Nothing brightens up a long, cold winter like the arrival of a baby. In celebrating your new bundle of joy, you may be tempted to choose a name which speaks to the season of their birth. However, some of the most tempting names are also among the least original. Autumn for a baby born in October? Groundbreaking. Baby Noel due on December 24th? Never been done before.
While we aren't trying to shame parents who choose these names for their children, there are a ton of seasonally-appropriate names that haven't been overdone. Your child's name should be as unique as they are, not generic.
Let's start with autumnal names for babies right when the leaves begin to change and the air grows crispy. If you love earthy names, you won't be short on suggestions for an autumn arrival. A ton of the names that are currently popular all have their roots in nature.
Autumn Names
For a girl, you might consider Robin or Sage.
Meaning "bright fame", Robin used to be associated with boys à la Robin Hood; however, it's now seen as a gender-neutral name. While Robins can be spotted year-round, they're most commonly seen in the colder months. Additionally, the iconic red plumage of the Robin's chest reminds you of changing leaves.
On the other hand, Sage evokes pumpkin spice and everything nice. Okay, technically Sage isn't an ingredient in pumpkin spice, but it lends an earthy coziness to dishes—exactly what we need when it gets cold. Sage is also a fitting name for the back to school season, as it means "wise one".
Hadley is one of many surnames-turned-given-names that's exploded in popularity in recent years. Hadley means "field of heather", referring to the bright purple shrub synonymous with the Scottish highlands. Heather is at its most beautiful in late summer, providing one final bloom of color before the seasons change.
Meanwhile, if your due date is closer to Thanksgiving, Palmer could be a cute choice! Palmer was a name given to Pilgrims in the Middle Ages, as they often returned from the Holy Land bearing palms leaves. Applying this name to the Thanksgiving season is a cute twist on a classic.
Winter Names
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Natalie is a classic for babies born at the end of the December, but it's a bit more subtle than Noel or Winter. Natalie derives from the Latin natle domini, which means "birth of the Lord". You also have built-in nicknames in the form of Nat or Talie.
Daphne means "laurel" in Greek and is the name of an evergreen shrub with a long-lasting scent. Unlike your summer garden, laurel shrubs blossom in late winter and early spring. Their flowers are among the first signs that a thaw is coming.
Moving onto boy names, for a similar subtle Christmas-y name, Caspar is a fantastic choice. Not just the name of everyone's favorite friendly ghost, Caspar is also the name of one of the Three Wise Men. Fittingly, Caspar means "gift-giver" in Aramaic.
Whether Christmas is your reason for the season or not, we can all agree that evergreens are an integral part of the winter experience. Douglas firs in particular are prized for their fullness and scent. That's why Douglas is the final suggestion on our list.
