How popular is Florence?

[FlorenceWobbler]

DH and I were sold on Florence but agreed to keep it to ourselves till DD was born.

Then SIL has a surprise girl and DH has a meltdown over whether SIL would choose the name Florence so we agreed to tell her early, turns out it was on her shortlist and she agreed not to use it.

Since then I found out it's a more popular name In the UK than I thought (#19 for 2018, stupid USA baby centre had it at 900+) and I've fallen out of love with it a bit. It was important to me to choose a name that was recognizable but unusual enough to be special so I'm sad it doesn't have that quality after all, it's still a lovely name.

DH is livid I'd think of changing it after we 'stole' it from SIL but I don't want to be beholden to a name when DD isn't even here yet.

How popular is it really? Are there lots of Florence's in playgroups and classrooms?

I know four. By far and away the most popular girl's name in the groups I know. However it is a lovely name so if you like it go for it.

I know a 16y Florence and I taught a Florrie (Florence) who'd now be about 10/11 I guess.
None in my infant school at present (270 4-7yos) and don't know any baby ones.

It really does depend on where you love.

For me the most popular young girls name is Clementine - I have taught 4, all now aged between 4-7y. There were two in one class.

Use it if you like it! My youngest has a very popular name, we're talking too five which I didn't realise when choosing it but I don't care, it's her name and nothing else would suit her more.

This is the name I think we have settled on for DD2 due in the Spring. I too am a little concerned about how popular it is (it is the number 1 girl's name in the region of the southeast where we live) though I've decided I love it too much to not use it! As a positive I think it has a different sound to all the 'a' and 'ie' sounding names which populate the rest of the top 20, which all sound a bit samey after a while. There are are also quite a few nickname options if you want something more distinctive. I say go for it!

Very popular yes, it seems to be the go to old fashioned name. I don’t really like it either.

Lots of them around, and variations of - but if you love it don't worry. It is a timeless one for me. One of mine has a very popular name but I wouldn't change it. Bit annoying in class when referred to as first name surname but this isn't something you can predict. For example, I know someone with a highly unusual name who found the only other one in a large radius (likely) was in their child's class. Just go with what you love.

I know two. One about 4 and the other about 2.

It was on our shortlist had our latest been a girl.

I know 3 I think. One is probably about 15/16 now and the other 2 are under 5.
I've worked with children for the past 30 years and I've only ever encountered the older one that I mentioned in that capacity.
The other 2 are friend's children.
I've worked in an infant school for nearly 9 years and I haven't had a Florence in my class yet.
It's a lovely name

Far too popular for my liking! I chose it 22 years ago as it wasn't in the top 100. Then David Cameron had one.....

I know one Florence aged 10. But I go to quite a few National trust properties and there always seem to be girls called Florence and Annabelle usually several girls by that name - I think you can only get NT membership in the south if you call your daughters Florence, Annabelle or Isabelle