Baby Names Inspired by Fall Foliage

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere like me, you’re probably watching the trees for their change from verdant greens into a vibrant quilt of reds, yellows, and oranges. Unless you live in the uppermost northern environs, chances are you haven’t experienced peak foliage just yet. Every day the landscape grows more beautiful. Truly, fall and spring are my favorite seasons for the rainbow of colors nature brings!

Seeing as today’s parents can’t get enough of baby names related to nature, autumn leaf colors make for fantastic, out-of-the-box naming inspiration. If you’re having a baby during this glorious season, consider these baby names inspired by the colors of fall foliage!

Reds:

• Auburn – Auburn is a rare name, but at least some of the children who bear it are so-named after Auburn University’s football team. See Crimson.
• Burgundy – Like the region or the wine, burgundy is a deep, dark red.
• Carmine – Pronounced exactly how it looks, like the words “car” and “mine.” A unique alternative to Carmen!
• Claret – Another name for Bordeaux or a Bordeaux wine blend, this is pronounced like Claire with a t at the end. Clare-it. Pair this name with a sister named Margaux or Margot for a clever wine joke!
• Crimson – Children are often named Crimson (or Krimson, or Krimsyn) to reference the University of Alabama’s football team. See Auburn…yes there’s a rivalry there!
• Ginger – I’ve seen some leaves that look like the hair color! Ginger is a somewhat traditional nickname for Virginia, but it works well on its own too.
• Jasper – A precious stone.
• Redmond – Red’s literally in the name!
• Rouge – The French word for “red” and a type of cosmetics. Since Sephora, Dior, and Chanel are all names associated with make-up or perfume, I can see Rouge working too!
• Ruby – There are different shades of ruby, but the gem also makes for a lovely association.
• Scarlett – One of the trendiest baby girls’ names in the U.S., I’d wager most of the children named Scarlett today are named (directly or indirectly) after Scarlet Johansson. I’d also bet a few reference scarlet, a vivid shade of red.
• Vermilion – Also spelled Vermillion, this would be a unique formal name for a girl called Millie or Vera! Vermilion is a deep, vibrant red.

Yellows and Golds:

• Amber – A semi-precious resin containing fossils.
• Aurelia / Aurelius – Latin for “golden.”
• Bowie – The English form of a Gaelic name meaning “yellow.”
• Cressida – The posh Shakespearean version of Chryseis, an Ancient Greek name meaning “golden.”
• Electra – Ancient Greek for “amber.” You may also love its Italian version, Elettra.
• Goldie is both a nickname for Marigold and a variation of the Yiddish name Golda.
• Honey – Fans of recent historical fiction may remember this character name from The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and its sequel, The Book Woman’s Daughter.
• Lemon – Rare, but not as unusual and unique as you might think. Well over 100 girls have been named Lemon in the U.S. since 2013.
• Ochre – Fans of names like Onyx and Ocean will love this color name that starts with ‘O!’
• Saffron – The rarity and expensiveness of saffron puts the name in league with Ruby and Pearl, popular names denoting something very precious.
• Turmeric – “Rick” for short! Turmeric is famous for its anti-inflammatory properties.
• Xanthe – From Ancient Greek meaning “yellow.” Shorten to “Zan” for extra cuteness and pizzazz!

Oranges and Browns:

• Bruno – Literally, “brown.”
• Cinnamon – This name was briefly popular for women in the late 1960s, but now it’s so rare it doesn’t even chart in the USA’s extended baby name data. If you want a unique girls’ name that nobody else is using, Cinnamon fits the bill!
• Ember – A softer, fresher alternative to Amber that’s reminiscent of campfires on cold nights.
• Mahogany – Also a red, Mahogany probably makes most people think of luxurious wooden furniture.
• Maple – Just as Chianti supposedly tastes best in Tuscany, I’ve discovered that Vermont maple syrup tastes better in Vermont than anywhere else. As a name, Maple is completely on-trend with a short and sweet sound, nature theme, and proximity to increasingly popular Mabel. I personally feel that it’s one of the most accessible unusual celebrity baby names used recently.
• Persimmon – Now that we’re starting to see babies named Strawberry and Plum, don’t be surprised if some adventurous parents discover Persimmon. Perry, Percy, Simon…lots of nickname potential!
• Pumpkin – Yes, I’m basic and drink at least 5 Pumpkin Spice Chai Lattes a year. I’ve even made Pumpkin Spice Challah! While I’m not sure Pumpkin works that well as a regular person’s name, I can almost guarantee that a celebrity or influencer will eventually pick Pumpkin as their baby’s name. It *is* cute…
• Russet – Potatoes are tasty, but how about a gender-neutral alternative to Russell?
• Rusty – 2023 parents are a little rusty on this one, but I can see some people pulling it out of grandpa’s yearbook. Dusty’s mildly trendy, isn’t it?
• Sienna – Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy.
• Sinopia – A unique addition to any collection of girls’ names ending in “-ia.”
• Tawny – This one has a very 80s mom vibe, but I’m surprised it never took off much even back then.

Can you think of any other baby names related to fall foliage? Blaze, Leaf, and Autumn are the first things that come to my mind, but maybe other names come to yours? Let me know in the comments!