Forrest as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Forrest

What is the meaning of the name Forrest ?

The baby name Forrest is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈfɔːrɪst/ (FOR-est).

Forrest is English in Origin.

Forrest is an English given name that began as a surname identifying someone who lived or worked in a royal forest. It derives from Middle English forest, from Old French forest, ultimately Medieval Latin forestis (silva), “outside wood,” hence the meaning “of the forest” or “dweller by the woods.” The name’s strong nature imagery gives it an outdoorsy, grounded feel.

As a given name in the English-speaking world, Forrest gained currency in the 19th century amid the fashion for surnames-as-first-names and has enjoyed steady, if modest, use since. It saw a brief rise in the 1990s thanks to the film character Forrest Gump. Variants include the streamlined Forest, and related surnames Forrester/Forester (occupational) and DeForest. Notable bearers include confectionery entrepreneurs Forrest Mars Sr. and Jr. and editor-agent Forrest J Ackerman. Forrest is traditionally masculine but occasionally used unisex; nicknames are rare.