Forest as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Forest

What is the meaning of the name Forest ?

The baby name Forest is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced IPA: /ˈfɔːrɪst/; respelling: FOR-est.

Forest is English in Origin.

Forest is an English given name and surname derived from Old French forest/forêt, ultimately from Late Latin forestis (silva), “the outside wood,” from foris, “outside.” The term entered Middle English as forest, referring to royal hunting preserves as well as extensive woodland. As a surname it marked someone who lived or worked in the woods; related occupational forms include Forester and Forrester. The core meaning evokes “woodland,” “dweller by the woods,” and by extension, nature and refuge.

As a given name, Forest arose in the 19th century through the English-speaking custom of adopting surnames as first names. Two spellings circulate: Forest (the streamlined, modern nature-name) and Forrest (the older, surname-based form). Less common relatives include Forester, Forrester, and Foster; cognate-in-spirit choices are Sylvan and Silvanus. Usage today skews masculine but is sometimes unisex. Notable bearer: Academy Award–winning actor Forest Whitaker.