Naming Style Focus #2: Flower Names

Most flower names for girls have a vintage feel, but they are coming back into fashion. Flower names more commonly appear on girls, but there are some flower names for boys, too. 

Lily
This pretty and delicate name has had a boost in the popularity charts over the years, and as of 2014 is the 12th  most popular name in England and Wales and is the 15th most popular name in the US. Variants include Lilian and Liliana; and alternative spellings include Lillie and Lili. The latter can also be a nickname for Elizabeth. 

Rose
This beautiful name is currently the 68th most popular name in England and Wales (whilst it's nickname, Rosie, is at #38 in the popularity charts) and the 224th most popular name in the US as of 2013 (though it may have changed since). 

Marguerite
This sophisticated and pretty French variant of Margaret has a meaning of "pearl", though is also the name of a flower, the marguerite daisy flower. As a result, Daisy, another pretty flower name, can be used as a nickname for Marguerite, or any of her variants. Marguerite is an unusual name in England and the US, though in France it was very common in the 20th century, but has since fallen as well. 

Linnea
This exotic Swedish flower name can also be spelt Linnéa, and shares its name with the linnaea borealis flowers. Linnea or Linnéa is popular in Norway and Sweden, however in England and the US it is an unusual name. 

Violet

This vintage flower name is after the viola flower. It has had a sudden boost in popularity and in the United Kingdom, as of 2012 it was ranked at #100. In the US, it had a higher rank of #69 as of 2013. 

Jasmine

Spelt Jasmijn in the Netherlands, this sweet flower name shares its name with the jasminium plant. In the United Kingdom, Jasmine was ranked as #45 as of 2012, whilst it was ranked as #103 in the US as of 2013.

Flora

This pretty and feminine name is derived from the Latin word "flos" which translates as "flower", and is the name of the Roman Goddess of Flowers. As of 2012, it ranked #404 in the popularity charts in the United Kingdom, whilst the last time it featured on the US popularity lists was in 1974, where it ranked as #964. 

Oleander

This quirky and exotic name could be more usable for boys with the nicknames Ollie (more commonly used for Oliver) or Leander (more commonly used as a standalone). It shares its name with the nerium oleander, an evergreen flowering shrub. Its a very unusual name in both the United Kingdom and the US.

Florian

This handsome and exotic boys name is derived from the equally handsome Roman name of Florianus. Florianus itself is derived from Florus, which is the masculine form of Flora. Its an unusual name in both the United Kingdom and the US, however in Austria its very common, ranking at #18 as of 2012. Saint Florian is the patron saint of Poland and Upper Austria.

William

This classic name is not exactly a flower name, though it shares its name with the sweet william flowers. The name of the Duke of Cambridge, the future King of England, currently ranks at #8, whilst in the US it ranks at #32.