Just for Fun – Tree Hugging Baby Names
March 26, 2008 by Jennifer
In a comment thread of a post the other day, we got a little off topic. The original post is about a cool way to help support families dealing with Autism, but in the comments we started chatting about baby names (weird right). Anyhow, I thought as something a little different and fun we could look at some super keen tree hugging names for babies. We were a little serious yesterday anyhow. We could use some fun.
If you’re a tree hugger, having your own little tree hugger soon, then you might want to consider some of these names.
Names for my own little tree hugger:
We knew we were having a boy (I just knew) and we had some boy names lined up which were:
- Cedar
- Ocean
- River
- Zen
- Lane
We also had some baby girl names picked out (in case I was wrong – um, right).
- Sorrel: this is one of my favorites, it’s a little forest rose.
- Willow
- Sage
- Daisy
Of course I wasn’t wrong, and we (Cedar’s dad and I) ultimately went with Cedar; mainly because we gave him the last name Blue, and it went nicely with Cedar.
Also, Cedar had the most meaning for us. We liked the other names, but before Cedar was born we traveled a lot, and one of our favorite places we visited is full of Cedar trees. Note that if I ever have a girl, I actually am going with another name (not one of the 4 above) but that name is a secret 
Tree hugging names that my friends have used for their children:
Hil over at Eco Friendly Driver told the cutest story in the comments yesterday: “My daughter’s name is Strata, and one day at the park … we met a little boy named Ocean. How is cool is that? So the water met the sky, and they played until the sun went down.”
My pal Stacey at Hippie Sounds has five daughters, all with beautiful names; Rowyn, Syenna, Lily, Vyolette and my absolute favorite, another tree hugging name – Wynter. I interviewed Stacey a long time ago as a mama who rocks, and she noted that “My husband insisted on a “y” in all of their names so I had to get creative in their spelling (obviously). Syenna was chosen for the Italian city of, as I was working on a story centered around that beautiful place, and Wynter was born on Christmas. While Holly and Noelle (or even Merry) are quite nice names, I couldn’t be that normal.”
On of my good girlfriends in Humboldt – Ruby, had a baby girl named Sequoia – when we’d get our kids together we’d have two little trees. How sweet is that. Actually, I knew quite a few tree hugging named babies and kids in Humboldt.
Two of the little girls I mentored through Big Sisters of America were named Sierra and Syenna – which I swear I didn’t plan. Weird.
In New Mexico one of the unschooling families we knew had a baby girl named Miracle. Which is less tree hugging, and more hopeful, but I think it fits this list.
Other tree hugging-based names to consider:
Bay- Rosemary – or just Rose
- Myrtle
- Solstice
- Angelica
- Cypress
- Jasmine
- Lavender – I think this makes a better last name
- Basil
- Eden
- Lily
- Violet
- Cherry
- Aspen
- Holly
- Rain
- Daphne
- Summer
- Fennel
- Lake
- Cicely
- Saffron
- Freedom
- Olive
- Clover
- Amber
- Petunia
- Rainbow (I actually knew a Rainbow)
Camellia- Poppy
- Clover
- Heather
- Iris
- Nerola
- Anise
- Juniper
- Meadow
- Peony
- Skye
- Lief
- Stormy
- Hazel
- Alyssa
- Marigold
- Curry
- Laurel
- Ash – or Ashton
- Bluebell
- Peace
- Calla
- Dahlia
- Amaryllis
- Ivy
- Pansy
Hopefully, I didn’t list any twice.
What are some other cool tree hugging names you like?
I know a few “green” names all of them chosen in the same families and some of them are names after cities or important places the parents have visited…laurel and seinna, hunter and montana, sierra, gray, etc.
If you look into the Chinese culture it is very common to look back into history or to nature to name a child. http://www.achildchosen.com/the-history-of-chinese-given-names/
Our three girls are named Nico Sage (after nico blue hydrangeas), Kaya Jade and Luna Blue. Their Dad and I grew up with at least 5 other kids in our grade with the same names (Michelle and Jason) so we knew we wanted something different.
Nice list. I had to look up Nerola. It’s a blossom, right?
My son has 2 Springer Spaniel’s…one River who is a boy and one Cedar who is a girl! To me, some of the names are great and some are too far out there. You have to think of the child and if they will be made fun of through school.
@Michelle My partner was pushing for Nico Blue the whole pregnancy. But, while I don’t dislike the name it always reminds me of Velvet Underground – who I also like, just maybe not all the time. But all three of your kids have cute names. I think I partly wanted something unique too based on my name. You know how many Jennifers were at my school. Man. Lots.
@Peggy yup. A pretty one.
@Michele I think it depends on where you live. In some areas nature names are more common. No one has ever made fun of Cedar’s name. Almost everyone like it. Except Cedar’s dad’s parents. But since they think women belong in the kitchen or laundry room, homeschooling is sinful, and that all non-straight folks should be picked off, I ignore them. They never say anything useful, or even sane, so the fact that they whine about Cedar’s name doesn’t bug me. The only problem we’ve ever had is that people say, “Did you say Peter?”
If I had a girl I was going to name her Lantana. I love to it, and it’s one of my favorite flowers.
Lantana is a pretty flower, I really like it. But, you felt your son might disagree
…that and my husband wouldn’t go for it.
Linette, ha. Too funny. Maybe you’ll get that girl someday.
Sage is actually pretty popular: http://www.babynamemap.com/girls/Sage
Sorrel! I’m definitely keeping that one on tap… just in case number six pops in.
@Stacey but Sorrel has no y? I LOVE the name Sorrel though. It’s one of my top four girl names.
My brother almost named his sone Reef. I really like. He went with Fletcher instead so I think I may ask for dibs on it now
We have three children and are expecting our fourth. All of our three are on your list! Eden (girl), Lily (girl – of course), and Ash (boy). Still haven’t decided on a name for the next one, but it’ll be organic, I can tell you that!
I’m a native american and a big hippy, so I love nature-ish names. I already have a daughter named Willow Rose, and for a boy I love Banyon, or Cedar, but I can’t come up with a middle name. Grove? Forrest? Any ideas?
@Alisha – we couldn’t think of a good middle name for Cedar; hence his lack of a middle name. Nothing sounded right, but if you think of something, let me know
I absolutely LOVE the name Cedar. Do you need a middle name, really? I guess so, but Cedar seems to say it all! Stay away from “Cedar Grove” – it’s a town just north of us. Maybe Cedar Glen if the two names need to feel related. Or even just Tree. I kinda like that!
Maybe an animal name…
Cedar Fox? Cedar Wolf? Cedar Finch?
Raven is kinda pretty for a girl. Though Disney has ruined it. I have always liked Robin. Simple and sweet!
I knew a guy once who used the pseudonym “Colden Grey”.
Bye, Lisa
The names I have picked out are Hollis and Fox. I’ve already got them approved by my boyfriend.
My name is Melissa Sue, and I remember knowing girls with the same first AND middle name as me. I’ve always wanted to change my name…but I feel like my family would just laugh and call me Melissa anyway.
Lissa.
A middle name to go with Cedar? Friends of ours used Aslan for a middle name to go with Reed and I have to say I really like it. It’s not common but they associate it with the Lion from the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I prefer to think of it as “little lion”. I’m not sure if you’d find cedar trees and lions in the same environment naturally but I like the reference to a plant and an animal. Just a thought
I love all these names
I recently had a baby girl and we named her pax(meaning peace in latin) and im thinking if i have another girl i would name her harmony but i couldnt think of any other names that could go with those. I think the category would be like peaceful or calming names i guess. does anyone have any ideas for names in that category boy or girl thanx.
I once worked with someone who’s son was named Canyon. That was not on your list that I could see.
Ah Canyon is a good one. I like it a lot. Thanks for the name add
My name is Cedar, I’m fourteen and I’m a girl. All the Cedars I have heard of before have been girls, so it’s interesting to hear of a boy!
@Cedar – I love your name
That’s funny because in the time since I wrote this post, we’ve met some girl Cedars too. I had no idea so many other Cedars were out there. I think we’ve only met one other boy Cedar though besides my little one.
We were thinking of using Cedar as a name -
Cedar Branch if it’s a boy
Cedar Twig if it’s a girl
Not sure how serious we are about that though…
I like Cedar Branch. That’s pretty cool. Twig is a little more odd, but still fun.
My son’s name is Linden, and we’ve gotten a lot of compliments on it. Have only other met one other kid with that name. However, the main problem with it is that people always assume it’s spelled “Lyndon,” so I’ve started saying, “Linden, like the tree, not the president.”
If we ever have a second I would want another tree name, so I really like the suggestions here. If anyone thinks of a name that goes especially well with the one we’ve got, feel free to recommend