BabyNameScore

Forrest

FOR·ist · 2 syllables

Forrest is distinctive.

Meaning: Forest

91/100

Strong Practical Fit

Balanced across pronunciation, everyday use, lifetime fit and international use.

Name Profile

  1. Pronunciation & Spelling

    Effortless

    A documented English pronunciation is on file: FOR-ist.

    91/100

  2. Everyday Use

    Low risk

    95/100

  3. Growing Up

    Strong lifetime fit

    Works comfortably across child and adult settings.

    82/100

  4. International Use

    Broad international fit

    Works cleanly across the assessed languages and writing systems.

    85/100

ORIGIN & HISTORY

About the name

Forest (from the English surname meaning "forest," for a person who lived near one).

  1. As a surname, Forrest derives from the geographical/topographic English surname "Forest," originally identifying someone who lived near or worked in a forest. Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest (1821-1877) is a well-documented historical bearer whose legacy remains controversial; the name saw a documented surge in US usage following the 1994 film "Forrest Gump," with an initial spike after the film's release, followed by a decline and partial recovery in subsequent years.
POPULARITY

Forrest over time

United States
#374RANK

Rank #374 gives national context, not a classroom forecast.

Uncommon in current U.S. usage. Ranked #374 in the U.S., 2025.

SourceU.S. Social Security Administration · 2025 release

Pronunciation & Forms

SAY IT

FOR·ist

STRESS ON THE FIRST SYLLABLE

OTHER-LANGUAGE FORMS
  • Forestalternate spelling
PRACTICAL LIFE

How This Name Lives

AT SCHOOL & DAY TO DAY

Easy to say and spell for a child, with a warm, nature-evoking sound distinct from more formal traditional names.

INTO ADULTHOOD

Carries an outdoorsy, grounded, nature-word quality into adulthood, reinforced by its strong association with the title character of the 1994 film "Forrest Gump."

Cultural Footprint

Forrest belongs to the broader nature/word-name and surname-transfer category of given names; in the United States it carries two very different notable associations that shape modern perception of it: a historical Confederate general and, far more prominently in popular culture today, the title character of the film "Forrest Gump."

TRACEABLE ORIGIN
  1. Forrest Gumptitle character of the 1994 film "Forrest Gump," played by Tom Hanks
  2. Nathan Bedford Forrest (1821-1877)Confederate general, a controversial historical namesake

More about Forrest

FORMALITY

Functions the same in formal and informal registers, as it is a complete standalone name without a separate short form.

Names around it

Forest
EDITORIAL SYNTHESIS

The Decision

Forrest is spelled without unusual letter patterns, and it holds up in everyday use. Surname-dependent compatibility remains unassessed until a surname is added.

STRENGTH

A documented English pronunciation is on file. Uses standard characters that systems widely handle cleanly.

BEST FIT

Everyday Use is the strongest-scoring part of this name — no obvious nickname traps, rhymes, or initial issues detected.

FULL-NAME CHECK

See how it works with a surname.

Forrest