Flower names are the oldest nature tradition in English naming — medieval violet, Victorian daisy, modern poppy. The current wave goes deep-cut botanical: Dahlia, Linnea, Clematis, and Zinnia are the risers, while Lily and Rose remain the bedrock.
The usage note: flower names pair beautifully with non-floral middles — Iris Wren, Dahlia Kate — keeping the botany from becoming a whole garden.
The list
- Lily — the pure classic
- Rose — the eternal one
- Iris — rainbow and bloom
- Violet — the modest purple
- Daisy — the day's eye
- Poppy — the bright field flower
- Flora — the goddess of blooms
- Juniper — the evergreen berry
- Hazel — the nut tree
- Ivy — the clinging vine
- Lilac — the purple bush
- Magnolia — the southern giant
- Camellia — the winter rose
- Dahlia — the dinner-plate dahlia
- Zinnia — the butterfly magnet
- Marigold — the golden Mary
- Primrose — the first rose of spring
- Clementine — the citrus
- Olive — the Mediterranean tree
- Willow — the water tree
- Hazel — — (see above)
- Fern — the shade frond
- Ivy — — (see above)
- Aster — the star flower
- Azalea — the spring shrub
- Petunia — the humble window box
- Bryony — the climbing vine
- Clematis — the climbing queen
- Daphne — the laurel nymph
- Linnea — the twinflower — Sweden's beloved
- Amaryllis — the winter bulb
- Jasmine — the night fragrance
- Gardenia — the white perfume
- Posy — the little bouquet
- Bluebell — the woodland carpet
Iris, Violet, Flora, and friends have full profiles in the girls' collection.