87 Nature-Inspired Baby Names That Feel Modern and On-Trend

Choosing a baby name is one of the most exciting decisions you’ll make when you’re expecting —or in the first few days after finally meeting your baby (it’s a big decision!). Earlier this year, we combed through our very own Babylist Babes name chart (where real Babylist parents share their baby’s name and birth date) to predict the 2024 baby name trends and have kept a close eye to see which are actually topping the chart so far, and noticed that nature-inspired baby names was one of the most popular categories on our list. 

After going over the baby names submitted for 2023 and 2024, we found earthy names like Sage, Juniper, Wren, Hazel, Rowan and RIver were trending. And parents aren’t just using nature for first name inspo—we also noticed a ton of nature-inspired middle names, which comes as no surprise since middle names are where parents can get creative with baby-naming can shine. Some of the most popular nature-inspired middle names include Sage (making another appearance), Dove, Jade, Rose, Sol (Spanish for Sun) and Wilder. 

Whether you’re drawn to the beauty of a flower or the mystery of the stars, there’s a perfect nature-inspired name for every baby. We gathered the top nature names from the Babylist Babes chart to spark your creativity and give you a few new ideas to add to your list.

Plant and Flower-Inspired Baby Names

Flower-inspired names are timeless and seem to fit perfectly for both sweet little babies and the adults they’ll one day grow to be. Lily was the most popular floral name on our Babylist Babes list, with Violet as a close second. Poppy, Iris and Sage were also top picks. Here are a few more plant and flower-inspired names from our list, plus some extra.

Tree-Inspired Baby Names

Of tree-inspired nature names, Olivia, Oliver and Olive (think Olive tree) were the most popular—especially when comparing their combined numbers. Some of these names are more obvious in their tree origins, like Willow, Cedar and Ash, while Lennox (“elm grove”), Ayla (“oak tree”) and Hazel are a bit more under-the-radar. Quite a few make great gender-neutral name picks.

Fauna-Inspired Baby Names

Whether real or mythical, the animal kingdom is a great source of baby name inspiration. Bear has been a popular choice for baby boys. And in recent years, Paloma—which means dove in Spanish—has climbed in rank. We also see the English version, Dove, increasing in popularity for first and middle names.

Water-Inspired Baby Names

Water is a soothing yet powerful force—these names are an ode to its many different shapes and forms.

Fruit and Herb-Inspired Baby Names

What’s sweeter than naming your baby after a piece of fruit? These names are inspired by delightful things found in the garden.

Unique Nature-Inspired Baby Names

These names celebrate the wider scope of Earth’s natural wonders, from the celestial to the elements.

Nature-Inspired Middle Names

Many of the names on this list can also make great middle names, here are a few we spotted as middle names on our list. 

How Do I Add My Baby’s Name to Babylist Babes?

If you’d like your baby’s name to be featured on our list, here’s how to do it! Once baby arrives, open any Babylist weekly pregnancy or parenting email and click on “enter your baby’s arrival date” at the top. You can also submit their name and birthdate here! (Note: you’ll need to be logged into your Babylist account). We can't wait to see what you name your Babylist baby!