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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

How popular is Florence?

26 replies

jumpyjan · 25/04/2009 19:41

Have been decided on this name for a while now - really love it - Florie for short. I thought it was reasonably unusual but have heard a of a few lately. Just wondering if it is much more popular than we thought?

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MrsMattie · 25/04/2009 19:42

Very in my neck of the woods (north London). I know 4 Florences under 5. I still like it, though. It's a lovely name.

TheMoistWorldOfSeptimusQuench · 25/04/2009 19:44

I only know one.

I love it, it was my Grandma's name.

DD is called Flora, which is not so popular on here (spreads easily apparently )

Picante · 25/04/2009 19:45

I know one, who is called Flo, and I think it's adorable!

MrsToffeeCrisp · 25/04/2009 19:47

Don't know any, think it's lovely.

Florie is sweet too - though makes me think of the Fimbles!

lockets · 25/04/2009 19:48

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tummytickler · 25/04/2009 19:49

Florence was on our list for dd - we didnt do it.
A few weeks ago we went to my dd's best friends 4th birthday party - her name is Florence, and there were 2 other Florences at the party, so 3 out of 15 girls were called Florence - there was also a Flora.
My other dd is nearly 8 and there are 2 in her year aswell.
I am in the South East and it seems to be VERY ppopular here - but it is a beautiful name.
I would never use it now though as in my area she would almost certainly not be the only one in her class.
I love it though!

NotSoRampantRabbit · 25/04/2009 19:49

Am thinking of Florence for DC due in June.

It was my Grandma's name.

I know of two other Florences (south coast).

So I guess the answer to your question is yes, it is becoming more popular, but still a gorgeous name, so if you like it what does it matter

jumpyjan · 25/04/2009 19:51

Hmm thanks for replies - interesting to see it is popular in certain areas.

Rampant Rabbit - thats lovely that its your Grandma's name so DD would be names after her.

I do still love it.

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thehairybabysmum · 25/04/2009 19:56

I have it as a middle name and i like it now im nearly forty but bloody hated it when young. Got loads of stick for it and was nicknamed flo at college.

Quite frankly i think its one of those names that (mostly posh)adults love but that your child will not thank you for. It is an old ladies name!! Also i know some people who use 'floss' as the 'cute' term for a girls bits so there's another reason not to use it!!

Sorry to be the dissenting voice here but dont do it!

hf128219 · 25/04/2009 20:03

Love Florence. My mum is Flora and I had an Aunt Florence.

If my mum wasn't Flora dd would have been!

DiamondHead · 25/04/2009 20:14

Have a look here
www.statistics.gov.uk/specials/babiesnames_girls.asp
It gives a trend over the last 5 years.

rusmum · 25/04/2009 21:03

i know one who is 6 months old!

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 25/04/2009 21:15

I know three baby or toddler Florences. But it is a lovely name.

DandyLioness · 25/04/2009 21:29

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campion · 26/04/2009 11:58

My MiL was Florence and she hated it - always known by a pet name of her middle name, not that she was too keen on that either! The odd Florence I come across in teaching seems to have become Flo by about 12 and that makes me think of cleaning ladies ( note- nothing against cleaning ladies) of indeterminate age.

I do know a Florence ( adult) who has always been Florence and it suits her well enough.

Anyway, if Florence Nightingale had been born in Manchester it probably wouldn't even be a name now .

mrswoolf · 26/04/2009 14:17

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Bleatblurt · 26/04/2009 14:21

I know none at all.

I think it's a gorgeous name and I'm going to stick it on my Secret List For Future Babies That DH Knows Nothing About.

melpomene · 26/04/2009 14:51

I know 2 young Florences (and a Flora). But it's not even in the top 100 in that link in the previous post, and in any case I think that if you love a name then you shouldn't be put off by its popularity.

Wheelybug · 26/04/2009 15:09

Love it - its is dd2's middle name, after DH's great grandmother. we would have probably had it as a first name but my cousin has it plus I know of 3 others so yes, it is pretty popular.

thirtysomething · 26/04/2009 15:30

I know 2 - one London, one Midlands

ThingOne · 26/04/2009 15:38

I know two pre-schoolers round here, small city in SW. I love it.

Tones · 26/04/2009 20:53

Florence is pretty popular (I can think of 4 in our part of London) but I wouldn't let that put you off. I think it is a very pretty name and shortenings are nice too. We are expecting again (alas it's a boy), otherwise it would have been on our shortlist....

lotspot · 26/04/2009 23:14

i know one Florence (Flo) who is 17 and again, in the SE

personally love the name

CountessDracula · 26/04/2009 23:16

very in SW London too

magbags · 07/05/2009 20:37

I used Florence for dd's middle name and still love it. Think it's a lovely choice.

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