Baby Names Inspired By Your Favorite Flowers

When thinking of floral names, there are probably some obvious ones that come to mind. Names like Rose, Lily, Daisy, and Violet are long-cherished stand-bys that have found popularity in countries across the globe, per Behind the Name, but they're far from the only flower-derived names out there. When it comes to baby names inspired by your favorite flowers, there's a whole garden out there to choose from — and some of them might surprise you.

While you may think of floral names as strictly feminine, there are also some traditionally masculine names out there taking their cue from nature, along with gender-neutral monikers that will smell just as sweet regardless of your baby's gender. The brightest bloom in your bouquet will, of course, be your baby's smile, but if you're looking for a name that will blossom as beautifully as your little one, try one of these stunning flower-inspired names on for size.

Lily is likely already on your list if you're looking for a floral name. According to Behind the Name, Lily comes from the Latin word lilium, and the flower symbolizes purity. While there are many beautiful variations of this name, such as Lillian, Liana, and Lilya, if you're a non-conformist, the overwhelming popularity of the name Lily might be a mark against it. 

Lily has consistently ranked in the top 100 names for baby girls in the United States since the early 2000s, after all, so while the name is timeless, it's also likely that your baby might have a couple of classmates with this name. If you love lilies but want something a little less mainstream, consider Calla. The name hasn't charted in the U.S. since the 19th century, and is the name of a variety of lily and is possibly linked to the Greek word kallos, which means "beauty." That's a lot of bang for your buck, and just plain pretty to boot.

On the surface, Marguerite may not seem like it has anything to do with flowers, but rest assured that it is, in fact, inspired by one of the prettiest flowers of them all: the daisy. The French form of the classic moniker Margaret, Behind the Name notes that Marguerite also happens to be French for daisy. There are other versions of the name, too, and they're just as lovely. If Marguerite is a bit too long for your taste, you might want to consider Margot, Greta, Rita, and Megan, all of which are connected to the daisy.

According to All About Gardening, daisies are incredibly popular flowers and don't require much experience to grow, so Marguerite might be a good choice of name for a first-time parent feeling a little out of their element as a reminder that you've got this and that your baby is in good hands.

Consider Astra if you love daisies but want to veer away from the name Daisy and aren't too keen on Marguerite or its variants. A variation of Aster, as noted by Behind the Name, Astra is a rarely-used name and comes from the Greek word for star. Daisies are part of the Asteraceae family, which also includes several other beautiful blossoms, including sunflowers, dahlias, and marigolds, per New Hampshire PBS.

Asters are also a flower in their own right and look quite similar to daisies, according to Almanac.com. Aster also makes a prime baby name pick, but the uniqueness of Astra, combined with its celestial roots, makes this an especially fitting tribute for anyone who loves gardens and the night sky. It's not as obscure as you might think, either — there have been some famous figures to bear the name, including British opera singers Astra Desmond and Astra Blair.

Sage might not immediately register as a name inspired by flowers, but its subtlety is part of its charm. You probably already know that sage is a useful herb that many chefs like to have on hand to add flavor to a dish, but the plant also has some pretty blooms that are also edible and make a good salad garnish, per Better Homes & Gardens. Its light-blue flowers are pretty and versatile, and there's also the added bonus of the name being used for "a wise person," as noted by Behind the Name.

Making this name even more multifaceted is the fact that it can be used regardless of your baby's gender. Sage has been seeing a rise in popularity since the '90s. While initially more popular with boys, the name Sage has gained traction with parents of little girls over the years and will suit your little one no matter what their gender is.

Kamala is a name known all over the globe thanks to Kamala Harris, the first female Vice President of the United States as well as the first Black person and the first person of Asian descent to hold the office. The name being associated with such an inspiring figure caused its use to escalate, per The Hill, but what many people may not realize is that Kamala is actually a flower name and comes from the Sanskrit word for lotus. According to Harris herself, as she wrote in the preface to her memoir, "The Truths We Hold" (via CNN), "It means 'lotus flower,' which is a symbol of significance in Indian culture. A lotus grows underwater, its flower rising above the surface while its roots are planted firmly in the river bottom."

Behind the Name notes that Kamala is also another name for Lakshmi, "the Hindu goddess of prosperity, good luck, and beauty," who uses the lotus flower as her symbol. This is a name with many layers — or should we say petals? Just make sure you pronounce it correctly — Harris wrote in her memoir, "my name is pronounced 'comma-la,' like the punctuation mark."

Fans of "The Witcher" may recognize the name Calanthe, which is borne by the queen of Cintra (via Screenrant). What viewers of the Netflix show (or readers of the book series or players of the video games based on it) may not realize, though, is the floral roots of this pretty name.

It's such a rare moniker that you may have just thought it was made up for the franchise, but Calanthe actually comes from two Greek words: kalos, which means "beautiful," and anthos, which means "flower" (via Behind the Name). A genus of orchids is named Calanthe, per the American Orchid Society. Calanthe orchids are notable for bringing us the first artificial orchid hybrid; J. Dominy introduced the Calanthe Dominyi in the 19th century. 

Calanthe's historical roots, combined with its pretty blooms and fantasy connections, make it a fitting name for those looking for a flower-inspired name or just something as unique as your bundle of joy.

While flowers are often associated with femininity, gender stereotypes have long been outdated. Anyone can rock a flower-inspired name, and there are many masculine names that have come from some of nature's most beautiful offerings.

The name Cosmo might make you think of star-filled skies or outer space, but while the word does describe the universe, according to Merriam-Webster, cosmos are also flowers in the Asteraceae family, making them related to daisies. The Spruce notes that it's pretty easy to grow these flowers, which "sit atop long slender stems and form a cloud of attractive color all summer that attracts bees, butterflies, and birds to your garden."

The name Cosmo is more popular in the United Kingdom than in the United States, although it's not very widely used. Per Behind the Name, it's a variation of the Italian name Cosimo. Aside from its floral roots, Cosmo is also the first name of "Seinfeld" character Kramer — a fun bit of trivia that might come in handy should your little Cosmo ever find himself on a game show.

If you think that Erica is the feminine form of Eric and not a name inspired by flowers, you're half right. Per Behind the Name, the name does come from Eric, which means "ever ruler." But erica is also the Latin term for heather, another flower-inspired name. Heather gained popularity as a given name in the 20th century, as did Erica. The Bump notes that this is a strong choice for a baby name, as it "embodies the themes of influence and endurance, qualities that will be sure to give baby motivation and comfort throughout their life." 

The plant that Erica takes its inspiration from also has many desirable properties. Per the Petal Republic, heather flowers can come in different colors; purple symbolizes love and respect, while white are believed to bring good fortune. Beautiful and resilient, heather holds special significance in Scotland, where the ancients believed it to harbor magic properties. These days, people mostly appreciate it for its gorgeous colors and delightful smell, though.

You've probably heard of Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, but did you know that her name is apparently inspired by a flower? Well, a flowering bush, to be very precise. The name Azalea has slowly been on the rise in the United States since the 2010s, and the lyrical way it rolls off the tongue makes it easy to see why. According to Southern Living, azaleas are related to rhododendrons, with the main difference between the two flowering shrubs being that "azalea blooms are typically funnel-shaped and have five stamens, while rhododendron flowers are bell-shaped and have ten or more stamens."

These flowery shrubs are quite hardy — some azaleas in Japan are centuries old, as noted by the Azalea Society of America. With such a beautiful and strong name — and a powerful musical connection — this is a flower name that any little girl would be lucky to have.

If you're a fan of the "Anne of Green Gables" series, which includes a slew of books and on-screen adaptations, including the Netflix series "Anne With an 'E,'" you'll recognize Marilla as the name of the woman who adopts the orphaned Anne Shirley. 

According to The Bump, the name's origins are a bit murky. While it's a form of the name Mary, it's also believed that it could be an abbreviated form of Amaryllis, making it a flower-inspired name. The amaryllis flower can trace its roots to Greek mythology, per Breck's. Amaryllis, a nymph, fell deeply in love with a man named Alteo, who didn't return her feelings. She turned to an oracle for help capturing his regard and eventually won his devotion by showing up to his doorstep night after night, piercing herself in the heart with a golden arrow each time. Beautiful red flowers bloomed from her blood. When Alteo eventually opened the door, he fell in love with Amaryllis.

Today, the flower is quite popular around the holidays, with its bright red petals helping people get into the holiday spirit.

Searching for masculine baby names inspired by flowers can be a bit tricky, but persistence will be rewarded. One baby name that stands out is Florian, which comes from the Roman name Florianus, ultimately derived from the Latin word flos, which means "flower," as noted by Behind the Name. While it may not be named after a particular blossom, the name still evokes the beauty of a full bouquet of vibrant blooms — what could be more lovely?

TV Tropes says that "flowers have been associated with femininity since ancient times" and "are often used to symbolize a character's gentle or docile nature," which might make some people avoid naming their little boy after the plants. Enlightened parents, though, know that gender stereotypes are just that — besides, gentleness is a good characteristic that any parent would love for their baby to have. The name Florian is one that will remind your baby that there is power in being gentle and that beauty knows no gender.

The pretty name Linnea comes to us from Europe, where it's popular in the Nordic countries of Finland, Sweden, and Norway. According to Behind the Name, Linnea can trace its roots to a rather unusual source. While it's the name of a flower, it also comes from a surname. Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus — who, as you might remember from your high school biology class, laid the groundwork for binomial nomenclature — loved the flower so much that Behind the Name says he named it after himself. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, though, Linnaea borealis was named by a friend of Linnaeus who wanted to honor the scientist by immortalizing his name in his favorite flower.

Whoever actually named the flower, the name Linnea comes packed with quite a lot of history. The flower is more commonly known as twinflower, though, and has distinctive bell-shaped buds. Given its name, Linnea could be a fitting moniker for one of your babies if you're expecting twins, although it's a pretty name for any little one.

The origins of the name Rowan are a bit complicated. According to Behind the Name, it comes from the Irish name Ruadhán, which comes from the Old Irish word for "red." Yet it is also linked to the rowan tree, a name with roots in Old Norse. While the rowan — also known as mountain ash — may be a tree, it's one known for its clusters of white flowers that blossom in the spring. 

As noted by Trees for Life, the rowan tree is deeply rooted in the folklore of Europe. According to Norse mythology, the tree once saved the life of the god Thor by offering its branches to him as a river threatened to carry him to the Underworld. Grasping the branches of the tree, Thor was able to pull himself out of the water. It's fitting, then, that in Scandinavia, runes were carved in rowan wood and used to try to see the future. Further west, in the British Isles, rowan has long been considered to have powers of protection, shielding people from magic.

The history of rowan is a fascinating one fitting for any baby, regardless of gender. While traditionally given to boys, Rowan is a gender-neutral moniker today.

"Gilmore Girls" fans will no doubt recognize the name Lorelei as the name of ultra-cool mom Lorelei Gilmore. You might even know about the name's mythological roots — according to German folklore, it is the name of a maiden who was transformed into a siren, luring sailors to their deaths (via Britannica). 

If you love the name Lorelai but aren't so thrilled with its grim association, fear not. You can always tell people that your own little Lorelai's name was inspired by one of your favorite flowers. Lorelei is a type of peony which, according to Sugar Creek Gardens, is one of the largest varieties of peonies out there. It even changes color, starting off with cherry petals that change shades over the flower's lifespan, shifting from apricot to pink to cream. How stunning, and what a fitting name for a baby who will also undergo quite a transformation as she grows.

Peonies also come with their own lore. According to Behind the Name, these flowers were named after Pæon, the Greek god of medicine, as people thought peonies possessed healing properties. While the most magical thing about peonies is their beauty, WebMD notes that their roots are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Thanks to the "Harry Potter" franchise in which Narcissa Malfoy is a minor — but pivotal — character, you might be more familiar with the feminine version of this name. Both Narciso and Narcissa can trace their roots to the Greek name Narkissos, per Behind the Name.

In Greek mythology, a man named Narkissos was so smitten with his own reflection that he died staring at himself. He was then transformed into the flower we now know as narcissus. The word narcissism can also trace itself back to this mythological story, per the Online Etymology Dictionary.

Don't worry that giving your little one the name Narciso will turn their head, though. After all, you're not naming your baby after the trait of narcissism, but after the flower, which you may also know as daffodil or jonquil. Teleflora notes that the flower is associated with luck and wealth — so long as you always gift them in a bunch, as a lone narcissus is a harbinger of doom.