How to say it
FOR · rest
ˈfɔːr.ɪst
Masculine
Forrest
Woods, forest
What it means
An English word and surname name, for someone who lived or worked in the forest.
Forrest is a nature-and-occupation name from the word forest, given long ago to people who lived among or worked in the woods. The double-r spelling is the common given-name form, fixed in the popular mind by Forrest Gump and his run across America. It reads green, open, and gently old-fashioned, sitting beside River and Rowan. Plain and rooted.
How to spell Forrest
The standard spelling is Forrest. Common variants include Forest, Forster, but Forrest is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #173 in 1913, currently #374 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Forrest (two r's) is the usual given-name spelling, as in Forrest Gump; Forest is the plain word.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Forrest Gump the wide-eyed hero of the 1994 film
Spelling variants
- Forest
- Forster
Names with the same feeling
See Forrest from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Forrest mean?
- An English word and surname name, for someone who lived or worked in the forest.
- What does Forrest mean in English?
- In English, Forrest means "Woods, forest." Forrest is a nature-and-occupation name from the word forest, given long ago to people who lived among or worked in the woods. The double-r spelling is the common given-name form, fixed in the popular mind by Forrest Gump and his run across America. It reads green, open, and gently old-fashioned, sitting beside River and Rowan. Plain and rooted.
- How do you pronounce Forrest?
- Forrest is pronounced ˈfɔːr.ɪst. Say it as FOR-rest, with the stress on the "for" syllable.
- How do you spell Forrest?
- The standard spelling is Forrest. Common spelling variants include Forest, Forster.
- Is Forrest a boy or girl name?
- Forrest is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Forrest?
- Forrest ranked #374 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.