Acacia
WoodGirl · Greek, via Latin
the acacia tree Well attested
meaning: acacia
US 2025: #2485 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #3035
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Baby names that mean wood: tree, plant, flower
Chinese naming often picks characters whose meaning belongs to one of the five elements: a river character for Water, a tree character for Wood. English has no such tradition, so this page is an adaptation, inspired by Chinese naming. Each name here carries Wood in what it really means, as name dictionaries and word-origin sources give it.
Fewer boys' names carry this meaning, so the names for either are listed too.
Check your baby's chartEnter a birth date or a due date to see which element the chart needs.
Tree
Girls
Ashley
WoodGirl · English place name
a place name, Old English for 'ash-tree clearing' Well attested
linked with: ash
US 2025: #164 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #1271
Also spelled: Ashlee, Ashleigh, Ashlie
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Daphne
WoodGirl · Greek
Greek 'laurel'; the nymph who became a laurel tree Well attested
meaning: laurel
US 2025: #178 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #125
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Hazel
WoodGirl · English word
the hazel tree, or the light brown of its nuts Well attested
meaning: hazel
US 2025: #21 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #71
Same meaning in Chinese: 榛 zhēn (hazel tree)
Holly
WoodGirl · English word
the holly, an evergreen shrub or tree Well attested
meaning: holly
US 2025: #416 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #169
Also spelled: Hollie
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Juniper
WoodGirl · English word
the juniper, an evergreen shrub Well attested
meaning: juniper
US 2025: #100 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #250
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Myrtle
WoodGirl · English word
the myrtle, an evergreen shrub Well attested
meaning: myrtle
US 2025: #11611 (girls)
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Olivia
WoodGirl · Latin
from Latin oliva, 'olive' Likely
linked with: olive
US 2025: #1 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #1
Related names: Olive
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Sylvia
WoodGirl · Latin
linked with Latin silva, 'forest'; perhaps an older name reshaped Likely
linked with: forest
US 2025: #300 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #426
Related names: Silvia
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Tamara
WoodGirl · Russian, from Hebrew
Russian, probably from Hebrew Tamar, 'date palm' Likely
linked with: date palm
US 2025: #1816 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #894
Related names: Tamar
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Willow
WoodGirl · English word
the willow tree Well attested
meaning: willow
US 2025: #44 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #20
Same meaning in Chinese: 柳 liǔ (willow)
Yvonne
WoodGirl · French
a French feminine of Yves, from an old word for 'yew' Likely
linked with: yew
US 2025: #2063 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #3035
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Boys
Alon
WoodBoy · Hebrew
Hebrew 'oak tree' Well attested
meaning: oak
US 2025: #5216 (boys)
Same meaning in Chinese: 橡 xiàng (oak)
Ashton
WoodBoy · English place name
a place name, Old English for 'ash-tree settlement' Well attested
linked with: ash
US 2025: #197 (boys) · England and Wales 2025: #448
Related names: Ash
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Barclay
WoodBoy · Scottish surname, from an English place name
from Berkeley, Old English for 'birch-tree clearing' Well attested
linked with: birch
Rare
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Forrest
WoodBoy · English surname
a surname for someone who lived or worked in a forest Well attested
linked with: forest
US 2025: #374 (boys) · England and Wales 2025: #474
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Oren
WoodBoy · Hebrew
Hebrew 'pine tree'; a name in the Bible Likely
meaning: pine
US 2025: #1184 (boys) · England and Wales 2025: #1035
Same meaning in Chinese: 松 sōng (pine)
Sylvester
WoodBoy · Latin
Latin silvester, 'of the woods' Well attested
linked with: forest
US 2025: #2224 (boys) · England and Wales 2025: #2664
Also spelled: Silvester
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Vernon
WoodBoy · Norman French place name
a Norman place name, from Gaulish for 'place of alders' Well attested
linked with: alder
US 2025: #1387 (boys)
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Woodrow
WoodBoy · English surname
a surname for someone living in a row of houses by a wood Well attested
linked with: forest
US 2025: #1653 (boys) · England and Wales 2025: #1276
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Yves
WoodBoy · French
French, from old names built on a word for 'yew' Likely
linked with: yew
US 2025: #5598 (boys)
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Either
Aspen
WoodEither · English word
the aspen, a poplar with trembling leaves Well attested
meaning: aspen
US 2025: #266 (girls), #920 (boys) · England and Wales 2025: #1407 (girls), #1406 (boys)
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Hollis
WoodEither · English surname
a surname for someone living by holly trees Well attested
linked with: holly
US 2025: #1132 (girls), #894 (boys) · England and Wales 2025: #5137 (boys)
Related names: Celyn
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Oakley
WoodEither · English place name
a place name, Old English for 'oak clearing' Well attested
linked with: oak
US 2025: #156 (girls), #454 (boys) · England and Wales 2025: #1133 (girls), #33 (boys)
Related in meaning in Chinese: 橡 xiàng (oak)
Perry
WoodEither · English surname
a surname for someone living by a pear tree; also short for Peregrine Likely
linked with: pear
US 2025: #2233 (girls), #1373 (boys) · England and Wales 2025: #1613 (boys)
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Rowan
WoodEither · English word; Irish
the rowan tree; also Irish Ruadhán, 'little red one' Likely
linked with: rowan
US 2025: #249 (girls), #59 (boys) · England and Wales 2025: #423 (girls), #30 (boys)
Related in meaning in Chinese: 林 lín (forest)
Chinese characters linked with tree: 树 shù (tree), 木 mù (tree), 林 lín (forest), 杉 shān (Chinese fir), 枝 zhī (branch), 枫 fēng (maple), …
Plant
Girls
Bryony
WoodGirl · English plant name
bryony, a climbing hedgerow plant Well attested
meaning: bryony
US 2025: #13506 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #2138
Related in meaning in Chinese: 竹 zhú (bamboo)
Chloe
WoodGirl · Greek
Greek 'young green shoot', a title of the goddess Demeter Well attested
meaning: shoot
US 2025: #23 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #89
Also spelled: Chloé, Chloë, Khloe
Related in meaning in Chinese: 竹 zhú (bamboo)
Clover
WoodGirl · English word
the clover plant Well attested
meaning: clover
US 2025: #517 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #596
Related in meaning in Chinese: 竹 zhú (bamboo)
Fern
WoodGirl · English word
the fern plant Well attested
meaning: fern
US 2025: #1220 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #301
Related in meaning in Chinese: 竹 zhú (bamboo)
Heather
WoodGirl · English word
the heather plant of moors and heaths Well attested
meaning: heather
US 2025: #1264 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #792
Related in meaning in Chinese: 竹 zhú (bamboo)
Ivy
WoodGirl · English word
the ivy plant Well attested
meaning: ivy
US 2025: #39 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #9
Related in meaning in Chinese: 竹 zhú (bamboo)
Lavender
WoodGirl · English word
lavender, a sweet-smelling herb Well attested
meaning: lavender
US 2025: #1095 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #1719
Related in meaning in Chinese: 竹 zhú (bamboo)
Rosemary
WoodGirl · Latin plant name; English
the herb rosemary (Latin 'sea dew'), or the names Rose and Mary joined Likely
linked with: rosemary
US 2025: #251 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #490
Related in meaning in Chinese: 竹 zhú (bamboo)
Either
Briar
WoodEither · English word
briar, a thorny wild rose or bramble Well attested
meaning: briar
US 2025: #400 (girls), #686 (boys) · England and Wales 2025: #1271 (girls), #4275 (boys)
Related in meaning in Chinese: 竹 zhú (bamboo)
Sage
WoodEither · English word
the herb sage; also the word for a wise person Likely
linked with: sage
US 2025: #160 (girls), #456 (boys) · England and Wales 2025: #610 (girls), #934 (boys)
Related in meaning in Chinese: 竹 zhú (bamboo)
Chinese characters linked with plant: 竹 zhú (bamboo), 芝 zhī (lingzhi mushroom), 芷 zhǐ (angelica), 芸 yún (rue herb), 苓 líng (fungus), 苗 miáo (sprout), …
Flower
Girls
Anthea
WoodGirl · Greek
from Greek antheios, 'flowery' Well attested
linked with: flower
US 2025: #10179 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #4867
Related in meaning in Chinese: 朵 duǒ (flower)
Azalea
WoodGirl · English plant name, from Greek
the azalea, a flowering shrub (Greek azaleos, 'dry') Well attested
meaning: azalea
US 2025: #278 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #596
Related in meaning in Chinese: 兰 lán (orchid)
Blossom
WoodGirl · English word
blossom, the flowers of a fruit tree Well attested
meaning: blossom
US 2025: #1300 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #346
Related in meaning in Chinese: 兰 lán (orchid)
Dahlia
WoodGirl · English plant name
the dahlia, named after the Swedish botanist Anders Dahl Well attested
meaning: dahlia
US 2025: #215 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #381
Related in meaning in Chinese: 兰 lán (orchid)
Daisy
WoodGirl · English word
the daisy ('day's eye'); also a pet form of Margaret Well attested
meaning: daisy
US 2025: #75 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #18
Related in meaning in Chinese: 兰 lán (orchid)
Florence
WoodGirl · Latin, via French
from the Latin names Florentius and Florentia, 'blossoming' Well attested
linked with: blossom
US 2025: #391 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #5
Related names: Fiorella, Fleur, Flora
Related in meaning in Chinese: 兰 lán (orchid)
Jasmine
WoodGirl · Persian, via French
the jasmine flower, a word from Persian Well attested
meaning: jasmine
US 2025: #206 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #102
Also spelled: Jasmin, Jazmin, Jazmine
Related names: Yasmin
Same meaning in Chinese: 茉 mò (jasmine)
Lily
WoodGirl · English word
the lily flower (Latin lilium) Well attested
meaning: lily
US 2025: #18 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #2
Also spelled: Lilly, Lillie
Related in meaning in Chinese: 兰 lán (orchid)
Magnolia
WoodGirl · English plant name
the magnolia, named after the botanist Pierre Magnol Well attested
meaning: magnolia
US 2025: #124 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #2138
Related in meaning in Chinese: 兰 lán (orchid)
Marigold
WoodGirl · English word
the marigold flower Well attested
meaning: marigold
US 2025: #590 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #1028
Related in meaning in Chinese: 兰 lán (orchid)
Poppy
WoodGirl · English word
the poppy flower Well attested
meaning: poppy
US 2025: #292 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #7
Related in meaning in Chinese: 兰 lán (orchid)
Primrose
WoodGirl · English word
the primrose flower Well attested
meaning: primrose
US 2025: #2561 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #196
Related in meaning in Chinese: 兰 lán (orchid)
Rosie
WoodGirl · English
a pet form of Rose and Rosemary Likely
linked with: rose
US 2025: #283 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #24
Related names: Rhoda, Rosa, Rose
Related in meaning in Chinese: 蔷 qiáng (rose)
Susan
WoodGirl · Hebrew, via English
the English form of Susanna, from Hebrew for 'lily' Well attested
meaning: lily
US 2025: #1091 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #2440
Related names: Shoshana, Susanna
Related in meaning in Chinese: 兰 lán (orchid)
Thalia
WoodGirl · Greek
the Muse of comedy; from Greek thallein, 'to bloom, flourish' Likely
linked with: blossom
US 2025: #648 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #502
Related in meaning in Chinese: 兰 lán (orchid)
Violet
WoodGirl · English word
the violet flower Well attested
meaning: violet
US 2025: #13 (girls) · England and Wales 2025: #37
Related in meaning in Chinese: 兰 lán (orchid)
Chinese characters linked with flower: 朵 duǒ (flower), 兰 lán (orchid), 栀 zhī (gardenia), 棣 dì (kerria), 荷 hé (lotus), 莲 lián (lotus), …
Popular meanings that don't hold up
Leif
The claim: Leif is often said to mean 'leaf'.
What the sources say: It is Old Norse, from a word for 'heir' or 'descendant', and has nothing to do with leaves.
Sources:
Rosalind
The claim: Rosalind is often read as 'pretty rose'.
What the sources say: It is a Germanic name from words for 'horse' and 'soft, tender'; the rose reading is a medieval folk etymology.
Sources:
Anthony
The claim: Anthony is often linked with Greek anthos, 'flower'.
What the sources say: It comes from the Roman family name Antonius, of uncertain, probably Etruscan, origin; the 'th' spelling came from a mistaken link with anthos.
Sources:
Camilla
The claim: Camilla is often taken to mean the camellia flower.
What the sources say: It is the feminine of the Roman family name Camillus, of obscure origin; the camellia is named after the botanist Georg Kamel.
Sources:
Popularity: US Social Security Administration 2025; Office for National Statistics 2025, England and Wales. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.