Herb Names
Herbs are the leafy, aromatic plants we use for flavor, fragrance and traditional remedies — as opposed to spices, which usually come from seeds, bark or roots. This list covers more than 100 herb names: kitchen staples, garden and wild herbs, tea herbs and global favorites from Thai, Mexican and Middle Eastern cooking, each with a short note on flavor or use.
Herbs have also inspired some lovely names, from Sage and Rosemary to Basil and Juniper; you’ll find those near the end. For related lists, see plant names, names of flowers and fruit names.
Common culinary herb names
The herbs most home cooks keep in a pot on the windowsill or a jar in the cupboard.
| Herb | Flavor | Classic use |
|---|---|---|
| Basil | Sweet, peppery, anise | Pesto, caprese, Thai stir-fries |
| Parsley | Fresh, grassy | Tabbouleh, gremolata, garnish |
| Cilantro | Bright, citrusy (soapy to some) | Salsa, curries, pho |
| Mint | Cool, sweet | Mojitos, lamb, tea |
| Rosemary | Piney, resinous | Roast potatoes, lamb, focaccia |
| Thyme | Earthy, lemony | Stews, roast chicken, soups |
| Oregano | Warm, peppery | Pizza, Greek salads |
| Sage | Savory, slightly bitter | Stuffing, brown-butter pasta |
| Dill | Grassy, tangy | Pickles, salmon, tzatziki |
| Chives | Mild onion | Baked potatoes, eggs |
| Tarragon | Anise-like | Béarnaise sauce, chicken |
| Marjoram | Sweet, milder than oregano | Sausages, tomato sauces |
| Bay leaf | Herbal, tea-like | Slow-cooked stocks and stews |
| Chervil | Delicate anise | French fines herbes, omelets |
| Lovage | Strong celery | Soups, potato salad |
| Savory | Peppery | Beans (summer and winter savory) |
| Fennel fronds | Mild licorice | Fish, salads |
| Garlic chives | Garlicky | Dumplings, stir-fries |
| Lemon thyme | Citrusy thyme | Fish, roast vegetables |
| Lemon basil | Lemony basil | Salads, Indonesian dishes |
| Watercress | Peppery | Sandwiches, soups |
| Purslane | Lemony, succulent | Salads, Mexican verdolagas |
| Wild garlic | Mild garlic | Spring pesto (also called ramsons) |
| Salad burnet | Cucumber-like | Salads, cocktails |
Herb names from world cuisines
Herbs that define the cooking of other countries — most are now easy to grow in the US.
| Herb | Cuisine | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lemongrass | Thai, Vietnamese | Citrus stalks for curries and soups |
| Thai basil | Thai | Purple stems, strong anise |
| Holy basil | Thai, Indian | Tulsi; peppery and sacred in Hinduism |
| Kaffir lime leaf | Thai | Makrut lime; intensely fragrant |
| Culantro | Caribbean, Vietnamese | Long-leaf cousin of cilantro |
| Epazote | Mexican | Pungent; cooked with black beans |
| Hoja santa | Mexican | Heart-shaped leaves with root-beer notes |
| Mexican oregano | Mexican | A verbena, not true oregano |
| Shiso | Japanese, Korean | Perilla; minty-basil flavor |
| Mitsuba | Japanese | Japanese wild parsley |
| Curry leaf | South Indian | Toasted in oil for dals |
| Fenugreek leaf | Indian | Kasuri methi; bittersweet |
| Vietnamese coriander | Vietnamese | Rau răm; peppery |
| Za’atar | Levantine | Wild thyme-like herb (also the spice blend) |
| Sorrel | French, Eastern European | Sour, lemony leaves |
| Pandan | Southeast Asian | Vanilla-like leaf for sweets and rice |
| Papalo | Mexican | Bold, cilantro-like |
| Houttuynia | Vietnamese, Chinese | Fish mint; very pungent |
Traditional medicinal and garden herbs
Herbs long used in folk remedies and cottage gardens. They’re listed here for history and gardening — always ask a doctor before using any herb medicinally.
| Herb | Traditional use | Garden note |
|---|---|---|
| Chamomile | Calming tea | Daisy-like flowers |
| Echinacea | Cold-season remedy | Purple coneflower |
| Calendula | Skin salves | Pot marigold, edible petals |
| Yarrow | Wound herb (Achilles’ legend) | Flat white flower heads |
| Feverfew | Headache folk remedy | Small daisies |
| Comfrey | “Knitbone” poultices | Not for eating |
| Valerian | Sleep aid | Tall, sweet-scented |
| Lemon balm | Soothing tea | Spreads quickly |
| St. John’s wort | Mood (interacts with many drugs) | Yellow midsummer flowers |
| Mugwort | Dream pillows, Korean rice cakes | Silvery leaves |
| Hyssop | Biblical cleansing herb (Psalm 51) | Loved by bees |
| Borage | Salads and drinks | Blue star flowers |
| Rue | Old “herb of grace” | Handle with gloves |
| Tansy | Old insect repellent | Button-like yellow flowers |
| Horehound | Cough candy | Woolly leaves |
| Angelica | Candied stems | Tall and dramatic |
| Wormwood | Flavors absinthe | Very bitter |
| Betony | Medieval cure-all | Purple spikes |
| Mullein | Cough tea | Tall velvety spikes |
| Vervain | Sacred herb of druids | Slender purple flowers |
Herbs for tea and drinks
Caffeine-free herbs brewed as tisanes or used in cocktails.
| Herb | Flavor | Try it in |
|---|---|---|
| Peppermint | Cool, strong | After-dinner tea |
| Spearmint | Sweet mint | Mint juleps, iced tea |
| Lemon verbena | Intense lemon | Iced tea, syrups |
| Hibiscus | Tart, cranberry-like | Agua de jamaica |
| Rooibos | Nutty, sweet | South African red tea |
| Nettle | Grassy | Spring tonic tea |
| Anise hyssop | Licorice-mint | Honey-sweetened tea |
| Bee balm | Oregano-citrus | Also called bergamot herb |
| Catnip | Minty | Tea for people, fun for cats |
| Lavender | Floral | Lavender lemonade |
| Rose geranium | Rosy | Cakes and cordials |
| Pineapple sage | Fruity | Summer drinks |
| Sweet woodruff | Hay, vanilla | German May wine |
| Stevia | Very sweet | Natural sweetener |
Herb names for babies
Several herbs above already work as names — Sage, Basil, Rosemary, Lavender, Sorrel, Yarrow — and these herb-linked names give you even more choice. See nature names for girls, nature boy names and boho girl names for more.
| Name | Herb link | Meaning / note |
|---|---|---|
| Juniper | Juniper berries, used to flavor gin | Latin juniperus |
| Saffron | Saffron crocus (technically a spice) | Arabic za‘farān |
| Laurel | Bay laurel | Symbol of victory in ancient Greece |
| Myrtle | Myrtle | Sacred to Aphrodite |
| Clary | Clary sage | Latin clarus, “clear” |
| Cicely | Sweet cicely | Also a medieval form of Cecilia |
| Violet | Sweet violet (edible flowers) | Vintage favorite |
| Melissa | Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) | Greek, “honeybee” |
| Tulsi | Holy basil | Hindi; sacred to Vishnu |
| Marjorie | Marjoram | From Margaret, influenced by the herb’s name |
| Ruta | Rue (Ruta graveolens) | Lithuanian name Rūta, a national symbol |
| Salvia | Sage genus | Latin salvus, “healthy, saved” |
| Verbena | Vervain / lemon verbena | Latin, “sacred bough” |
| Artemisia | Mugwort and wormwood genus | Named for the goddess Artemis |
| Senna | The senna plant | Arabic sanā |
Herb-inspired names for pets
Playful kitchen names for cats, dogs, rabbits and chickens. See bunny names and chicken names for more.
| Name | Herb link | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Pesto | Basil sauce | Green-eyed cats |
| Minty | Mint | Fresh, lively pets |
| Herbie | Any herb | Garden-loving dogs |
| Mojito | Mint cocktail | Party-animal pups |
| Julep | Mint julep | Southern-charm dogs |
| Tzatziki | Dill and mint dip | White pets with personality |
| Chimichurri | Parsley-oregano sauce | Spicy-tempered cats |
| Gremolata | Parsley-lemon garnish | Fancy felines |
| Coriander | Cilantro seed | Tan dogs |
| Tabbouleh | Parsley salad | Tabby cats (the pun writes itself) |
Tips for growing and using herbs
- Know herb vs. spice. Herbs are the leaves (and sometimes flowers) of a plant; spices come from seeds, bark, roots or fruit. Cilantro is the herb, coriander the seed.
- Soft vs. woody herbs. Add tender herbs (basil, parsley, dill) at the end of cooking; woody herbs (rosemary, thyme, bay) can simmer for hours.
- Start with five. Basil, parsley, mint, thyme and chives cover most American recipes and grow well in pots.
- Contain the mint. Mint and lemon balm spread aggressively — grow them in their own container.
- Be cautious with remedies. Traditional medicinal herbs can interact with medications; treat the folk uses above as history, not advice.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common herbs?
Basil, parsley, cilantro, mint, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, dill and chives are the herbs used most in American kitchens.
What is the difference between an herb and a spice?
Herbs are the fresh or dried leafy parts of plants; spices come from other parts like seeds (cumin), bark (cinnamon), roots (ginger) or flower stigmas (saffron).
What herbs make good baby names?
Sage, Rosemary, Basil, Juniper, Laurel, Myrtle, Clary and Melissa (Greek for “honeybee”, and the botanical name of lemon balm) are popular herb-inspired names.
What is the herb of remembrance?
Rosemary. Ophelia says “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance” in Hamlet, and it’s still worn on Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand.
Which herbs are easiest to grow indoors?
Chives, mint, parsley, basil and thyme do well on a sunny windowsill with at least six hours of light.