Flora as a shortening of Florence

[MonkeyToucher]

We really like the name Flora for dd, but I’m now considering whether it would be better to have Florence on the birth certificate to give her the option in future of having something a bit more “grown up” to use? As a child we would literally always refer to her as Flora, Florence would just be on official documents.

Am I mental? Is this necessary? Does Flora work as a stand alone name?

Flora is most definitely a stand alone name. No need for Florence at all.

I think Flora is a name on its own? No need to shorten it.

Yes, Flora is definitely a stand alone name. It's not a natural shortening of Florence really because Florence has a short O and Flora has a longer one.

Flora is a great stand alone name. It's not like Florrie, I don't think it needs a "grown up" version

I like the idea. There was a thread on here yesterday about Poppy being a little girl's name. I think the same could be said of Flora (though I don't particularly care either way, I think the person defines the name not the other way.) But Florence could easily be Flora and it is a nice idea to have a more formal name as a back up.

Shortening Florence to Flora doesn't work because they have different 'o' sounds.

If you like Flora then use it, it works fine as a stand alone name. Be aware that if you call her Florence it will most likely be shortened to Flo not Flora.

But Flo has a different 'O' to Florence too?
If you call her Florence and refer to her as Flora, she will introduce herself as Flora. And be known as Flora.

But Flo has a different 'O' to Florence too?

Yes but the shortening of Florence to Flo works because it is just using the first past of the name.

Just call her Flora. No need to complicate things by giving a different name. For example I have a Harry, he's not Harold on his BC, he's Harry. Similarly my friend has a Tom and he's not Thomas on his BC, just Tom.

This obsession with a 'full name for when they're older' is a little bit ridiculous. Flora is an absolutely gorgeous name that is completely acceptable as a stand alone name! Nothing to do with Florence at all.

Thanks so much everyone - I had a feeling I was being ridiculous! I blame the hormones!

I think I will stick with Flora on it’s own!

Thoughts on Flora Elizabeth as a middle name combo?

Flora Elizabeth is lovely.

There you go, that's her name!

I hate nickname names and shortened names.

Flora is neither of these - it is a perfectly good name in its own right. I also don't think it is childish.

Flora Elizabeth is lovely.

Flora and Elizabeth are both beautiful names, but when you say them together many people will put an 'r' sound between them.

'Florary lizabeth' I am not massively keen on.

Equally though - its unlikely to be said very often!

Flora is a lovely name in its own right, and not a childish version of another name. I would stick to Flora on the birth certificate. Florence seems quite a different name to me.

Instead of Florence you could go for the Italian name. Firenza.

Flora and Florence are two very different names! Choose the one you prefer.

I wouldn't have a vowel name to go with Flora personally. Too many r's.

Flora Juliet
Flora Beatrice
Flora Clementine
Flora Madeleine
Flora Gabrielle

I have a Florence and it could be shortened to Flora. Flora is a nice name on it's own as long as you are happy with the 'margarine for men' comments.

I do know a Flora short for Florence, but it always feels a bit awkward to me. Flora is a perfectly good grown-up name in its own right.

Bit weird. Just pick Flora. It's not even a babyish name so I'm unsure why she'd need a different name later in life.

Flora Elizabeth is lovely

Echoing others - Flora and Florence are two distinct names, and using Flora as a shortening for Florence doesn't really work for this reason, and because the 'o' sound is different.

Use Flora if you like Flora.

I am VERY much a “full name on the BC” person. But even for me, Flora is a full name.