181 nature boy names for your future outdoorsman

Mother nature may be feminine, but she's a great source of strong, timeless names for boys. Parents have been turning to nature to name their sons for millennia. Just like the flora and fauna of the natural world, the names inspired by nature are varied, so you're bound to find one that's right for your family.

Some names like Ocean, River, or Cloud are obviously linked to nature. If that's too on-the-nose for your tastes, there are plenty of classic first names and surnames that are inspired by the natural world. Take Sawyer, for example. The English name can mean "woodcutter," but also refers to a tree bobbing on the surface of a stream – a beautiful image that pays homage to nature in a more subtle way.

Whether you're looking for a refined, sophisticated name (like Basil or Sage), a rugged new-age name (like Bear, Brock, or Blaze), or a classic name (like Leo, Dillon, or Dale), you can find inspiration in nature – and on this list.

75 earthy boy names

River

Literally, a river is a natural stream of water and is rooted in Latin. Figuratively, the name River brings to mind the power, grace, and beauty of flowing water.

Sage

Sage is a shrubby, aromatic herb whose name comes from the Latin word salvia, meaning "healthy."

Reed

Reeds are tall grasses with slender stems that grow in wet areas. As a name, Reed is thought to be rooted in the Old English word read, meaning "red."

Clay

Clay is an earthy material used for brick, tile, and pottery, and also an enduring Old English name.

Forrest

While forest means "a dense growth of trees and underbrush," it often takes a slightly different spelling as a name – Forrest.

Bear

Whether you're invoking the large, carnivorous mammal of the family Ursidae or a cute cuddly cub, Bear is an Old English name from the ancient Proto-Germanic word bero, literally meaning "the brown one."

Stone

Literally meaning "a piece of rock," the Old English name Stone conveys strength and permanence.

Dale

Dale means "valley" in Old English.

Ridge

Ridge means "a range of hills or mountains." It originates from an Old English word meaning "back of a man or beast."

Dusty

Although it literally means "covered with dust," the name Dusty feels fresh. It can also be a nickname for Dustin, which is likely a form of an Old Norse name meaning "Thor's stone."

Flint

Flint is a hard, dark quartz that produces sparks when struck. This name calls to mind fire and ruggedness.

Hawk

A bird of prey belonging to the order Falconiformes, Hawk is also an Old English name with modern appeal.

Cliff

Meaning "a steep face of rock," the English name Cliff is very masculine.

Woody

Meaning "overgrown with trees or shrubs," the English name Woody is also a nickname for Woodrow.

Wolfe

Wolfe is an alternate spelling of wolf and was originally used as a nickname, eventually became a surname, and is now on its way to becoming a given name in its own right.

Birch

The English name Birch refers to the deciduous tree in the genus Betula, known for its white bark.

Tree

The English name Tree refers to the woody perennial plant.

Onyx

Onyx is a type of quartz. It's derived from a Greek word meaning "nail" because the mineral's coloring sometimes resembles a human fingernail with pink and white streaks.

Fields

Meaning "open areas of land," the English name Fields is also a surname for someone who lived near a field.

Buck

Buck has a couple of meanings in English – it's the term for a young male deer, but it's also figuratively used to mean "a spirited young man."

Bud

Bud is the English term for a growth that'll eventually develop into a flower or leaf, though it's also a form of buddy, meaning "friend."

Canyon

Canyon is an English word now, but was originally a Spanish word for a narrow valley between cliffs.

Albion

Meaning "rock" or "crag," the Celtic word Albion is also a poetic term for Britain.

Arbor

Arbor derives from French and means "tree" or "garden."

Avon

Avon is a Celtic word meaning "river."

Aspen

Often called the "shaking tree" because of the way its leaves quiver in the wind, Aspen is rooted in Old English.

Clive

Clive was originally an English surname for someone who lived near a cliff.

Dallas

Dallas comes from a Gaelic word meaning "meadow stance," which was a meadow used as an overnight resting place for cattle herders and their cows.

Harley

The English name Harley means "stone clearing" or "hare clearing."

Heath

Heath is an English word for untilled land.

Hollis

The English name Hollis means "holly."

Juniper

Juniper is a type of coniferous tree whose berries are used to make gin.

Jade

The English name Jade refers to a precious gem whose name comes from the Spanish phrase piedra de la ijada, meaning "stone of side pain." In ancient times, it was believed that jade could help ease such pain.

Jasper

As a name, Jasper is thought to be related to a Persian name meaning "treasurer." But jasper is also a type of precious stone valued for its grounding and protecting properties.

Drake

Drake is an English word meaning "male duck," but it's also related to the Old English word draca, meaning "snake" or "dragon."

Douglas

The Scottish name Douglas means "dark stream." It also refers to a type of evergreen pine tree native to the western United States.

Everest

Everest is the English name for the highest mountain in the world.

Falke

The German name Falke means "falcon."

Fabian

The name Fabian originates in a Latin word meaning "bean," and might mean "bean farmer."

Fayruz

Fayruz is a Persian name meaning "turquoise."

Florian

Florian is rooted in the Latin word flos, meaning "flower."

Fisher

Fisher was originally an English surname for someone who fished for a living, though it's sometimes used as a given name now.

Ford

A ford is a shallow place where water can be crossed safely. As a name, Ford was originally an English surname for someone who lived near such a river crossing.

Finch

Finch is an English name for a type of songbird.

Gen

Gen is a Chinese name meaning "root."

Lee

Lee is an English name that means "clearing."

Leland

The English name Leland means "fallow land."

Lachlan

Lachlan comes from Scottish and means "land of the lakes."

Lennox

The Scottish name Lennox means "place of elms."

Lin

The Chinese name Lin means "beautiful jade."

Kailash

The Sanskrit name Kailash refers to a mountain in the Himalayas and the legendary home of Kubera, the Hindu god of wealth.

Keith

Keith is a Scottish name that means "wood."

Koa

Koa is a Hawaiian name meaning "warrior," though it's also tied to the koa tree, which is significant in Hawaiian culture.

Nagendra

The Sanskrit name Nagendra means "mighty serpent" or "mighty elephant."

Oren

The Hebrew name Oren means "pine tree."

Orson

Orson is a name of Latin origin that means "bear."

Oleander

The Latin name Oleander refers to a poisonous shrub also known as rose bay.

Robin

The English name Robin is shared with a small songbird. As a name, it was originally a nickname for Robert, a Norman French name meaning "bright fame."

Rocky

As a name, Rocky started out as a nickname for a tough person, popularized by boxing champion Rocky Marciano. His name was an anglicized version of Rocco, an Italian name related to a Germanic word meaning "rest." Of course, rocky is also an English word meaning "full of rocks."

Rowan

Rowan, also known as the mountain ash, is a type of tree in the rose family. Its name may be ultimately derived from the ancient Proto-Indo-European word reudh, meaning "red," because of the color of its berries.

Shan

The Chinese name Shan means "mountain," a symbol of greatness, achievement, and longevity. It can also mean "elegant bearing."

Silas

The Greek name Silas means "of the woods."

Sylvan

Sylvan is a Latin name that also means "of the woods."

Todd

The English name Todd means "fox."

Vance

Vance is an English name meaning "dweller of the marsh."

Warren

The French name Warren means "game park."

Barclay

Barclay is an English name meaning "birch clearing."

Peter

Peter comes from a Greek word meaning "stone."

Perry

The English name Perry means "by the pear tree."

Philip

The Greek name Philip means "friend of horses."

Raleigh

The English name Raleigh means "deer clearing."

Riaz

Riaz is an Arabic name meaning "meadows" or "gardens."

Tulsi

Tulsi comes from a Sanskrit word for holy basil, a plant sacred in Hindu mythology for its ties to Vishnu, the creator and protector of the universe.

Rainier

This French name refers to Mount Rainier, the tallest peak in Washington.

Wolfgang

Wolfgang is a German name meaning "wolves' path."

35 rare nature boy names

These rare names haven't appeared in the top 1,000 boys' names in the United States in at least 10 years, if not longer.

Ash

Ash comes from Old English refers to the powdery remains of a fire; it's also a genus of trees.

Glenn

The Scottish name Glenn means "valley."

Roan

The French name Roan refers to the color used to describe horses with reddish-brown hair interspersed with white.

Sunny

Sunny literally means "full of sunshine," but also describes a person who has a cheerful disposition.

Storm

Rooted in Old English, Storm means a heavy fall of rain, hail, or snow.

Basil

Basil is an aromatic shrubby plant. It's originally from the Greek basileus, meaning "king," because the basil plant was used to make royal perfumes in ancient times.

Linden

The Old English name Linden means "lime tree."

Lake

Lake refers to an inland body of standing water. It comes from the Latin word lacus, but has even more ancient roots in Proto-Indo-European.

West

West is thought to come from an ancient Proto-Indo-European word meaning "evening" or "night," because west refers to the general direction of sunset.

Cedar

Cedar comes from the Greek word kedros and is a coniferous tree of the pine family.

Cloud

Cloud, ironically, originates from the Old English word clud, which means "mass of rock" – but clouds themselves evoke lightness.

Air

Air is a sweet elemental name that embodies freedom and movement. This English word is originally rooted in Greek and Latin.

Bay

Bay has a few nature-related meanings – it's a protected inlet of water, a dog's howl, and a reddish-brown color usually for horses.

Bran

Bran is a Welsh name that means "raven."

Bradford

Bradford is an English name meaning "broad ford."

Cielo

Cielo is the Spanish word for sky.

Clifford

The English name Clifford means "ford at the cliff."

Conan

Conan is an Irish name meaning "little wolf."

Cosmo

Cosmo is an Italian name meaning "order" or "beauty," and shares the same root as the English word cosmos.

Ember

Ember is a warm and comforting name that literally means "small coal" and brings to mind a soft, welcoming fire.

Garland

Garland means "wreath," and originally referred to both a wreath of natural materials like flowers, but also a crown or coronet made of metal. As a name, it started out as an English surname for someone who wore garlands often or for someone who made them for a living.

Grover

Grover was originally a surname with two potential meanings. In English, it was used by people who lived near a grove of trees; but it's also rooted in the Middle Low German word grove, meaning "hollow grave," and was used by someone who dug ditches or graves for a living.

Lightning

Lightning is a visible discharge of energy from a cloud. This striking name embodies the power of nature.

Murray

Murray is a Scottish surname that comes from a Gaelic phrase meaning "sea settlement."

Willow

Willow is the English name for a tree with long, hanging branches.

Winter

Winter refers to the coldest season, and it may be rooted in an ancient Proto-Indo-European word meaning either "wet season" or "white season."

Zephyr

Zephyr comes from a Greek word meaning "west wind." In Greek mythology, Zephyrus is the personification of the west wind. He's the gentlest of the wind gods and is often associated with spring and flowers.

Sol

Sol means "sun" in Spanish, though it's also a nickname for the Hebrew name Solomon, which means "peaceful."

Tao

Tao is a Chinese name meaning "great waves."

Bilal

Bilal is rooted in Arabic and means "moist" or "wetting," referring to the blessing of rain.

Zuhair

Zuhair is an Arabic name that means "little flower."

Arun

Arun is a Sanskrit name referring to a reddish-brown color – the color of dawn, gold, and rubies.

Rad

The Arabic name Rad means "thunder."

Sher

The Persian name Sher means "lion."

Quan

Quan means "hot spring" in Chinese.

71 more nature boy names

Callum

Callum is a Scottish form of the Late Latin name Columba, which means "dove."

Blaze

Blaze refers to an intensely burning fire, and the word's origins are just as intense: It's rooted in a Proto-Germanic word that means "bright," "shining," and "white."

Leo

Leo is the Latin word for lion.

Orion

Orion is a constellation visible during winter in the northern hemisphere, named after the hunter Orion in Greek mythology.

Ocean

Ocean is rooted in a Greek word, where it originally meant "endless river" – which is what the ancient Greeks believed the ocean to be before humanity learned that the Earth is round.

Cove

Cove nowadays usually refers to a recessed inlet or bay, but historically its context also included a recess or valley in a mountain. This charming name conjures a feeling of shelter and protection.

North

North refers to the compass direction, of course – but more importantly, it brings to mind arctic expeditions, sea ice, strong winds, and all the rugged danger of the Great White North.

Gale

Gale means "strong wind." It's thought to be rooted in ancient words meaning "to sing" and "to yell," because of the sound a strong wind makes.

Adam

Adam comes from Hebrew and means "earth."

Adler

Adler is a German name that means "noble eagle."

Alan

Alan is a Celtic name whose meaning is uncertain, but it's thought to mean "little rock."

Arthur

Arthur is another ancient Celtic name with uncertain meaning, but it's been tied to a word meaning "bear."

Ari

Ari is a Hebrew name meaning "lion."

Arvind

Arvind is a Sanskrit name that means "lotus."

Atlas

Atlas is an adventurous name meaning "a bound collection of maps." It's also the name of the Greek Titan who holds the world. In that context, the name means "the bearer" or "mountain."

Babar

Babar is a Turkish name meaning "lion."

Badr

Badr is an Arabic name that means "full moon."

Bailey

Bailey was originally an English surname for someone who lived near a berry clearing.

Bentley

Bentley is an English name meaning "bent-grass clearing."

Bhaskar

Bhaskar is a Sanskrit name that means "bright sunlight."

Blair

The Gaelic name Blair means "plain" or "field."

Bo

The Chinese name Bo means "waves."

Braden

Braden comes from a Gaelic name meaning "salmon."

Brock

Brock was originally a Middle English nickname for someone who looked like a badger and is rooted in the Celtic word for the animal.

Bryce

This Welsh name means "speckled" or "freckled," but is also the name of Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah.

Caspian

Caspian refers to the Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water between Europe and Asia. Its name comes from the Greek name for the group of people who lived near the sea.

Chandan

Chandan means "sandalwood" in Sanskrit.

Chandra

Chandra means "moon" in Sanskrit.

Clayton

Clayton is an English name meaning "clay settlement."

Clifton

Clifton is an English name meaning "settlement by a cliff."

Colin

Colin has a couple meanings as a name. It's the anglicized version of the Scottish name Cailean, which means "pup" or "young dog." But it also comes from a medieval nickname for Nicholas, which is rooted in Greek and means "victory of the people."

Corbin

Corbin was originally a French surname thought to be rooted in corbeau, meaning "raven."

Dimitri

Dimitri or Dmitri is a Russian name that means "devotee of Demeter," the Greek goddess of the harvest.

Dylan

Dylan is a Welsh name with uncertain origins, but it's connected to a Celtic word meaning "sea."

Elio

Elio is a form of Helios, which means "sun" in Greek and is the name of the personification of the sun in Greek mythology.

Elon

Elon means "oak tree" in Hebrew.

Fahd

Fahd is an Arabic name meaning "panther" or "leopard."

Feng

Feng means "wind" and "sharp blade" in Chinese.

George

George comes from a Greek name meaning "farmer" or "earth-worker."

Gulzar

Gulzar is a Persian name meaning "rose garden."

Hai

The Chinese name Hai means "sea."

Haidar

The Arabic name Haidar means "lion."

Hari

Hari means "brown" or "green" in Sanskrit.

Hong

In Chinese, the name Hong means "wild swan" or "red."

Indra

Indra is the Hindu god of the sky and lord of rain, whose name is thought to come from a Sanskrit phrase meaning "possessing drops of rain."

Jafar

Jafar means "small river" or "stream" in Arabic.

Jiang

The Chinese name Jiang refers to the Yangtze River.

Jinan

Jinan means "gardens" or "paradise" in Arabic.

Jonah

In Hebrew, Jonah means "dove."

Landon

The English name Landon means "long hill."

Lei

Lei is a Chinese name meaning "thunder." It also means "flower" in Hawaiian.

Kai

Kai comes from a Hawaiian word meaning "ocean."

Kiran

Kiran is a Sanskrit name meaning "ray of light," as in a sunbeam or moonbeam.

Kyle

Kyle is a Scottish name meaning "strait" or "channel."

Maxwell

Maxwell is a Scottish name meaning "Mack's stream."

Miles

Miles are a measurement of distance in English. It's rooted in the Latin word milia, which means "thousands." As a name, Miles is also tied to a Latin word meaning "soldier."

Murphy

Murphy is an anglicized version of a Scottish name meaning "sea warrior."

Nur

The Arabic name Nur means "light."

Peng

The Chinese name Peng refers to the roc, the giant mythological bird.

Pran

In Sanskrit, Pran means "breath" or "life-force."

Qiu

Qiu is a Chinese name meaning "autumn" and is often given to babies born during the season.

Rajiv

Rajiv means "striped" in Sanskrit, and is the name of a species of fish and blue lotus.

Ravi

Ravi is a Sanskrit name meaning "sun," and is the name of the sun god in Hindu mythology.

Ray

Ray is rooted in French and means "beam of light," though it's also a nickname for Raymond, an Old French name that means "wise protector."

Rio

Rio means "river" in Spanish.

Sawyer

Sawyer was originally an occupational English surname for someone who sawed wood for a living.

Sunil

Sunil means "deep, dark blue" in Sanskrit.

Surya

The Sanskrit name Surya means "sun," and is the name of the Hindu sun god in his physical form as ruler of the sky.

Talal

Talal is an Arabic name meaning "dew" or "fine rain."

Wesley

Wesley is an Old English name meaning "western wood."

Zion

Zion is a Hebrew name meaning that evolved from a place name for a hill in eastern Jerusalem.