Juniper

Juniper is a nature name taken from the evergreen tree or shrub. Its direct meaning is the plant, whose berries are famously used to flavor gin. A proposed deeper word history should not replace that clear botanical meaning with the overly simple gloss “young.”

The name has literary and historical associations beyond the plant. Margaret Wise Brown, author of Goodnight Moon, sometimes wrote under the name Juniper Sage, and Junie B. Jones’s full name is Juniper Beatrice. Brother Juniper was a follower of Francis of Assisi. June and Junie offer natural short forms, while Juniper keeps the botanical connection explicit. These short forms do not turn it into the month name June; they simply provide different ways to use the longer name day to day.