- Sophie Kihm is the editor in chief at Nameberry
- She says fall-inspired names are great for first or middle names.
- Colors, fall traditions, and astrological signs can all offer inspiration.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sophie Kihm, the editor in chief at Nameberry. It has been edited for length and clarity.
The season that you're expecting a baby can serve as a well of inspiration for naming. Sweater weather season isn't a great time to cozy up with your newborn — fall is also ripe with naming opportunities for baby boys and girls.
I'm seeing more parents name their child based on the season that they're born. It's an especially popular option for middle names.
Some fall baby names are obvious. Take Autumn for example, which has been in the top 100 names for American baby girls since the late 1990s. Others are much more subtle. These names are timeless and fashionable, but also nod to the season of your child's birth.
There are 22 fall baby names that will last a lifetime.
Color names
Rich colors are ubiquitous in the fall, from the changing leaves to the harvest-ready crops. So, it's natural that colors are a great source of inspiration when it comes to naming.
Goldie is a personal favorite. It has timeless elegance (think, Goldie Hawn), and is familiar but not common. The name has only appeared in the top 1,000 since 2021.
For boys, I love Bruno. The classic name means "brown." Despite the hit song, parents are, in fact, talking about Bruno, and this name has been ranked consistently since the late 1990s, but has never topped the charts.
Other color-inspired favorites are:
- Red: The classic nickname has given name potential for boys and girls.
- Rory: This gender neutral name means "red king."
- Radley: Meaning "red meadow," this name is more common for boys.
- Aurelia: This baby girl's name means "the golden one."
Fall symbols
Beyond colors, you can draw naming inspiration from common fall symbols. Here, I like to think about Zodiac signs, flowers, festivals, and birthstones.
Baby girl names in this category include:
- Marigold: The birth flower for the month of October lends itself to the nickname Goldie.
- Opal: October's birthstone, and a classic girls' name.
- Sapphire: September's birthstone, and a name with a bit of extra flair.
Baby boy names include:
- Cosmos: Another October birth flower is a great boys' name.
- Harvest: This newer name lends itself to the nickname "Harvey"
- Bowman: A nod to the Sagittarius sign, which reins in late fall.
- Archer: A great choice for the same reason
Month names
While April and June have always been popular, I'm seeing more parents give their kids fall month names:
- November: More commonly used for girls, this can lead to nicknames like "Nova" and "Ember."
- October: Slightly more popular for boys, nicknames include "Otto" and "Toby."
- September: While it's the least-popular fall month name, it's not unheard of.
Nature names
As the seasons change we're naturally more in touch with nature, which inspires a host of names, including:
- Hazel: This girl's name has risen dramatically in popularity over the past decade, and is currently the 19th most popular name for baby girls.
- Maple: Maple trees blaze bright red during the fall. This name is mostly used for girls since it sounds similar to the more common "Mable."
- Cedar: A less common tree-name, Cedar has a beautiful fall texture and is mostly used for boys.
- Oakley: A true gender neutral name, Oakley has lots of nickname potential.
- Juniper: This plant name has traditionally been used for girls, but more recently I've seen an uptake in boys named Juniper.
People have been fascinated by the timing of birth for centuries. Giving your fall baby an autumn-inspired name is a great way to pay homage to when they arrived.
