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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

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

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

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

Ocean— the same nature feel

Monte— another nature pick

Explore names like Forest

By themeamerican latin nature french earthy

By meaningRoyal / Noble Earth / Nature

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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.