Forest

Forest - A very unique male name

Forest appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #301. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Forest and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Forest? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Forest. The baby boy name Forest was given to 289 baby boys in 2025, ranking #765 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 5,074 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Forest peaked in popularity 115 years ago in 1911 on position 298.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Forest, 1-5?

Forest is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Forest is currently topping the baby name charts in New Hampshire at position #213 - and is the least popular in New York at position #1,633.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Forest is where you live.

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Forest origin and meaning

English word and surname, from Old French

A forest — woodland, from the Old French word for land set apart for hunting

Forest is both a surname and a direct nature word name that has been in American use since 1910. Actor Forest Whitaker — whose first name is genuinely Forest — keeps it visible, while the double-r Forrest spelling belongs to Forrest Gump and Nathan Bedford Forrest, a distinction families should know. Forest itself has risen since 2020.

Attested etymology

Forest is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Forest, pop culture references for the name Forest and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Forest

We've found the following names that sound similar to Forest, sorted by popularity.

Forrest / Forster /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Forest

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Forest a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Forest?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

FOR-ist · /ˈfɔːrɪst/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Forrest — Double-r spelling, a separate entry with its own associations

Famous bearers

• Forest Whitaker — American actor and Academy Award winner for The Last King of Scotland (b. 1961) Contemporary

Style

NatureWord nameSurname

Why parents choose it

Forest is calm and woodsy without being whimsical — a nature name with adult weight, currently rising.

Worth knowing

• The Forrest spelling brings both Forrest Gump and Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest — this one-r spelling is the cleaner choice
• Run together with a surname it can sound like a place ('Forest Hill')