Forestine
Feminine name derived from the Latin word "forestis," meaning from the forest.
Name Census estimates that about 115 living Americans carry the first name Forestine. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Forestine today is around 77 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Forestine births was 1950 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Forestine. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Forestine is about 77 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Forestines were born before 1959.
People living today
115
~ 1 in 2,980,473 Americans
Peak year
1950
16 babies that year
Average age
77
years old
1964 SSA rank
#6,245
Tracked since 1914
Popularity
Forestine: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Forestine from the 1910s through to the 1960s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 102 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1940s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Forestine by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Forestine during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Forestines live
Origin
Meaning and history of Forestine
The name Forestine has its origins in the Latin language, derived from the word "forestis," which means "of the forest." It is a feminine given name that was first recorded in ancient Roman times, when it was likely used as a descriptive name for those who lived in or near forested areas.
During the Middle Ages, the name Forestine gained popularity among the nobility and aristocracy of various European regions, particularly in France and Italy. It was often associated with a connection to nature and the outdoors, reflecting the importance of forests and woodlands in medieval life.
One of the earliest known historical references to the name Forestine can be found in a 12th-century French manuscript, where it appears as the name of a noblewoman from the Aquitaine region. This suggests that the name had already been in use for several centuries by that time.
In the 13th century, a Forestine de Montfort was recorded as being a member of the influential Montfort family, which played a significant role in the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars in southern France. Her exact dates of birth and death are unknown, but her name serves as an example of the name's use among the aristocracy of that era.
During the Renaissance period, the name Forestine was favored by some humanist scholars and writers who appreciated its classical Roman roots and its connection to nature. One notable bearer of the name was Forestine Prunier (1498-1572), a French poet and translator who was known for her works celebrating the beauty of the natural world.
In the 17th century, a Forestine Boudier (1635-1705) was a French painter and engraver who gained recognition for her landscapes and nature-themed artwork. Her choice of name likely reflected her artistic interests and appreciation for the natural world.
Another historical figure with the name Forestine was Forestine Pariset (1802-1875), a French botanist and explorer who contributed significantly to the study of plant life in various regions of the world. Her name perfectly encapsulated her passion for the exploration of forests and their rich flora.
While the name Forestine has never been among the most common given names, it has been used throughout history by individuals from various backgrounds and professions, often reflecting a connection to nature, the outdoors, and the beauty of the natural world.
People
Forestine + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Forestine as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Forestine: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Forestine?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 115 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Forestine going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,980,473 US residents.
Is Forestine a common name?
We classify Forestine as "Very Rare". It ranks above 66.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 310 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Forestine most popular?
The single biggest year for Forestine was 1950, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Forestine is about 77 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Forestine a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Forestine in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.