Taking a cue from Mother Nature, these 20 uncommon baby girl names inspired by flowers will separate your little one from all the Emmas, the Chloes, and the Madisons of the world.
Amaryllis: Amaryllis is also called the African Bulb Trumpet Flower. Majestic blooms sit atop a tall stalk grown from a bulb base. Some Amaryllis bloom in spring, others bloom in fall/winter. The name Amaryllis is of English in origin derived from the Greek word meaning, ‘I sparkle’ or ‘sparkling’.
Aster: Aster is a petite, daisy-like ground covering flower that is commonly found in purple, pink or white. (Goldilocks are a common Aster variety in the United Kingdom). The name Aster comes from the Greek word for Star.
Calla: Calla Lilies are native to southern Africa and Swaziland. Its preferred habitat is in or on the banks of streams and ponds. Commonly found in white but are also grown in yellow, pink, eggplant, bronze and variegate purple/white. There are also hybrid miniature calla lilies in a wide range of colors. The name Calla the name may also be inspired by the Greek word for “beauty”.
Chenille: Chenille is a delicate red cascading flower that grows on a deep green, leafy plant. It belongs to the same family as Poinsettia. Chenille is native to the East Indies and Pacific Islands. The origin of the name Chenille is English-American and first appeared around 1880.
Dahlia: Dahlias are one of the most popular fresh-cut flowers. There are 42 species, with hybrids commonly grown as garden plants. Related flowers include the sunflower, daisy, chrysanthemum, and zinnia. Dahlia is a popular feminine name in Lithuania, meaning ‘destiny’ or ‘fate’.
Dandelion: Dandelions are found as common wildflowers all over the world. They have one of the longest flowering seasons of any plant. The name Dandelion’s origin and use are both in the English language.
Delphine: The French name Delphine is derived from Delphinium, a bluebell-like flower. It also has associations to dolphins and the ancient city of Delphi, which the Greeks believed to be the womb of the earth.
Flora: The name Flora comes from the Latin word for flower. While still uncommon in the U.S., Flora is probably the most familiar name on this list. The name Flora comes from the Roman goddess of flowers and spring. It has been used as a given name in Europe since the Renaissance.
Freesia: Freesia is a perennial bulb flower from the eastern side of southern Africa. Freesia comes in many solid and variegated colors. It is popular in bridal bouquets due to its whimsical, wildflower appearance and year-round availability. Although the name Freesia is not popular in the U.S. it is widely used around the world. In the Victorian language of flowers, Freesia means trust.
Ginger: Tropical Gingers are one of the most beautiful and colorful flowers in the floral world. Because it is not found in the wild, the Ginger flower’s true origin is unknown. The English the meaning of the name Ginger is purity. Ginger is sometimes used as a diminutive form of Virginia.
Hyacinth: Hyacinths are beautiful and fragrant spring flowers grown from bulbs. They are native to the eastern Mediterranean. The name Hyacinth can be masculine or feminine. One could also use the spelling Hyacinthe for a baby girl.
Laelia: Laelia (pronounced LAY-lee-ah) is a small blooming plant of 25 species from the orchid family. It’s the most popular orchid because of the abundance of beautiful flowers on a single plant. Laelia orchids are native to Central America and Mexico. The name Laelia is the feminine form of Laelius, a Roman name of Latin origin.
Laurel: Laurel is native to the eastern United States, but can be found as far west as Louisiana and Indiana. It is an evergreen shrub with round clusters of tiny, adorable umbrella-shaped blooms. The name Laurel comes from the Latin word for victory.
Lotus: The lotus flower is an aquatic perennial. It’s often used as a symbol of divine beauty and purity. The Lotus is a popular Buddhist symbol of enlightenment due to its unique behavior. At dusk, the Lotus closes and goes beneath the water then rises back up and reopens at dawn.
Marigold: Marigolds are cheerful, annual flowers. Marigolds come in different colors, yellowish-orange being the most common. For centuries, it has been cultivated in the kitchen garden for the flowers, which are dried for broths and for medicinal uses. The name Marigold derived from Mary’s gold, which refers to both the flower and the mother of Jesus.
Tansy: The Tansy is a perennial, herbaceous flowering plant of the aster family with yellow, button-like flowers. The name Tansy is of Native American origin.
Shasta: Shasta daisies are perky white summer blooms with evergreen foliage. The flower is named after Mount Shasta in northern California and dates back to the 1800’s. The baby name Shasta is also of Native American origin.
Vanda: Vanda is another member of the orchid family. Most are a yellow-brown color with brown markings, but they also appear in white, green, orange, red and burgundy shades. And of course, there is the Vanda Coerulea, the “Blue” Orchid.
Zahara: Zahara’s are bright, colorful blooms of the Zinnia tribe. The name Zahara has become more popular in the U.S. ever since Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt named their adopted daughter Zaharah in 2005. The name Zahara means flower, blossom or beauty.
Zinnia: Zinnias are members of the sunflower family. They are native to Southwestern United States to the South America. They are single long-stemmed flowers that come in a variety of bright colors. The name Zinnia comes from the Latin word meaning “from the flower.” Zinnia and Zahara would be great names for twin baby girls.
