Origin of the Forrest Name
Both a first name and surname, the name is derived from 13th-century England, meaning “dweller or worker of the forest.” There have been several variations of the name, including Forest, Forrester, and even Foster.
Meaning of Forrest
Contemporary English definitions of the first name Forrest mean “woodlands” or “of the woods.”
Popularity of Forrest
The name Forrest was used most between the years of 1899-1925; however, it spiked in popularity in 1994 after the release of the movie “Forrest Gump.” In 2013, this name ranked 841st amongst the most used U.S. baby names. In England, it is not in the top 100 (in 2013).
Famous People with the Name
Although often used as a surname, the following are celebrities with the first name Forrest:
- Forrest Gump: Fictional, 1968 book character that was portrayed by Tom Hanks in the movie by the same name.
- Forrest Richard “Dickey” Betts: Guitarist, singer, and songwriter who ranked #58 in the Rolling Stone’s list of the greatest guitarists of all time, mainly for his work in The Allman Brothers Band.
- Forrest Griffin: Mixed martial artist and member of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Hall of Fame.
Useful Resources
- See other popular and not so popular English boys’ names here