What Does the Name Forrest Mean?
Forrest is a boy's name of English (from the surname/word 'forest') origin meaning “of the forest; woodsman or dweller near a forest.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Forrest |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | English (from the surname/word 'forest') |
| Meaning | of the forest; woodsman or dweller near a forest |
| Variants | Forest, Forester, Forster (related surname) |
| Popularity | A classic American name with a nature-name appeal; saw renewed attention after the 1994 film 'Forrest Gump'. |
The meaning and origin of Forrest
The name Forrest means “of the forest; woodsman or dweller near a forest” and has English (from the surname/word 'forest') origins. Forrest comes from an English surname derived from 'forest', originally denoting someone who lived or worked in a royal forest. It is widely known through the film 'Forrest Gump'.
Variants and related names
Forrest is related to several other names you may recognize: Forest, Forester, Forster (related surname). These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Forrest?
A classic American name with a nature-name appeal; saw renewed attention after the 1994 film 'Forrest Gump'.
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Forrest below.
Generate a fake Forrest profile
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Forrest mean?+
The name Forrest means “of the forest; woodsman or dweller near a forest” and is of English (from the surname/word 'forest') origin.
What is the origin of the name Forrest?+
Forrest originates from English (from the surname/word 'forest').
Is Forrest a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Forrest has trended in the US over time.
Forrest by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press