25 Rustic Baby Names for Boys That Impart Character and Charm

Are you looking for a touch of charm for your baby’s name? We recommend considering names inspired by the countryside that seem to carry with them the lushness of nature in all its beauty. These uncomplicated, homespun classics bring both strength and the ease of a summer daydream. Monikers with a touch of lumberjack-chic are a breath of fresh air.

We decided to take a deep dive into baby names inspired by pastoral scenes that feel both traditional and contemporary. Most of all, we wanted to find names that pay homage to the great outdoors and time spent gardening, hiking, building campfires, and foraging for berries. These names celebrate the simple pleasures of time spent among nature, sowing its bounty. Here are 25 rustic names for boys that are splendid in their simplicity. You’ll want to rent a log cabin deep in the woods by the end of this list, we promise you.

25. Hunter

Hunter is an exceptional name that manages to carry a macho meaning while sounding smooth. Hunter has English origins and, of course, means “one who hunts.” The name has been slipping in popularity in recent years, but it’s still in the top 100 most popular names for boys.

24. Jasper

While Hunter has been slipping, Jasper has seen a meteoric rise of the past several years and although it’s still not as favored as Hunter, it’s well on its way there! Jasper is an English name with Persian origins that means “bringer of treasure.” The name refers to one of the three wise men of the nativity. The name also belongs to the gemstone.

23. Vance

Vance has been a long-neglected name that hasn’t enjoyed broad popularity for new parents since the 1970s. It’s still in the top 1000, but it’s trending down! Let’s save this magical Irish name that means “someone who lives near the marsh.”

22. Wade

Wade has been a top 1000 boy name since record-keeping began in the US in the 1880s. It feels both classic and contemporary which is why we think it’s appealed to parents for so very long. The name has English origins and means “at the river crossing.”

21. Cooper

Cooper is one of the English occupational surnames that consistently found favor as a given name by parents. The name means “barrel maker.” It sounds both preppy and casual and we absolutely love the nickname Coop.

20. Levi

Levi is one of the lighter, more energetic Biblical names that parents have become increasingly attached to over the years. The name is more popular now than it ever has been in the US. This attractive name has Hebrew origins and means “joined.”

19. Buck

Scrub the image of Uncle Buck from your mind and give this handsome, rustic name some earnest consideration. Before the name became synonymous with John Candy, it was used in the 18th century to describe a dashing and dapper gentleman. This English name obviously means “male deer.”

18. Jack

Jack is a derivative of John that dawned in medieval England. The name went from John to Johnkin to Jankin to Jackin to Jack. The name was so common in the Middle Ages that Jack became a generic term for a man. This English invention shares the same meaning as John, “God is gracious.”

17. Easton

Easton sounds a touch upper crust, but appreciate the directional appeal of it. This English name means “east-facing town” which seems sunny enough. Easton might sound like a tried and true classic, but it only landed in the top 1000 beginning in 1995.

16. Brooks

Brooks, like Easton, is a surname name that also refers to a natural place, meaning “of the brook.” Brooks has been on an upward climb since the early oughts and it now sits as the 109th most popular names for baby boys.

15. Austin

Austin is a boy’s name with English origin that has plenty of western panache. It began its use as an Anglo-Saxon surname before making the leap to given name territory. Austin is a shortened form of Augustine, which means “magnificent.” The moniker has declined in popularity since the 1990s, but it’s still in the top 100.

14. Hudson

Hudson is a name that fell off the popularity charts for a century before rebounding and climbing to the top 50. Again, this is another rustic English name from a surname that means “Hugh’s son” or “son of Hudd.”

13. Axe

Axe makes for an unusual yet appealing choice for a baby boy. This name is commonly found as a nickname for Axel, but it’s rarely given as a first name. We think this should change! At face value the name can mean “an ax,” but if you dig deeper you’ll discover that it shares a meaning with the Hebrew name Absalom which means “father of peace.”

12. Fox

Fox has been fastly on the rise since 2016. This enchanting animal name sounds both sly and established. The name now sits at number 899 in the top 1000 and we expect its popularity will only continue to thrive.

11. Alder

Alder is a neglected name that derives from an Old English surname and also might refer to the alder tree, whose wood is used to make electric guitars. Or the name can simply mean “old.” This may or may not appeal to you, but we think this name sounds perfectly youthful.

10. Forest

You can choose to spell the name Forest as you would for the natural place or you can spice it up a bit with an extra R like Forrest Whitaker. Forest is a name with French origins. This occupational name means “woodsman.” If hiking is your jam, the rustic Forest should be most attractive to you.

9. Ash

With the exceedingly popular Ash- names like Asher and Ashton, the simplicity of Ash makes it an obvious option. Ash is considered a diminutive of Asher and refers to the great “ash tree.” For tree-hugging parents, Ash is a subtle, rustic, nature name that’s not as on-the-nose as Birch or Cedar.

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8. Gordon

With the ubiquity of the name Jordan finally slowing, Gordon could be a welcome and distinguished alternative. Gordon has deep roots in Scottish history. Originally a surname, it was used in honor of nineteenth-century general Charles George Gordon, killed defending the city of Khartoum. The name means “great hill.”

7. Cliff

Cliff works as both a topographical name as well as a shortened form of Clifford or Clifton. This English name means “place by a cliff” or “lives by a ford near a cliff.” Just a whole lot of Cliff going on here! This widely-known name has never been popular in the US, but we think it’s time for that change!

6. Mason

Mason has become mega-popular! It hit as high as the Number 2 spot in 2011 and has stayed near the top of the charts since. This English occupational name is currently the most popular of the genre and it means “worker in stone.”

5. Cole

Cole has a cool and collected sound to it and means “coal black.” Not only popular in the US, but Cole is also an exceedingly popular choice in Scotland. If you like a name with a touch of mystery, this would be an excellent choice for your son.

4. River

River possesses the tranquil feeling of gently rolling water. This name was once considered rather new-age-y but it’s been adopted by many parents over the last couple of decades bringing it to the number 168 spot last year.

3. Colt

If Cole seems to soft for you, you can always go with the hyper-butch Colt. This English rustic name means “young horse.” It seems both natural and tough thanks to its association with the inventor of the revolver, Samuel Colt.

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2. Nash

Nash has been a preferred name for new parents since 1997 when it first entered the top 1000. Nash is slightly less romantic than Ash, but both will do just fine. This English name is also associated with the tree and means “by the ash.”

1. Lincoln

Lincoln cracked the top 50 for boys’ names for the first time in 2016, more than 150 years after the death of its most famous bearer, Honest Abe. The name was given to more children than Christopher and Thomas last year! This English name means “town by the pool.” By giving your child this name, you’re also giving him one of the best nicknames ever, Linc.

There you go! We hope you enjoyed this list of charming rustic names for boys with plenty of idyllic charm.