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Forest

♂ Boy

Pronounced FOR-est /ˈfɔːr.ɪst/High

Meaning: From the Old French forest, from Medieval Latin forestis, meaning 'outside woodland' or 'royal hunting forest' (from Latin foris = outside + silva = wood); referring to a large wooded area or to a person who lived near or in a forestHigh

In 30 seconds: Forest is a grounded, natural name meaning 'woodland' — the single-r spelling variant of Forrest, as in Forrest Gump. With the growing love for nature names and the same warm Southern American associations, Forest feels fresh, earthy, and timeless.
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Origin HighOld French, Latin
MeaningFrom the Old French forest, from Medieval Latin forestis, meaning 'outside woodland' or 'royal hunting forest' (from Latin foris = outside + silva = wood); referring to a large wooded area or to a person who lived near or in a forest
U.S. rank (2025)#750 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births344 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2022
Total births (all-time)≈ 17,777

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202218802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Forest is an English nature word and surname from Old French forest, ultimately from Medieval Latin. It was used as a given name and surname across England and France. The single-r spelling Forest is a variant of the double-r Forrest, both of which have been used as given names in the American South.

Forest (and Forrest) gained tremendous cultural recognition through the 1994 film Forrest Gump. The single-r Forest has been growing as the more naturalistic-looking spelling, particularly as nature names and woodland-themed names have surged in popularity. It suits parents who love the forest-as-sanctuary imagery.

Did you know? The word forest entered English from Old French in the medieval period, when royal forests were specifically areas of land outside (Latin: foris) ordinary law — reserved for royal hunting. Medieval forest law was so severe that poaching carried the death penalty, giving forests an aura of wild, sovereign power.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name — Forrest — etymology and usageU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ForrestForester

Nicknames

ForyRee

Famous Bearers

  • ★Forrest Gump (fictional)
    Fictional title character of the 1994 film Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks.

If you like Forest…

Forrest— the standard double-r spelling of the same nature name with identical meaning
River— shares the bold natural landscape name and the same outdoor-adventurous spirit
Glen— fellow woodland/valley nature name with the same grounded, earthy masculine quality
Heath— parallel open-land nature name with the same quiet, grounded masculine simplicity

Frequently Asked

What does the name Forest mean?

Forest means 'woodland' from Old French forest, originally referring to a large wooded area reserved for royal hunting in medieval Europe.

How do you pronounce Forest?

Forest is pronounced FOR-est /ˈfɔːr.ɪst/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Forest the same as Forrest?

Forest and Forrest are pronounced identically. The single-r Forest is the nature-word spelling; Forrest is the surname form made famous by Forrest Gump.

Is Forest a popular name?

Forest has been growing as a nature name in the U.S., appealing to parents who love woodland imagery and the outdoors.