Forrest Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Forrest is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Forrest?
Forrest is spelled F-O-R-R-E-S-T. The name has 7 letters.
Forrest at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Forrest means “dweller near or in the forest or woods.”
- Origin
- Forrest is commonly associated with Old French and Middle English origins, relating to a forest or wooded area.
- Pronunciation
- FOR-est · 2 syllables
Forrest Popularity in 2025
Rank#8,362
Recorded Births12
Rank#374
Recorded Births850
- Girls usage rose 1,194 places to #8,362 and recorded 2 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 33 places to #374 and recorded 56 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Forrest Mean?
Forrest means “dweller near or in the forest or woods.”
Origin: Forrest is commonly associated with Old French and Middle English origins, relating to a forest or wooded area.
How Do You Pronounce Forrest?
PronunciationFOR-est
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Forrest?
- History
- The name Forrest has been used historically as a surname and later as a given name, referring to someone who lived near or worked in a forest.
Forrest Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2013 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 12 | #8,362 |
| 2025 | Boys | 850 | #374 |
| 2024 | Girls | 10 | #9,556 |
| 2024 | Boys | 794 | #407 |
| 2023 | Girls | 21 | #5,752 |
| 2023 | Boys | 746 | #424 |
| 2022 | Girls | 16 | #6,984 |
| 2022 | Boys | 794 | #403 |
| 2021 | Girls | 11 | #8,978 |
| 2021 | Boys | 745 | #414 |
| 2020 | Girls | 9 | #10,250 |
| 2020 | Boys | 640 | #462 |
| 2019 | Girls | 5 | #15,539 |
| 2019 | Boys | 583 | #492 |
| 2018 | Girls | 6 | #13,793 |
| 2018 | Boys | 484 | #570 |
| 2017 | Girls | 9 | #10,689 |
| 2017 | Boys | 460 | #593 |
| 2016 | Girls | 8 | #11,781 |
| 2016 | Boys | 423 | #631 |
| 2015 | Boys | 391 | #660 |
| 2014 | Girls | 6 | #14,558 |
| 2014 | Boys | 338 | #713 |
| 2013 | Girls | 5 | #16,547 |
When Was Forrest Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1994 · Boys
1,343 recorded births
National rank #217
1993 · Boys
948 recorded births
National rank #291
1995 · Boys
858 recorded births
National rank #309
2025 · Boys
850 recorded births
National rank #374
Where Forrest Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| ME | #126 | 10 |
| ND | #170 | 7 |
| KY | #203 | 27 |
| WV | #227 | 8 |
| CO | #229 | 28 |
| OR | #230 | 18 |
| NH | #230 | 5 |
| TN | #244 | 36 |