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Gardening related names

157 replies

AmpleSwan · 16/09/2025 12:26

Hello all,

DH and I are keen gardeners and currently expecting DC1 (sex as yet unknown).

I am very keen on plant names and honestly am struggling to balance a name I love with a plant I love (for example I adore Rhododendrons as plants but wouldn't wan't to saddle a child with that as a name, whereas Poppy and Daisy are very cute names from a baby but don't particularly meet my horticultural tastes.) I am looking for people's immediate, extremely judgemental and biased opinions on what they would think of a girl named 1. Ivy 2. Ivy-Rose 3. Dahlia 4. Violet 5. Violet-Rose 6. Azalea 7. Amaranth.

Suggestions for boys names other than Ash very welcome.

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MouldyCandy · 16/09/2025 20:43

Doug / Douglas
John Innes
Shug (Hugh)

Calliopespa · 16/09/2025 20:14

Oh and Lily and Angelica.

Calliopespa · 16/09/2025 20:14

I like both Rose and Violet but I don't think hyphenated and especially not together as it sounds like a box of rose and violet creams.

I'd choose one of those two but on their own.

I also quite like Ivy, Iris and Hazel.

TheeNotoriousPIG · 16/09/2025 20:09

I like Rose! I know one whose family went down the botanical route and ended up with a Lily and a (sweet) William.

For girls, I like Laurel, Tansy, Camellia (a favourite plant, but I always struggle to grow them!), Angelica, Fern, Ffion (pronounced 'Fee-on'; it's the Welsh form of 'foxglove'), Aster, Heather, Iris/Eirys, Holly, Jasmine, Primrose, Saffron, Viola. Azalea could grow on me, and I love the shrubs! There's also Veronica, Poppy, Lavender, Rosemary, Sakura (Japanese for 'cherry blossom'), Virginia (but this could lead to teasing, unfortunately, as would Peony and probably Cherry), Myrtle (it's a bit early to bring that back, though!) and Posy. I always thought that Nicotiana would make a nice name, but unfortunately, it's the Latin name for the tobacco plant...

For boys, I was quite taken by Clematis (Clem) in a book, and know a young Heath. Indigo is a possibility, too. Unfortunately, Basil just reminds me of a dog's name! It would make me smile, though!

If we're branching out to trees, there's Acer, Aspen, Willow, Rowan, Oleander, Sequoia, Linden, Cassia, Elowen, Acacia, Ebony, Olive, Juniper...

stample · 16/09/2025 20:07

Love Violet and Azalea.
also like Fern, Juniper and Zinnia

Boys Aspen and Basil?

ExquisiteSocialSkills · 16/09/2025 19:58

Sorrel.

Peanutlicious · 16/09/2025 19:56

I personally love all your name suggestions, less so Amaranth. How about Fleur for a girl? Or Jasmine?

I have two boys with nature names and Ashley (Ash) or Oakley would have been number 3.

Mandarinaduck · 16/09/2025 19:00

I quite like Amaranth.

What about
Briar Rose
Virginia
Peony

Alexandrine · 16/09/2025 18:59

I think less of Ivy and Violet as plants as such and more as retro “Granny” names that are back in fashion at the moment- but are not my cup of tea.

Dahlia however I think of the flower first and as a name secondly (because it’s rarer). It’s beautiful and elegant imo. Plus unlike Ivy or Violet, I’d have no idea how old a Dahlia was, it’s much more timeless (Ivy and Violet are usually under 20 or in their 90’s ime). Only issue with Dahlia is that all the British gardeners will say “Day-lee-ah” but others less familiar with the flower or in other English speaking countries will say “Dah-lee-ah” or “Dahl-yah”. So she would have to put up with the occasional mispronunciation or perhaps even people spelling it as Dalia.

Azalea is quite quirky and does remind me of the singer but I don’t hate it.

Amaranth is lovely (or Amarantha)- very unusual but the sounds somehow fit in style with a lot of more popular names.

Zinnia? Linnea? Cassia? Bryony? Jacinta? (instead of Hyacinth), Jessamine instead of more popular Jasmine? I’m guessing classic Rose is too commonplace for you? Or May? (like the Mayflower).

As for boys I’ve only really heard Rowan, Alder and Linden apart from Ash. Unless you count elaborations like Oakley and Willoughby or just “nature names” like Heath or Moss, Forest, River etc

HolyScrolly · 16/09/2025 18:58

Zinnia, Laurel, Willow, Heather or Fern for a girl
Rowan (unisex)
Ash, Heath, Acer for a boy.

or.. Alan, Geoff, Monty!

goingtotown · 16/09/2025 18:53

CrackingOn50 · 16/09/2025 12:28

Alan Titchmarsh

😂

ginasevern · 16/09/2025 18:35

Rosemary or Camille

midlifemover21 · 16/09/2025 18:24

So this was in Africa but I recently met men called Pollen, Fennel and Nature. Seemed perfectly normal but UK not as progressive on names yet!

IrritableBowelCraps · 16/09/2025 18:21

Glenn, Gary-Rose?

DarkChandelier · 16/09/2025 18:10

I don't like hyphenated names so Ivy-Rose and Violet-Rose are out for me

I do like Ivy, Dahlia, Violet, Azalea and Amaranth.

Suggestions
Vinca
Flora
Maple
Freesia
Delphinium
Hyacinth
Tansy
Linnea
Meadow
Prairie
Mallow
Hazel
Gladiola
Aster
Sorrel
Fern
Sequoia
Gardenia
Acantha
Saffron
Camellia

Gentian
Reed
Florian
Yew
Oak
Yarrow
Sylvain
Wilder
Brom
Grove
Hickory
Cypress
Linden

Mumofgirls2017 · 16/09/2025 16:52

I like Ivy and Dahlia. For boys (sorry if repeats)

rowan
forest
oakley
asher
elwood
sylvan
oliver
basil
sage
birch
cedar
silas

Loubylie · 16/09/2025 16:40

Dill
Gentian
Vervain
Bryony
Campion
Celandine

Myfridgeiscool · 16/09/2025 16:28

Asa - boy (spelled wrong but love this name)
Hazel - girl

Magicpaintbrush · 16/09/2025 16:21

Zinnia Isabellina

Gardening related names
Empress13 · 16/09/2025 15:51

Willow, Marigold or Tulip for a girl or Woody or Elmer for a boy

Empress13 · 16/09/2025 15:48

CrackingOn50 · 16/09/2025 12:28

Alan Titchmarsh

🤣🤣🤣

Cinaferna · 16/09/2025 15:47

From your list, Dahlia is great. Sounds good (and is also my favourite flower.)

Don't like Ivy as a name. Love Rose though I know it is a bit over-used. Rosa?
Violet always sounds a bit drippy to me and I know a lot of people dislike it for sounding like violent. How about Viola? Viola Rose is lovely. Unhyphenated.

What about Jasmine? Beautiful name, beautiful scent and flower.

Flora is a great name.

How about Calla - a Lily but less commonly used? Willow? Rowan? Angelica?

For boys: Ash, Rowan, Basil, Aspen, Linden, Sylvan (means woodland), Florian (means flowering), Bud/Buddy, Woody, Oakley.

schmarg · 16/09/2025 15:47

I think Ivy, Violet and Rose are a little over used. Lily also.

I like Aster, Fleur and Delphine

MyDogIsAKnobhead · 16/09/2025 15:45

Rowan?

AmpleSwan · 16/09/2025 15:37

Carandache18 · 16/09/2025 15:34

Daphne and Digby

Unfortunately Digby belongs to Mitchell and Webb now and I can never hear the name without silently adding a 'Chicken Caesar' at the end.

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