Oleander

Oleander, or rosebay, is a large, flowering shrub known for hardiness and adaptability. In Victorian floriography, the plant is associated with caution, both because it's poisonous and because it's related to the Greek myth of the lovers Hero and Leander. Leander swam across the sea every night to be with Hero, but drowned one night when he tried to cross during a storm. Hero then drowned herself out of grief.

Sage

Sage is a type of shrub that belongs to the mint family. The plant is a symbol of wisdom and is often used in cooking and herbal medicine. Its name is rooted in the Latin word salvia, meaning "healthy," though it's also associated with the Latin word sapere, meaning "to be wise."

Sorrel

Sorrel is a perennial herb plant with small, round flowers. Its name derives from an Old French word meaning "sour," because of the taste of its leaves.

Starling

Hedera helix, also called starling ivy or English ivy, is an evergreen climber plant known for its versatility and hardiness. The name Starling could refer to the bird and the plant, or it could be a variant of Sterling, meaning "little star."

Tarun

Tarun is a Sanskrit name that means "young" and "tender," usually in reference to the newly rising sun and young plants.

Vervain

Vervain is another word for verbena, an herb known for its delicate appearance and medicinal properties. It symbolizes healing, protection, and enchantment.

Riaz

Riaz is an Arabic name that means "gardens" or "meadows."

30 tree names for boys

Alder

Alder is an English surname for someone who lived near an alder tree or group of alder trees. This tree's hanging flowers, called catkins, are clustered yellow and look like furry caterpillars.

Ash

Ash trees are large trees that appear round and symmetrical. They thrive in urban areas and symbolize healing, magic, and life.

Aspen

Aspen, derived from Old English, is commonly called quaking aspens in North America because of the way the tree's leaves quiver in the wind.

Balsam

Balsam is a type of evergreen fir known for its aromatic resin – and is a popular choice as a Christmas tree. Historically, balsam resin has been used to heal wounds and ease pain, and shares the same Hebrew root as the word "balm."

Banyan

Banyan, sometimes spelled banian, is a type of fig tree and the national tree of India. Its name is rooted in the Sanskrit word vanija, meaning "merchant."

Birch

Birch trees are known for their striking white bark, and the word birch is rooted in an ancient Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to shine" or "bright white."

Cedar

Cedar is a majestic tree that symbolizes strength, wisdom, and protection. Revered for its enduring wood, it evokes nature's timeless serenity.

Cypress

Cypress is known for its graceful form and strength. Significant in various religious traditions, the cypress symbolizes longevity and endurance.

Dara

Dara comes from the Irish surname MacDara, which means "son of oak."

Douglas

The evergreen Douglas fir is a popular Christmastime decoration – and the tree can live for more than 1,000 years. Douglas is a Scottish name that means "dark stream."

Elm

Elm is the toughest wood native to Europe, and historically has been used to make ships and wheels – though they're also noted for their wide, graceful branches.

Ewan

Ewan is the anglicized version of Eoghan, an Irish name said to mean "born of yew" – and the name of two legendary figures in Irish folklore.

Forrest

Forrest is an English surname for someone who lived near a forest.

Hawthorne

Hawthorne is an English surname that comes from the hawthorn tree, which was commonly used as a hedge around homes. In fact, that's where the word "hawthorn" comes from – haw is an Old English word meaning "hedge."

Hollis

Hollis is an English surname originally used by families who lived near holly trees or holly groves. Hollies have long been used in pagan traditions for protection and foresight.

Jarrah

Jarrah is a type of eucalyptus tree native to Australia. It produces a thick, sweet-tasting honey, and its wood is used to make furniture and musical instruments.

Juniper

Juniper is a type of tree whose name is derived from the Latin word juniperis. Juniper trees bear small seed cones called berries, which are used for making gin.

Keith

Keith was originally a Scottish surname for someone who lived in the lands of Keith in East Lothian. It's thought to be rooted in a Celtic word meaning "wood."

Koa

Koa is a Hawaiian word with many meanings, including "bravery and "warrior" – and it's the name of the largest tree native to the islands. The koa tree is sacred in Hawaiian tradition.

Laurence

Laurence, also spelled Lawrence, comes from the Latin word laurus, which means "laurel tree."

Linden

Linden is an English surname that means "lime tree."

Masaki

Masaki is a Japanese name that means either "elegant tree" or "correct record," depending on the kanji, or characters, used to spell the name.

Mikio

Mikio is another Japanese name, meaning "tree trunk man" – implying he'll be the foundation of a family tree with many descendants.

Moss

Moss is a Medieval English nickname for the biblical name Moses. Moss is also the soft, verdant plant often found on tree trunks.

Oakley

Oakley is an English surname that means "oak clearing" in Old English.

Oren

Oren is a Hebrew name that means "pine tree."

Spruce

Spruce is a type of evergreen tree best known for its popularity as a Christmas tree.

Sylvan

Sylvan comes from the Latin word silva, which means "wood" or "forest."

Vernon

Vernon is derived from a Norman surname, which itself comes from the Gaulish word vern, meaning "alder" – as in the tree.

Yves

Yves is a French name that means "yew."

Betsy Shaw contributed to this article.