Bodacious Botanicals

  1. Acacia
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "thorny"
    • Description:

      Acacia is an attractive, rarely used Greek flower name enhanced by its popular beginning-and-ending-with 'a'-construct, and is gradually beginning to catch on as a new member of the stylish girl names starting with A.
  2. Acantha
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "thorn, prickle"
    • Description:

      Acantha is one of the unique baby names in the stylish mythological category that also might count as a flower name. In Greek mythology, Acantha was a nymph beloved by Apollo. An unusual and attractive choice that could make a creative way to honor a grandma Rose.
  3. Amandine
    • Origin:

      French, diminutive of Amanda
    • Meaning:

      "much-loved"
    • Description:

      This fragrant, almond-scented name has hardly been heard in this country, which is a pity--we've loved it since John Malkovich used it for his now grown daughter.
  4. Amarantha
    • Origin:

      Flower name; Greek
    • Meaning:

      "unfading"
    • Description:

      Amarantha is a rare botanical name whose mythical equivalent was believed to be immortal. The Italian and Spanish form is the somewhat-more-acccessible Amaranta.
  5. Amaryllis
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "to sparkle"
    • Description:

      If you love both unique baby names and flower names for girls, Amaryllis might be a perfect choice for you.
  6. Azalea
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "azalea, a flower"
    • Description:

      Azalea is one of the fresher flower names, along with Zinnia and Lilac, that are new to the name bouquet — in fact, it entered the Social Security list for the first time in 2012. So if Lily and Rose are too tame for you, consider this brilliant pink springtime blossom with a touch of the unusual that has been growing in popularity.
  7. Alder
    • Basil
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "royal"
      • Description:

        Although Greek in origin--in the fourth century, a bishop by that name established the principles of the Greek Orthodox Church--Basil for years took on the aura of aquiline-nosed upper-class Britishness of Sherlock Holmes portrayer Basil Rathbone, then spiced with the fragrant aroma of the herb that entered with the Pesto generation.
    • Beech
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "beech tree"
      • Description:

        If you prefer the woods to the ocean, you'll want to name your son (or daughter) Beech instead of Beach.
    • Calantha
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "lovely flower"
      • Description:

        Another of the new Greek-accented Cal- names.
    • Calla
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "beautiful"
      • Description:

        Calla is a botanical name that is much more distinctive than popular Lily or similar Callie. Rarely heard today, it did appear in the popularity lists in the last decades of the nineteenth century.
    • Camellia
      • Origin:

        Flower name, from Czech surname
      • Meaning:

        "Kamel's flower"
      • Description:

        Camellia is a rare flower name with distinct roots related to the Camille/Camila group and has varied associations to the moon, water, wealth, and perfection. It could be thought of as a floral replacement for Amelia.
    • Cedar
      • Origin:

        English and French from Latin tree name
      • Meaning:

        "cedar tree"
      • Description:

        Cedar is, like Ash, Oak, Pine and Ebony, one of the new tree/wood names that parents are starting to consider; this one is particularly aromatic.
    • Clementine
      • Origin:

        French feminine version of Clement, Latin
      • Meaning:

        "mild, merciful"
      • Description:

        Clementine is a Nameberry favorite that broke back into the US Top 1000 in 2014 after more than half a century off the list.
    • Cypress
      • Origin:

        Nature name
      • Description:

        Lovely entry into the tree name genre, joining Juniper, Oak, and Willow.
    • Celandine
      • Cypress
        • Daisy
          • Origin:

            Diminutive of Margaret or flower name, English
          • Meaning:

            "day's eye"
          • Description:

            Daisy, fresh, wholesome, and energetic, is one of the flower names that burst back into bloom after a century's hibernation. Originally a nickname for Margaret (the French Marguerite is the word for the flower), Daisy comes from the phrase "day's eye," because it opens its petals at daybreak.
        • Eglantyne
          • Elm
            • Origin:

              English, German, Norse, Danish tree name
            • Meaning:

              "red, brown"
            • Description:

              Strong, straight, and leafy, one of the new tree names used mostly as middles.