Foster

Gender: Masculine

Origin: English

Meaning: “Forest; keeper of the forest.”

Pronunciation: (FAWS-ter)

Nicknames: Fos, Foz

Detail: Derived from Middle English occupational words referring to a forester, scissor maker, or woodworker.

Acantha

Gender: Feminine

Origin: Greek

Meaning: “Thorn.”

Pronunciation: (ah-KAN-thah)

Nicknames: Aca, Acie, Antha, Anthy, Thay, Thee

Ask

Gender: Masculine

Origin: Germanic

Meaning: “Of the ash tree.”

Pronunciation: (ahsk)

Detail: From the Germanic element ask meaning “ash-tree”

According to Norse mythology, the first humans were carved from trees by Odin and his brothers Vili and Ve. They cut down an Ash tree and from it made the first man, Ask. From an elm tree they carved the first woman, Embla.

Nyssa

Gender: Feminine

Origin: Greek

Meaning: “A town that was in Asia minor; tree type.”

Pronunciation: (NISS-ah)

Nicknames: Nyss, Nyssy

Detail: The Nyssa is an alternate name for the Tupelo tree.