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The short answer
Forrest is a masculine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From an English surname meaning ‘forest’, originally belonging to a person who lived near a forest. In America it has sometimes been used in honour of the Confederate Civil War general Nathan Bedford Forrest (1821-1877)." It ranked #374 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from an English surname meaning ‘forest’, originally belonging to a person who lived near a forest. In America it has sometimes been used in honour of the Confederate Civil War general Nathan Bedford Forrest (1821-1877). The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Forrest ranked #374 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #374 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Forrest in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Forrest mean?
Forrest means "forest", according to Behind the Name.
Is Forrest a popular name?
Forrest ranked #374 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Forrest a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Forrest appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Forrest — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
