Forest
How to say it: FOR-ist · /ˈfɔrɪst/
From Old French 'forest' (woodland); nature name referring to a large wooded area.
Forest was the 297th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 344 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1890s, its births are up 2.3-fold in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #232 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #297 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 344 |
| Share of births | 1 in 2,776 |
| Peak decade | 1890s |
| Change over 10 years | ×2.3 |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #232 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Nearly disappearing around the 2000s, Forest has found its way back. It still stands well below its height in the 1890s but looks likely to keep rising in the next few years.
What goes with it
Airy and breathy, Forest feels full of nature. Cedar shares its style.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Forest is about 1 in 116.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
Famous people named Forest
- Forest Whitaker (born 1961)American actor
- Forest Ray Moulton (1872–1952)American astronomer and mathematician of the XXth century
- Forest Able (1932–2026)American basketball player
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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