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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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SainsBrie · 05/05/2023 15:22

I have a Flora and her best friend is called Lili!

I don’t know any other Floras, mine is 4. There’s a fair few Lily’s in their primary though.

FayCarew · 05/05/2023 15:26

Both are nice, but I much prefer Flora. Lily has been extremely popular for a long time.

salamithumbs · 05/05/2023 15:33

I prefer Lily, it might be more popular but I just think it's a much nicer name! Flora reminds me of gut flora and margarine, sorry 😬 also I've only taught two Lilys so it doesn't strike me as ridiculously popular or anything!

toastofthetown · 05/05/2023 15:34

I much prefer Flora, which sounds more interesting and I love Flo as a diminutive. Lily is so popular and has been for so long that it’s just dull and tired sounding to me. When you say that you don’t know and Lilies, how many very young children do you know? A lot of parents seem to assume that name trends haven’t moved on since they were at school and choose Luna or Arlo because they don’t know any, but then when they are meeting far more babies and children due to having one of their own, they suddenly see the name everywhere.

Name popularity is regional and if you live in a more diverse or trendy area then there may well not be any young Lilies as the trend has well and truly passed there by now. But if you live in a less trendy area, where babies tend to be given more traditional and popular name then there’s likely to be far more young Lilies around.

coxesorangepippin · 05/05/2023 15:35

What about Ivy?

Putdownthecake · 05/05/2023 15:35

Flora is margarine in my mind. Lily is a lovely name

Snugglemonkey · 05/05/2023 15:36

I prefer Flora.

aSofaNearYou · 05/05/2023 15:47

I like Lily but it is very common. I don't like Flora much - reminds me of the margarine.

Original poster
sunshineandmango · 05/05/2023 15:49

@toastofthetown good point, I do know a fair few young children as we have another little one at nursery - haven’t come across any in play groups either but like you said could be regional or could just be chance!

OP posts:
TrueScrumptious · 05/05/2023 15:52

I like both but prefer Flora. Lily is a nice name but perhaps dated now. It’s a name of the ‘90s to me.

GoldenFarfalle · 05/05/2023 15:52

When I see the name Flora I always think of vaginal flora.. I prefer Lily.

orangeblosssom · 05/05/2023 15:53

How about Fleur?

Daffodilmorning · 05/05/2023 15:53

I have a toddler and baby and only know one Lily from groups etc. I do think Flora is a nicer name though (DS might have been a Flora if he was a girl so I’m biased).

Congratulations!

StephanieSuperpowers · 05/05/2023 15:55

I think Flora is quite sweet and less used, so I would prefer it.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 05/05/2023 15:58

Flora.

Original poster
sunshineandmango · 05/05/2023 15:58

@GoldenFarfalle vaginal flora?! Oh dear. I’m only just getting over the spread association but this is far worse 🙈 hoping that this isn’t what would pop into most peoples minds when they hear the name!

@orangeblosssom we’ve considered Fleur but definitely prefer Flora, thanks for the suggestion though

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Original poster
sunshineandmango · 05/05/2023 17:21

@coxesorangepippin Ivy is nice but we prefer the others, thanks for suggestion though

OP posts:
PickledScrump · 05/05/2023 17:24

My daughter is in secondary school and she has 1 Lily in her year and haven’t known of any others in the school so I don’t think it’s that popular. I love Flora, it’s lovely and I really dont think people will make the silly associations when meeting a real one.

FayCarew · 05/05/2023 18:43

@PickledScrump ,it's been in the top 20 names for girls for about 20 years!
There are thousands registered every year and that's not including the Lilly, Lillie, Lily-Rose, Lily-May, Lily-Grace, Lilia, Lillian, Lilian, Liliana, Lili names

Catlady74 · 05/05/2023 18:51

I work in a primary school and Lily is popular. I’ve never had a Flora. I vote for Flora 💐

itsgettingweird · 05/05/2023 18:53

Another who prefers Fleur to Flora.

So Lily is my favourite from your choices.

I also like botanical names and always loved Fern and Willow too.

Okunevo · 05/05/2023 18:54

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 💐

Lily. Though it is far too common for my liking. Flora is a cow or margarine.

almostwarm · 05/05/2023 18:56

I really like Flora.

Although Lily is a pleasant name.

I like flower names in general.

Daisypod · 05/05/2023 18:58

I'm afraid when I was growing up Flora was always used as an insult as the margarine tag line was 'spreads easily' sorry it was the 80's and not politically correct! So im afraid I just think of that when I hear the name.