Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Flower name with our surname

63 replies

Ginfilledcats · 25/05/2022 20:33

Our surname is Gardiner, we really like the name Violet or Iris, but are these too obviously flowers and sound daft with our surname?
my husband had no idea either were flowers and was surprised when I pointed it out. He thinks most people will associate Violet with the colour rather than a flower and not notice the connection.
also slightly concerned Violet is too close to violent but I admit that might be me just being daft!

if both are a no with our surname, any suggestions on names we might like? DD1 is Tabitha Jean. On our list are:
Eloise
Eliza
Felicity
Iris
Ottillie
Ophelia
Penelope
Violet

many thanks xxxx

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
BearBibble · 26/05/2022 09:17

I have nothing to add that hasn't already been said (i.e. Violet => violent, obvious flower names are too botanical with your surname) but I'm just placemarking to show DH because there are SO MANY beautiful names suggested on this thread 😊

Doofas · 26/05/2022 09:12

I quite like
Holly
Poppy
Daisy
Willow

GU24Mum · 26/05/2022 09:08

Agree that Violet with anything which sounds like a person (Gardener, Baker and .... truly awful.... Butcher) isn't great.

Actually I think Iris is fine and runs nicely. Not a massive fan of Margot and think the repeated "g" sound is harsh.

Not Ophelia .... connotations of feeling your gardener......!

Starbeach · 26/05/2022 09:03

I know a few have said Eliza but with my dyslexic head on I read it As here lies the Gardner sorry!

Mumofgirls2017 · 26/05/2022 08:06

I think it’s fine but some might notice the connection.

other suggestions Tabitha and

florence
jemima
flora
ivy
aurelia
clementine
olive
daphne
mabel
harriet
cora
nancy
clara
matilda
juliet
xanthe

FayCarew · 26/05/2022 08:00

Rose Gardiner

Snowiscold · 26/05/2022 07:08

No flower names. Viola is also a flower, so doesn’t substitute for Violet.
Margot is too clunky with your surname.
Eliza is good. So is Sylvia.
Not keen on Ophelia (bad associations) or Ottillie (I’m not sure that’s even spelled correctly).
Matilda?

mathanxiety · 26/05/2022 06:06

Margot Gardiner is a name that has too many G sounds. It's quite clunky.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 26/05/2022 05:17

Margot seems popular on MN but I always think of the Penelope Keith character in The Good Life (snobby next door neighbour).

Smileandtheworldsmileswithyou · 26/05/2022 04:17

Eliza. I would avoid a flower name with your surname.

Original poster
Ginfilledcats · 26/05/2022 04:14

Thanks all, pretty much unanimous that Violet (and any flowery name) is a bad move. I would never have gone for an obvious flower name such as Rose (though I’m sure there is an aunt somewhere named that, but think she married in!)

some lovely suggestions too.

i love Ophelia more now seeing it suggested a lot, and Eliza is up there too!! Is Ophelia getting quite common do you think? I like that Tabitha isn’t often heard but everyone knows it if you know what I mean.

others suggested that I love are Sylvia, Aurelia.

DH has just suggested (well not right now as it’s 4am and only one of us is awake, thanks pregnancy insomnia) Margot. Any thoughts?

thanks so much for your input and kind comments x

OP posts:
minuette1 · 25/05/2022 23:07

I would avoid any botanical names with your surname.

We had Tabitha on our girls list and other names we liked were:

Beatrix
Cordelia
Artemis
Sylvia (which has a botanical meaning but not so obvious)
Aurelia

mathanxiety · 25/05/2022 22:52

If your surname were Redding or any other name with a colour in it, then the first name Violet would suggest a colour.

But with the surname Gardner I would immediately think of the flower, sorry. Same goes for Iris, Ivy, Daisy, and even Flora or Florence.

I like Penelope and Eliza from your list.

Suggestions:
Isla Ophelia
Evelyn Iris
Leonora Violet
Jocelyn Iris
Keziah Ivy

FieryPitOfMordor · 25/05/2022 22:11

Ophelia Gardiner is very Lady Chatterley to me!

I”d also avoid flower names. Like Felicity from your list, or:

Frances
Eloise
Mathilde

DuesToTheDirt · 25/05/2022 22:05

Eliza Gardiner, definitely!

growandhope · 25/05/2022 21:57

I would also agree to avoid any flower names. I like all your alternatives to be honest; particularly like Eloise and Ophelia.

Basilbrushgotfat · 25/05/2022 21:50

I love all the names on your list but once pp wrote "Violent Gardener" I was gone lol

Here are some suggestions that are flower/nature related which might work:
Alyssa
Calantha
Calla
Crisanta
Delphine
Elodie
Flora
Ferne
Oralia
Emelia
Marguerite

Also some not flowery names:

Elara / Elora
Sienna
Bianca
Audrey
Nina
Blythe
Ebony
Verity
Sabrina
Matilda
Leonora
Cecily
Faith
Tara
Grace

emmathedilemma · 25/05/2022 21:47

Eliza is great, particularly with Tabitha. I’d stay well away from flowers with your surname.

H1Drangea · 25/05/2022 21:04

@ZarquonsSandals i realise they are flowers , but not obvious ( like Daisy , Rose etc ) and think a lesser known flower name would work with the surname

Ballyhoobird · 25/05/2022 21:01

Bryony - classic (and underused IMO) floral/nature name without being too obvious/flowery?

ZarquonsSandals · 25/05/2022 20:59

H1Drangea · 25/05/2022 20:50

Delphine or Daphne as suggestions
I do like Eloise and Eliza though
Marguerite or Melanie ( I know it’s a bit dated , but goes nicely with the surname )

Daphne and Marguerite are flowers too...😊

Moonface123 · 25/05/2022 20:58

Nemesia is a pretty and under used flower name.

heeeeresjonnyjonjon · 25/05/2022 20:54

The average kid not your average kid. All of our kids are far from average of course 😀

bakewellbride · 25/05/2022 20:53

I'd steer clear of flower names! We have a Charlotte. I also like Alice and Amelie.

Johnnysgirl · 25/05/2022 20:53

I wouldn't have a flower name with Gardiner.
It'll sound like she's in charge of a specific part of a National Trust park.