Fun Facts About the Name Forrest
- More than 54 thousand babies named Forrest: U.S. records list 54,686 babies given the name Forrest from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,058 girls received the name Forrest - about 1 girl for every 51 boys.
What Does the Name Forrest Mean?
Forrest is an English name meaning "forest" or "woodland." It comes from the Middle English and Old French word forest, which named a wooded area, especially a royal hunting preserve. The word traces to Medieval Latin forestis, as in forestis silva, probably from Latin foris, "outside" or "out of doors"; the ultimate origin is not completely certain. As a surname, Forrest was mainly topographic, used for someone who lived in or near a forest, though some examples may have referred to forest work. The given name is a transferred use of that surname rather than a name with an independent medieval origin.
Forrest Name History & Origins
Forrest began as a surname in England and Scotland. Old French forest entered English after the Norman Conquest, and the surname appears in spellings such as Forest and Forrest. In medieval England, a forest was not simply wild land; it was often a royal hunting preserve governed by special laws. A surname like Forrest could therefore identify a family that lived near such a preserve or held a post connected with it. The related occupational surnames Forrester and Forster come from the term for a forest officer, but Forrest itself is usually classified as a topographic surname.
Forrest later became a given name through the English-language habit of using surnames as first names. It is found as a male given name in 19th- and early 20th-century records in Britain and North America; the American actor Forrest Tucker (1919 - 1986) is a later example. A well-known fictional use is the title character of Winston Groom's 1986 novel Forrest Gump and the 1994 film adaptation. That literary and film association is separate from the name's earlier history as a surname and given name.
How Popular is the Name Forrest?
Forrest recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1994. Its best rank was #173 in 1913.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #8,532 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2024 | #9,757 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #5,810 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2022 | #7,081 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 2021 | #9,169 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2020 | #10,538 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #16,343 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2018 | #14,398 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #10,991 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #12,137 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #15,220 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #17,440 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #16,295 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #11,222 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1996 | #9,873 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #4,571 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1994 | #3,052 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 1993 | #4,562 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1992 | #5,120 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1991 | #5,751 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1990 | #13,681 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #7,309 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #11,896 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #9,928 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #8,441 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #6,370 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1982 | #8,517 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #7,624 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #7,527 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #8,889 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #7,400 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1974 | #6,426 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #7,573 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1971 | #6,830 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1970 | #8,393 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1968 | #7,360 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #6,270 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #6,933 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #4,561 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1959 | #5,778 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1958 | #5,056 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #6,380 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1956 | #3,996 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1955 | #4,882 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #6,017 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #2,979 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1952 | #3,633 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1951 | #3,342 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1950 | #2,950 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1949 | #3,709 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1948 | #3,986 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1946 | #2,650 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1945 | #4,200 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1944 | #2,823 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1943 | #3,113 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1942 | #2,883 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1941 | #3,354 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1940 | #3,047 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1939 | #3,236 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1938 | #3,008 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1937 | #3,964 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1936 | #4,440 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1935 | #3,006 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1934 | #3,264 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1933 | #3,909 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1932 | #2,283 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1931 | #2,471 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1930 | #2,465 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1929 | #2,037 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1928 | #2,429 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1927 | #3,137 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1926 | #3,691 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1925 | #5,276 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1924 | #2,449 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1923 | #1,970 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1922 | #2,142 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1921 | #2,004 | 20 | 0.0016% |
| 1920 | #2,507 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1919 | #2,303 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1918 | #1,990 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1917 | #2,238 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1916 | #2,063 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1915 | #2,780 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1914 | #1,682 | 16 | 0.0021% |
| 1913 | #1,625 | 14 | 0.0022% |
| 1912 | #1,441 | 15 | 0.0027% |
| 1910 | #1,679 | 9 | 0.0023% |
| 1909 | #2,336 | 5 | 0.0014% |
| 1907 | #959 | 16 | 0.0050% |
| 1904 | #1,740 | 6 | 0.0022% |
| 1903 | #1,370 | 8 | 0.0031% |
| 1902 | #1,672 | 6 | 0.0023% |
| 1901 | #1,388 | 7 | 0.0029% |
| 1900 | #1,810 | 6 | 0.0020% |
| 1899 | #1,217 | 8 | 0.0034% |
| 1898 | #1,132 | 10 | 0.0039% |
| 1897 | #1,311 | 7 | 0.0030% |
| 1896 | #1,246 | 8 | 0.0034% |
| 1895 | #1,345 | 7 | 0.0030% |
| 1893 | #1,040 | 9 | 0.0042% |
| 1891 | #1,044 | 8 | 0.0043% |
| 1890 | #891 | 10 | 0.0053% |
| 1889 | #1,064 | 7 | 0.0039% |
| 1888 | #1,188 | 6 | 0.0034% |
| 1887 | #1,203 | 5 | 0.0034% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #374 | 850 | 0.0498% |
| 2024 | #407 | 788 | 0.0459% |
| 2023 | #424 | 744 | 0.0435% |
| 2022 | #402 | 794 | 0.0455% |
| 2021 | #414 | 745 | 0.0426% |
| 2020 | #462 | 639 | 0.0370% |
| 2019 | #492 | 583 | 0.0325% |
| 2018 | #572 | 483 | 0.0266% |
| 2017 | #593 | 460 | 0.0249% |
| 2016 | #632 | 423 | 0.0223% |
| 2015 | #660 | 391 | 0.0204% |
| 2014 | #713 | 338 | 0.0176% |
| 2013 | #834 | 257 | 0.0136% |
| 2012 | #1,180 | 154 | 0.0081% |
| 2011 | #1,126 | 161 | 0.0085% |
| 2010 | #1,144 | 162 | 0.0084% |
| 2009 | #1,113 | 166 | 0.0084% |
| 2008 | #1,339 | 129 | 0.0063% |
| 2007 | #1,238 | 142 | 0.0068% |
| 2006 | #1,150 | 147 | 0.0072% |
| 2005 | #1,097 | 151 | 0.0076% |
| 2004 | #1,037 | 158 | 0.0080% |
| 2003 | #878 | 195 | 0.0099% |
| 2002 | #856 | 194 | 0.0100% |
| 2001 | #809 | 207 | 0.0107% |
| 2000 | #697 | 252 | 0.0128% |
| 1999 | #660 | 262 | 0.0136% |
| 1998 | #619 | 296 | 0.0155% |
| 1997 | #538 | 370 | 0.0196% |
| 1996 | #489 | 431 | 0.0228% |
| 1995 | #309 | 858 | 0.0451% |
| 1994 | #217 | 1,343 | 0.0695% |
| 1993 | #291 | 948 | 0.0483% |
| 1992 | #316 | 832 | 0.0417% |
| 1991 | #371 | 620 | 0.0307% |
| 1990 | #421 | 542 | 0.0264% |
| 1989 | #438 | 461 | 0.0230% |
| 1988 | #448 | 404 | 0.0211% |
| 1987 | #457 | 377 | 0.0202% |
| 1986 | #476 | 331 | 0.0180% |
| 1985 | #492 | 310 | 0.0168% |
| 1984 | #496 | 288 | 0.0160% |
| 1983 | #474 | 313 | 0.0175% |
| 1982 | #449 | 360 | 0.0198% |
| 1981 | #470 | 312 | 0.0174% |
| 1980 | #463 | 333 | 0.0187% |
| 1979 | #462 | 316 | 0.0184% |
| 1978 | #447 | 317 | 0.0193% |
| 1977 | #452 | 315 | 0.0192% |
| 1976 | #471 | 279 | 0.0178% |
| 1975 | #480 | 277 | 0.0177% |
| 1974 | #476 | 280 | 0.0178% |
| 1973 | #526 | 222 | 0.0142% |
| 1972 | #477 | 273 | 0.0168% |
| 1971 | #457 | 316 | 0.0179% |
| 1970 | #461 | 311 | 0.0167% |
| 1969 | #459 | 277 | 0.0155% |
| 1968 | #447 | 296 | 0.0170% |
| 1967 | #436 | 302 | 0.0173% |
| 1966 | #442 | 300 | 0.0168% |
| 1965 | #419 | 348 | 0.0187% |
| 1964 | #411 | 382 | 0.0192% |
| 1963 | #402 | 404 | 0.0199% |
| 1962 | #379 | 452 | 0.0218% |
| 1961 | #383 | 428 | 0.0202% |
| 1960 | #396 | 399 | 0.0187% |
| 1959 | #379 | 437 | 0.0205% |
| 1958 | #384 | 412 | 0.0194% |
| 1957 | #354 | 461 | 0.0214% |
| 1956 | #352 | 441 | 0.0208% |
| 1955 | #329 | 504 | 0.0245% |
| 1954 | #321 | 503 | 0.0247% |
| 1953 | #325 | 476 | 0.0241% |
| 1952 | #313 | 518 | 0.0267% |
| 1951 | #312 | 501 | 0.0266% |
| 1950 | #321 | 458 | 0.0256% |
| 1949 | #318 | 459 | 0.0259% |
| 1948 | #321 | 432 | 0.0246% |
| 1947 | #305 | 513 | 0.0280% |
| 1946 | #291 | 493 | 0.0304% |
| 1945 | #285 | 441 | 0.0328% |
| 1944 | #276 | 466 | 0.0342% |
| 1943 | #288 | 450 | 0.0315% |
| 1942 | #300 | 412 | 0.0298% |
| 1941 | #278 | 426 | 0.0347% |
| 1940 | #278 | 407 | 0.0351% |
| 1939 | #269 | 414 | 0.0374% |
| 1938 | #277 | 403 | 0.0363% |
| 1937 | #263 | 420 | 0.0394% |
| 1936 | #272 | 393 | 0.0379% |
| 1935 | #264 | 422 | 0.0405% |
| 1934 | #268 | 412 | 0.0399% |
| 1933 | #245 | 454 | 0.0458% |
| 1932 | #238 | 498 | 0.0477% |
| 1931 | #244 | 473 | 0.0455% |
| 1930 | #241 | 532 | 0.0485% |
| 1929 | #211 | 602 | 0.0560% |
| 1928 | #230 | 572 | 0.0516% |
| 1927 | #219 | 610 | 0.0541% |
| 1926 | #204 | 680 | 0.0612% |
| 1925 | #212 | 648 | 0.0581% |
| 1924 | #200 | 695 | 0.0614% |
| 1923 | #186 | 758 | 0.0692% |
| 1922 | #182 | 772 | 0.0709% |
| 1921 | #180 | 781 | 0.0709% |
| 1920 | #178 | 792 | 0.0744% |
| 1919 | #185 | 686 | 0.0700% |
| 1918 | #175 | 757 | 0.0747% |
| 1917 | #183 | 663 | 0.0716% |
| 1916 | #183 | 652 | 0.0733% |
| 1915 | #176 | 643 | 0.0758% |
| 1914 | #176 | 501 | 0.0765% |
| 1913 | #173 | 395 | 0.0771% |
| 1912 | #187 | 308 | 0.0716% |
| 1911 | #198 | 152 | 0.0673% |
| 1910 | #230 | 103 | 0.0530% |
| 1909 | #182 | 125 | 0.0762% |
| 1908 | #196 | 105 | 0.0680% |
| 1907 | #187 | 115 | 0.0783% |
| 1906 | #208 | 85 | 0.0638% |
| 1905 | #221 | 75 | 0.0567% |
| 1904 | #197 | 89 | 0.0695% |
| 1903 | #204 | 76 | 0.0637% |
| 1902 | #183 | 91 | 0.0742% |
| 1901 | #196 | 73 | 0.0686% |
| 1900 | #252 | 66 | 0.0439% |
| 1899 | #175 | 83 | 0.0781% |
| 1898 | #189 | 80 | 0.0652% |
| 1897 | #191 | 81 | 0.0718% |
| 1896 | #187 | 87 | 0.0728% |
| 1895 | #181 | 88 | 0.0750% |
| 1894 | #237 | 53 | 0.0458% |
| 1893 | #196 | 74 | 0.0659% |
| 1892 | #247 | 52 | 0.0426% |
| 1891 | #205 | 59 | 0.0583% |
| 1890 | #222 | 56 | 0.0504% |
| 1889 | #200 | 65 | 0.0588% |
| 1888 | #223 | 62 | 0.0513% |
| 1887 | #282 | 34 | 0.0335% |
| 1886 | #227 | 56 | 0.0505% |
| 1885 | #279 | 36 | 0.0334% |
| 1884 | #290 | 36 | 0.0315% |
| 1883 | #333 | 25 | 0.0239% |
| 1882 | #280 | 38 | 0.0334% |
| 1881 | #307 | 28 | 0.0278% |
| 1880 | #280 | 36 | 0.0326% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Forrest Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are kind, home-loving, hospitable and friendly. Since you take responsibility well, you are a good organizer of social affairs. Compassion for others is an outstanding trait. You are a great lover and a great flirt – an artist, musician, actor, teacher, nurse. Your character can be contradictory. You are practical, yet idealistic and intuitive; capable of selfless devotion to someone you love, yet look to receive payback. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Forrest's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Forrest's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.