Florence

[K8Kate]

We really like this name but is it getting really really popular? We live in south west London if that makes any difference!!

[Westcountrylovescheese]

Lovely yes, popular yes.

Does the popularity bother you?

[itdoesnthurttohavemanners]

Personally don't like the name (gets shortened to Flo, makes me think of periods!!!!)...but it is ridiculously popular now, I know of 4 babies called Florence just this past 6 months!

[K8Kate]

It does bother me if there are going to be 3 or 4 to her class!

[scottishmummy]

v popular
and yes likely be one of many wee florences in class

[MoonHare]

It has had a huge surge in popularity in the last 4-5 years but still way outside the top 20 names.

You're likely to meet several but probably not all in your daughter's class. Although if it's popularity is even more concentrated in 'that London' maybe there will be more than one in your daughter's class!

[Pinkcate]

I know three born this year it's very now.

[Tikkabillajive]

I love it, but also know 3 born in the last year!

[PestoPenguin]

Yes, it's v popular and trendy especially in London and I personally can't stand it

[scottishmummy]

v nice name
but really over done. a mc staple

[shoobidoo]

I didn't know a single (child) Florence about 5 years ago, now there are three under the age of 3 amongst our friends!

[CharlotteBronteSaurus]

dd2 was a hair's breadth away from being called Florence, until David Cameron used it for his daughter, and i worried it would become ubiquitous. dd2 has it for a middle name instead. BUT i have never met another (we are in the NW), although we do know a Flora, which I also love.

[lovemygirlivy]

I live in North West London and know 1 who is 18 . So don't feel it's that popular here. I really like the name especially the nn Florrie - i guess it depends on where you live to how popular it is.

[Lunarlyte]

We're in a middle-class region of the West Midlands and know two Florences under age 2. I mean, I also know one other girl with the same name as each of my DDs!

If you like the name, then to heck about it's popularity. You can't pick a name in the hope that it won't become popular as you just can't tell. I get irritated by people who pick 'out there' names for the sake of it.

Anyway, names are popular for a reason I.e. They're nice! If you like Florence, name her Florence x

[Clary]

I don't know any children called Florence - or any people at all actually.

I can offer you a Flora and a Fleur but that's all. I know a lot of children too. I am in the Midlands btw.

FWIW Florence was going to be one of DS2's names so I do love it.

[NurseBernard]

Very popular, will date.

[Beachcombergirl]

It won't date. My Great Grandmother was called Florence. It's a strong classic name. Go for it.

[LadyWidmerpool]

Disagree with above poster, it will date. there have been barely any Florences for fifty years during which time it was a dated name, and the same will happen after this fad is over.

[Disneydreams]

I don't think it will date but then I'm not any good on whether names will date or not lol. Anyway just wanted to say I know 4 florences. One is 80, one is 54, one is 25 and one is 6 months! And they all suit it perfectly. IMO it is a beautiful name and wish my dh had the same opinion. Go for it!

[shoobidoo]

Any name that quickly rises in popularity and the falls out of favour will inevitably sound 'dated' to the period it was popular.

Florence was trendy about 80-100 years ago, was the out of favour (and sounded 'dated') and is now rising in popularity again.

Same with names like Sharon or Karen - they were trendy about 40 years ago and now sound dated. In another 40 years our children will find them lovely and 'different' and they will become fashionable again.

A 'timeless' name, on the other hand, is never very 'fashionable' so can never fall out of fashion and will never be associated with a period.

Florence, based on the recent surge in popularity, may well become very trendy and then fall out of favour and sound dated. I also don't like the nicknames Flo or Florrie.

[pencilandpen]

It's hilarious to think Florence will date - please think about how cyclical names are. There were little Florences around 300 years ago! All legit names are dated!

We don't have any Florences where I live - it's gorgeous.

[tammytoby]

I think what people mean with 'dating' is that some names (whilst being 'around for 300 years') quickly rise in popularity and become very fashionable. After a few years, as people tire of them, they fall out of favour and start to sound 'dated' to the period they were trendy.

I have to agree that I don't know any Florences over the age of 5, but I've been hearing more babies called it recently. So it may well shoot up the charts and become very 'fahionable'.

[tammytoby]

sorry 'fashionable'

[evamummy]

I know two little Florences, both born in the last year. Seems to be becoming quite popular...

[blondie72]

Doesn't everyone have a Great Aunty Flo? I know quite a few who do!

[3boysgirlontheway]

DD is Florence, we are in Ireland and have never met another Florence at all apart from DH's (dead) grandmother who DD is named after.

In Ireland it is not popular, there were 14 girls named Florence in Ireland in 2010, the stats for 2011 are not available yet.

Everyone really seems to like it when I introduce DD, but, they could be just saying that :)