Forest
Forest is a boys' name of English origin meaning “dweller near or in the woods.” It ranked #750 in the United States in 2025. An English occupational or topographic surname denoting someone who lived near a forest.
Torn between Forest and another name? Ask family and friends to vote
how do you pronounce Forest?
FOR-est
where does the name Forest come from?
From the word forest, related to Laforest and Deforest; it is also an English and Scottish variant of the surname Forrest, and a French surname.
Popularized as a first name in part by the film Forrest Gump (1994), though the single-r spelling Forest predates it.
how popular is this name?
Forest has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 111 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 35. It peaked at #222 in 1893, and ranked #750 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #750 |
| 2024 | #720 |
| 2023 | #746 |
| 2022 | #703 |
| 2021 | #718 |
| 2020 | #796 |
| 2019 | #905 |
| 2018 | #979 |
| 1980 | #878 |
| 1970 | #940 |
| 1960 | #804 |
| 1950 | #648 |
| 1940 | #521 |
| 1930 | #408 |
| 1920 | #341 |
| 1910 | #304 |
| 1900 | #284 |
| 1893 | #222 |
| 1890 | #282 |
| 1880 | #305 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Forest fell outside the top 1,000.
who are famous people named Forest?
- Forest Whitaker (actor)
- Forrest Gump (film character)
what are the nicknames and variants of Forest?
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Forest?
what names go well with Forest?
Sibling names that share Forest's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Forest
What does the name Forest mean?
Forest means “dweller near or in the woods”.
What is the origin of the name Forest?
Forest comes from the English naming tradition. Related forms include Forrest.
How popular is the name Forest?
Forest ranked #750 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1893, at #222, and it has spent 111 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Forest a boy or girl name?
Forest is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Forest?
Forest is pronounced FOR-est, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
love Forest? get 10 more names curated for your family.
Popularity rankings and meanings are just the starting point. Our AI consultant finds names that match your heritage, style, and what matters most to you.
Completely free. No credit card required.
Start your free session