Forest Boy

Popularity: #612 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: FOR-est //ˈfɔːr.ɪst//

Origin: English; Latin

Meaning: English: woods; Latin: forest

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Forest derives from the Old French word "forest," which itself comes from the Latin "foresta," meaning "woodland" or "forest." This Latin term is rooted in the word "foris," meaning "outside," indicating a place outside of cultivated land. The transition from Latin to Old French occurred during the medieval period, particularly as the Normans invaded England in the 11th century, bringing with them many French terms.

The name entered the English language in the Middle Ages, reflecting the importance of woodlands in medieval life, both for resources and as hunting grounds for nobility. Historically, forests have held significant cultural and symbolic meanings across various societies.

In medieval England, forests were often associated with the royal hunting grounds, and the term "forest" became linked to nobility and land ownership. The name Forest may have been used as a surname to denote someone who lived near or worked in these wooded areas.

Notably, the name has been borne by various figures throughout history, although specific individuals are less documented compared to other names. The association with nature and the wilderness has given the name a timeless quality, resonating with themes of freedom and exploration.

Culturally, the name Forest evokes imagery of nature and the outdoors, often symbolizing growth, tranquility, and a connection to the earth. This connection is further emphasized in literature and folklore, where forests are frequently depicted as places of adventure and transformation.

The name may also have diminutive forms, such as "Forrest," which have been used interchangeably in various contexts. Overall, the name Forest encapsulates a rich linguistic heritage and a deep-rooted connection to nature, reflecting the historical significance of woodlands in human culture.

Famous people named Forest

In this section, you will find notable people named Forest. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Forest who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Forest who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Forest Whitaker is an actor and director best known for The Last King of Scotland, Bird, and Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai.

Fictional characters named Forest

The following list of fictional characters named Forest is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Forest Whitaker is a fictional character from the film The Last King of Scotland. He is a powerful and tyrannical leader of Uganda during the 1970s, known for his brutal regime.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Forest, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

RiverSkyLakeStoneBriarSage

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Forest. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

FosterFergusFletcherFinnForestierFitzFitzgerald

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Forest was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Forest has ranked as high as #1416 nationally, which occurred in 2022, and has been most popular in California, Ohio, Texas, Kentucky, and North Carolina.

In the past 5 years the name Forest has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Forest is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Forest was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Forest.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 356 344 12
2024 384 365 19
2023 373 350 23
2022 391 375 16
2021 374 361 13
2020 306 291 15
2019 260 243 17
2018 220 212 8
2017 212 201 11
2016 184 178 6
2015 140 135 5
2014 132 132 0
2013 104 104 0
2012 76 76 0
2011 84 84 0
2010 83 83 0
2009 67 67 0
2008 79 79 0
2007 69 69 0
2006 47 47 0
2005 62 62 0
2004 55 55 0
2003 69 69 0
2002 67 67 0
2001 59 59 0
2000 83 83 0
1999 80 80 0
1998 110 110 0
1997 105 105 0
1996 123 115 8
1995 216 205 11
1994 279 252 27
1993 219 207 12
1992 174 165 9
1991 140 131 9
1990 97 97 0
1989 92 92 0
1988 82 82 0
1987 86 86 0
1986 80 80 0
1985 48 48 0
1984 76 70 6
1983 71 71 0
1982 77 72 5
1981 88 83 5
1980 109 103 6
1979 80 80 0
1978 75 68 7
1977 86 86 0
1976 87 81 6
1975 83 76 7
1974 92 87 5
1973 57 57 0
1972 64 64 0
1971 87 87 0
1970 72 72 0
1969 50 50 0
1968 78 78 0
1967 60 60 0
1966 74 74 0
1965 87 87 0
1964 82 82 0
1963 89 84 5
1962 88 88 0
1961 86 86 0
1960 90 90 0
1959 91 91 0
1958 112 112 0
1957 112 107 5
1956 93 93 0
1955 104 104 0
1954 103 103 0
1953 112 112 0
1952 98 98 0
1951 110 102 8
1950 115 115 0
1949 134 134 0
1948 108 108 0
1947 164 164 0
1946 100 100 0
1945 116 111 5
1944 144 139 5
1943 128 128 0
1942 132 127 5
1941 141 141 0
1940 124 124 0
1939 125 125 0
1938 110 110 0
1937 143 143 0
1936 119 119 0
1935 134 129 5
1934 148 137 11
1933 171 171 0
1932 155 155 0
1931 198 198 0
1930 206 206 0
1929 228 222 6
1928 256 242 14
1927 241 229 12
1926 242 235 7
1925 262 251 11
1924 269 269 0
1923 276 270 6
1922 311 299 12
1921 264 253 11
1920 301 292 9
1919 310 296 14
1918 330 316 14
1917 299 286 13
1916 311 300 11
1915 262 252 10
1914 238 228 10
1913 187 176 11
1912 121 121 0
1911 95 85 10
1910 70 65 5
1909 47 47 0
1908 50 50 0
1907 67 61 6
1906 58 58 0
1905 61 56 5
1904 71 65 6
1903 52 47 5
1902 59 59 0
1901 45 45 0
1900 53 53 0
1899 43 38 5
1898 68 62 6
1897 65 50 15
1896 58 50 8
1895 52 52 0
1894 37 32 5
1893 65 59 6
1892 54 49 5
1891 49 41 8
1890 47 37 10
1889 24 24 0
1888 36 36 0
1887 28 28 0
1886 44 44 0
1885 30 30 0
1884 33 33 0
1883 28 28 0
1882 27 27 0
1881 18 18 0
1880 30 30 0

Top States for Forest (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 46
15%
TX 26
8%
WA 15
5%
TN 14
4%
OR 14
4%
NY 13
4%
OH 13
4%
FL 13
4%
IL 11
3%
NC 11
3%
KY 11
3%
AZ 11
3%
WI 11
3%
MO 10
3%
IN 10
3%
MI 10
3%
PA 9
3%
UT 9
3%
MD 9
3%
CO 9
3%
GA 8
3%
ID 8
3%
MN 7
2%
MA 7
2%
NV 5
2%
OK 5
2%