Names meaning “depression” usually refer to its geographical sense — a low place, hollow, valley, or basin in the land. These names often sound earthy, grounded, and nature-inspired. In this article, we’ve gathered names from different cultures that carry this meaning.
If you love nature-based names with a quiet, calm feel, this list is perfect for you. Each name below is explained simply so you can pick the right one easily.
Boy Names That Mean Depression
Glenn
- Origin: Scottish/Irish
- Meaning: Valley / low ground
- Description: A classic name describing a narrow valley between hills.
Dale
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Valley / low land
- Description: A short, simple name referring to a hollow between hills.
Vail
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Valley
- Description: A modern variant spelling related to low ground.
Glyn
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: Valley
- Description: A Welsh form referring to a deep, narrow valley.
Combe
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Hollow / valley
- Description: An old English term for a small valley or hollow.
Hollis
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Near the hollow / dweller of the hollow
- Description: Refers to someone living near a low, sunken area.
Denver
- Origin: English
- Meaning: From the valley with green grass
- Description: A surname-turned-first-name with valley roots.
Lowell
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Beloved one / small hill near a hollow
- Description: Connected to low-lying ground near hills.
Wade
- Origin: English
- Meaning: To cross a low watery place
- Description: Refers to crossing a sunken, wet area of land.
Holt
- Origin: English/German
- Meaning: Wooded hollow
- Description: A short name referring to a low wooded area.
Brock
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Badger’s hollow
- Description: Refers to a hollow or burrow in the ground.
Fenn
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Marsh / low wetland
- Description: Refers to a sunken, marshy depression in land.
Hadlow
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Heath on a low hill
- Description: Combines low ground and natural landscape.
Marlowe
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Lake/pool remnants in a hollow
- Description: Refers to a low area where water collects.
Linden
- Origin: English/German
- Meaning: Hill with a hollow
- Description: A nature name with low-ground origins.
Crandall
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Valley of cranes
- Description: A surname referring to a valley setting.
Birchcombe
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Hollow of birch trees
- Description: A nature-rooted name tied to low valleys.
Yardley
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Enclosed meadow in a low field
- Description: Refers to low-lying farmland.
Sutcliff
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Southern hollow / cliff edge
- Description: Refers to a sunken area near a cliff.
Ashdown
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Hill with a low ash grove
- Description: Combines elevation and hollow ground meanings.
Girl Names That Mean Depression (Low Place/Valley)
Glenna
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: Valley
- Description: A feminine form of Glenn, meaning a low valley.
Vale
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Valley
- Description: A poetic, soft name referring to low ground.
Dell
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Small valley / hollow
- Description: A short, sweet name describing a tiny valley.
Glynnis
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: Valley
- Description: A feminine Welsh name meaning a narrow valley.
Lior (geographical use)
- Origin: Various
- Meaning: Low light area in a hollow
- Description: Rare usage tied to low-lying lands.
Marisol (low marsh variant)
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Low sunny marsh
- Description: A bright name with low-ground roots.
Wadeline
- Origin: English (feminine form)
- Meaning: From the low watery crossing
- Description: A gentle name with hollow-land meaning.
Hollow (used as Holloway)
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Sunken road / low path
- Description: Refers to a deeply worn low path.
Fenna
- Origin: Dutch/English
- Meaning: Marsh / low wetland
- Description: A feminine name tied to sunken wetlands.
Combeau
- Origin: French-English blend
- Meaning: Small hollow
- Description: A rare poetic name with valley roots.
Lindel
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Hollow near linden trees
- Description: Combines nature and low-ground imagery.
Brooke (low water area)
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Small stream in a low area
- Description: Refers to water flowing through a hollow.
Marlowe
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Pool in a hollow
- Description: Often used as a unisex name with low-land roots.
Hadleigh
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Meadow in a low heath
- Description: A graceful name with valley origins.
Yardleigh
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Low enclosed meadow
- Description: A soft variant referring to low fields.
Ashdale
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Valley with ash trees
- Description: Combines nature with low-ground meaning.
Crandalla
- Origin: English (feminine form)
- Meaning: Valley of cranes
- Description: A nature-inspired name tied to valleys.
Birchdell
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Small hollow with birch trees
- Description: A poetic blended name.
Sutdell
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Southern small valley
- Description: A rare directional-nature name.
Glenmore
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: Big valley
- Description: Often used as a feminine middle name with valley meaning.
Unisex Names That Mean Depression (Low Place/Valley)
Glenn
- Origin: Scottish/Irish
- Meaning: Valley
- Description: Works well for any gender.
Dale
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Valley
- Description: Simple and gender-neutral.
Vale
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Valley
- Description: Soft and modern.
Combe
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Hollow
- Description: Rare and unisex-friendly.
Marlowe
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Pool in a hollow
- Description: Increasingly popular for all genders.
Wade
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Low watery crossing
- Description: Strong yet simple.
Hollis
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Of the hollow
- Description: Works beautifully for any child.
Fenn
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Marsh / low wetland
- Description: Short and earthy.
Holt
- Origin: English/German
- Meaning: Wooded hollow
- Description: A nature-based unisex choice.
Linden
- Origin: English/German
- Meaning: Hollow with linden trees
- Description: Elegant and adaptable.
Brooke
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Stream in low ground
- Description: A classic unisex nature name.
Glynnis
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: Valley
- Description: Can be adapted for any gender.
Ashdown
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Hill with hollow
- Description: Strong and earthy.
Crandall
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Valley of cranes
- Description: A nature surname-style name.
Yardley
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Low meadow
- Description: Gentle and timeless.
Hadlow
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Low heath
- Description: Rare and meaningful.
Birchcombe
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Hollow of birch trees
- Description: Nature-rich and poetic.
Denver
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Green valley
- Description: Modern and widely used.
Lowell
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Small hill near a hollow
- Description: Soft and classic.
Sutcliff
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Southern hollow
- Description: Distinctive and earthy.




