After many a year of adoring botanical names for girls, it suddenly dawned on me (and I hate myself for this, so do forgive me) that choosing a flower name is perhaps not the most feminist thing to do, for the reason that flowers are above all valued for their appearance and fragrance and are ultimately useless. Then I got all cross at the idea that it is only females who are given flower names, presumably because males are not prized above all for their aesthetic qualities. I am Most Miffed that I have had this thought, as it has quite put me off all my girls' names. I have also put myself off names with an 'ee' -sounding ending for the reason that it is the way of signalling the diminutive in English, which, once again, does not sit well with my feminist ruminations. Am I insane? 