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Baby names

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

Original poster

Botanical girls names - please vote!

109 replies

sunshineandmango · 05/05/2023 15:21

Hello all

DH and I have finally narrowed down our list to our two favourite names, which we both love. We’ve considered lots of names but botanical names do hold a personal significance for us so we’ve decided this is the way to go!

Lily
Flora

Which is your favourite and why? And how popular is Lily in your experience? It’s in the top 10 but I personally don’t know any!

Thank you 💐

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CoffeeYes · 06/05/2023 21:01

you make a good point about popularity, and we certainly wouldn’t let this dissuade is from using Lily (I was more curious as it seems very popular in the tables but I’m yet to meet one.)

@sunshineandmango there’s a Lily/Lily-May/Lily-Mae in every primary school class. It’s super popular, on par with Olivia. It’s still in the UK‘s top 5 most popular girl names list. Even the alternative spelling ‘Lilly’ is in the top 100. However, I much prefer Lily. I really, really dislike Flora. All I can think of is Flora butter.

MissingMoominMamma · 06/05/2023 20:55

My favourite botanical names are Daisy and Briar.

But from your choices, Flora.

Allmarbleslost · 06/05/2023 20:53

I really like Flora. My favourite botanical name is Iris.

Arewehumanorarewecupboards · 06/05/2023 20:45

I dislike Lily but love Flora.

‘Lily May’ is shouted far too much by certain people.

Original poster
sunshineandmango · 06/05/2023 20:42

@70isaLimitNotaTarget yes going with the latter haha!

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Original poster
sunshineandmango · 06/05/2023 20:41

@Raininguntilmonday 😂😂 great anecdote

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VivatVaginaCamilla · 06/05/2023 20:26

Flora by far.

Raininguntilmonday · 06/05/2023 20:21

I love the name Lily but my partner will not allow it because when they were a child they decided to eat a lot of them, quickly discovered they were allergic and spent a week in a hospital.

Shame really because it's by far the best name out there for a girl.

AxolotlOnions · 06/05/2023 20:17

Not botanical but my daughter thinks you should call her Fauna instead.

yellowmeerkat · 06/05/2023 20:00

Really like both names

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 06/05/2023 16:17

sunshineandmango · 06/05/2023 15:18

@70isaLimitNotaTarget not aware of that phrase at all, guess there is something with every name if you look hard enough!

I'm not sure where I heard it first , either my Aunt ( from Glasgow) or Paul o'Grady's Lily Savage .

Or think of Lily of the Valley , beautiful , elegant gorgeous scented flower

Original poster
sunshineandmango · 06/05/2023 16:16

@user1492757084 not a fan of Fern or Rosemary, thanks for suggestions though

OP posts:
user1492757084 · 06/05/2023 15:41

Flora is nicer than Lily.
I also like Fleur.
Do you like..
Fern
Rosemary

Original poster
sunshineandmango · 06/05/2023 15:18

@70isaLimitNotaTarget not aware of that phrase at all, guess there is something with every name if you look hard enough!

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 06/05/2023 15:08

There's a 12yo character in Eastenders called Lily , her mum (Stacey) calls her "Lil" which is quite sweet but always makes me think "Fag Ash Lil"

My DD is a Holly , people asked me if she had a sister would I call her Ivy ?
Erm, nope .

Flora is lovely .

Theoldwoman · 06/05/2023 14:56

Lily because Flora is a margarine.

Original poster
sunshineandmango · 06/05/2023 14:46

Lol to all the butter chat 😂 it’s a dilemma, I think Flora has the edge in being a bit more unique but Lily is still classic and gorgeous and doesn’t have any associations/connotations that could lead to bullying (that I can think of anyway!) I’m not overly concerned with its current popularity.
The spread/bacteria thing doesn’t bother me personally with Flora as it’s not what I think of when I hear the name, but it worries me in the context of potential jibes at school etc. As @aSofaNearYou has pointed out, it is a well known household brand here in the UK. Having said that, it feels like it is becoming increasingly popular as a name so maybe this will be less of an issue going forwards.

OP posts:
JimJamJo · 06/05/2023 14:18

I prefer Lily

HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 06/05/2023 14:14

Flora is lovely. I like Willow, Fern, Hazel too. and Rosa.
i have a DD called Lillith but she’s an adult and there weren’t too many Lils about 23 years ago. Does seem popular now tho.

aSofaNearYou · 06/05/2023 14:09

@EatTheDamnCake I just buy whatever's cheapest 🤷‍♀️

But I digress!

FayCarew · 06/05/2023 14:08

@EatTheDamnCake , marge and butter have the same number of calories.
It's the low-fat spread that has fewer calories

EatTheDamnCake · 06/05/2023 13:55

aSofaNearYou · 06/05/2023 13:42

Haha I definitely would. I'd sing the song too.

I don't think the fact that people will think of a certain thing is always a deal breaker - but nonetheless the association in this case is a strong one.

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I can't believe anyone still buys that stuff though! The song was catchy I'll give you that 😂

It's a bit 90s isn't it? Marge cos you're on weight watcher and you can have it on a ryvita with limitless melon

I was vegan for a few years and even I didn't go near flora!

sevenbyseven · 06/05/2023 13:47

I prefer Lily personally. I've come across only two young Floras whereas Lily is very popular. Depends whether that bothers you.

My impression is Flora is generally quite posh whereas Lily is popular across the board.

GinnyBee · 06/05/2023 13:44

I grew up in a country where one of the biggest brands of vegetable spread margarine was Flora, so I couldn't ever choose that as a name, but with trying to not consider that it's a nice name. Lily is suuuuper popular at the moment (and maybe always was?) so if that bothers you at all then pick Flora.

Zola1 · 06/05/2023 13:43

My daughter is 13 and it feels like every other friend she mentions is called lily

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