Is the name Florence too popular?

[frankthefoetus]

Hi all, i'm new to MN and need opinions! Would like to call our imminent arrival Florence but i've heard rumors of a current surge in popularity. Have you heard it much recently. The other option is Heidi.

[GreatDuckCookery6211]

Florence is beautiful. Heidi is dreadful.

[brodiee]

I know three Florence's and hear it often where I live. Heidi is lovely

[Inclusivist]

So right Regina! Good catch!

[moredoll]

Prefer Florence to Heidi.

[RuthW]

Oh and our surname is Welsh so her full name sounds exactly the same as Florence and the Machines. Good job she didn't become too popular! Obviously if she was born now we would chose a different name.

[RuthW]

Definitely far too popular. 22 years ago I chose Florence as I wanted a name not in the top 100. It's now number 39. It became popular when David Cameron had a Florence. There are loads of under 5 Florence's but don't know any the same age as mine.

[ReginaPhalange89]

@inclusivist I think she'd be a bit older than 1 now, this thread was 2010 😂

[Sleepykate]

Oh, just realised this is really old 🙄

[Sleepykate]

Florence is really common where I live - hate to say that its got a little down-market

[Inclusivist]

Hello! I trust your daughter is around 1 year old now. Congratulations! Stumbled upon this discussion belatedly. "Florence" sounds beautiful and high-caliber feminine to me. Great choice!. It also travels well, especially in France/French Canada/francophone countries (but not in the Far East, due to the presence of both an "l" and an "r"). Please take control of the nickname! I like Flora but Flor could do too (Flo in a pinch)? In my view, you cannot stay far enough away from "Flossie," so named in Harry Potter to stand for an unattractive wallflower (albeit a spunky, devoted, and courageous one). (You might as well go for Flunky, Flop, or Floppy!) Florence is great though -- beautiful...the name of an interesting person I'd like to meet sometime! (Heidi, BTW, though on the surface a nice little name is laden with reference baggage and does not bridge to other cultures, in my view.) Happy birthday, Florence!

[hormonalmum]

twosofar,what about Constance?
It's an alternative.

[Dysgu]

I love the name Florence - but may be a bit biased as DD1 is called that - but does tend to be called Florrie on a day-to-day basis.

I do know of a couple of other Florences - and they are both around 10 yo now.

I do think you should just go with the name you love: DD1 was not named for ages after she arrived (early) and we chose the name as we had recently been there and got engaged.

DD2 is Gabriella - named for Gabriel after an early arrival on Xmas eve - and lots of children wonder if she is named after High School musical - NO! But does not bother me!

[twosofar]

Oh and sorry, bit of a hijack, but thought may be useful

[pranma]

I love Florence-I know one 9 yr old with a baby sister Dorothy

[twosofar]

I love Florence for my (yet to be conceived) DD! If there is a surge in popularity due to Florence and the Machine, can anybody suggest names along the same lines please??

I have a few ideas but it would be great to get some more suggestions so I can entice DP as he's longing for a daughter

Thanks

[DivineInspiration]

Two (that I know of) in Edmonton Ikea on Tuesday evening! One aged about two and the other a few months old.

I don't think it's too popular, though definitely fashionable and more so in certain areas/parts of the country. Lovely name, anyhow.

"there is a dreadful singer around at the moment by the name of Florence (I say 'singer', but she sounds more like an ambulance)." though.

[blametheparents]

I don't know any Florences

[ihearthuckabees]

I know two Florences, but no Heidis.

Like teapot says though, I think you should choose the name you like best, and don't worry about how many others there are or what the connotations are.

[MamaLazarou]

I prefer Heidi to Florence. I have a splendid little niece called Heidi, and there is a dreadful singer around at the moment by the name of Florence (I say 'singer', but she sounds more like an ambulance).

[Teapot13]

My little girl was born 6 weeks ago and my naming strategy completely changed. I wanted something uncommon (but classic) and my husband insisted on Sophia. I loved the name but thought it too popular. For 24 hours we struggled to find a name we both like as much, and ultimately I decided it was just as silly to REJECT a name for being popular as it is to SELECT a name for being popular, and Sophia she is. Just my new perspective.

[QandA]

Florence is really popular as a middle name where I live. Waste of a good name if you ask me. Go for it, it is a lovely name.

Not keen on Heidi.

[smother]

i would just go with what you love most, i really would.

[Mimi1977]

I love it!! Don't think too popular, but then again Olivia and Grace really popular and I don't know any children called that so go with what you like.
Not a fan of Heidi.

[mostlymay]

I know of 2 babies born in the last three months called Florence, and two more under three so round my way (S London),yes def popular.

[gladders]

like florence but don't like any of the shortened versions personally....

but even flossie or flo s better than heidi IMO