Botanical girls names - please vote!

[sunshineandmango]

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 💐

@AccidentallyFabulous @EatTheDamnCake @almostwarm thank you for the reassurance regarding all of Flora’s lovely associations, to me these far outweigh the fact it’s also been used to name a spread

Flora. Lily is done to death

Whoever said vaginal flora, has some serious association issues.

@polkadotdalmation haha thank you, I agree! But you can’t help but doubt yourself when you read comments like that 😬

I think it's because I've never met a Flora. I didn't realise people used it as a name until recently, and the spread is a very common brand. So it's not just like "yes it's a name and the spread might pop into my head", it just IS the spread. She might as well be Clover or Lurpak!

I meet the odd Liliana which I quite like as an alternative.

I don't understand why the margarine thing is such an issue. I don't know the last time I saw it outside a supermarket tbh

I also know a few Clovers btw. Nobody mentions the spread!

Willow.

Willow Original Spread 250G - Tesco Groceries
Other supermarkets sell it

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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

@EatTheDamnCake I just buy whatever's cheapest 🤷‍♀️

But I digress!

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.

I prefer Lily

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.

Lily because Flora is a margarine.

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 .

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

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

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

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

Really like both names