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Forest

Boy name · 16 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Forest: 16 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 5 births in 2020.

Of earthy origin, Forest first emerged as a surname before being adopted as a given name, deriving from the Old French *forest*, meaning "woodland" or "large wooded area," and ultimately from the Latin *foris* ("outside"). The name rose in popularity following the global fame of American actor and activist Forest Whitaker, whose powerful performances in films like *The Last King of Scotland* brought the name international recognition. While there are no major Scottish settlements sharing this exact name, the etymological root is the same as that of the Forest of Dean in England, and countless forested place-names across the world. In Scotland, the variant spelling *Forrest* remains slightly more common, and the name carries a gentle, nature-inspired resonance that has seen steady use since the 1970s.