Flora

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Flora

Gender: Feminine
Language: English, Latin
Etymology:
Flora is the feminine form of Florus (or Florius), a Latin family name meaning “flower,” form “flos.”

History:
Flora, the name of the Roman goddess of flowers, began to be used as a first name, as Flore, in France after the Renaissance and the revival of all things classical. Flore crossed to England from France becoming (as it was in Latin) Flora.

The name soon died out again in England, but not before becoming common in Scotland (due to a Highland heroine, Fionnaghal “Flora” Macdonald). As far as England was concerned, The Oxford Dictionary of Christian First Names claims that it was “formerly considered a suitable name for a spaniel but not for a woman.” In the 19th century, this distinction was forgotten.

It also may have been influenced by the popularity of the name Florence.

Pronunciation: flore-ah

Diminutives:
English: Flo.
French: Fleurette.
Scottish Gaelic: Flòraidh.
Scottish (Anglicized): Florrie.

Alternates: Flor, Flore, Flower, Floria.
Basque: Lore.
French: Fleur, Flore.
Hungarian: Florka.

Masculine: Florus.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Flora Thompson (1876-1947)
British writer.
Flora Nwapa (1931-1993)
Nigerian novelist.
Kareen Fleur Adcock (1934-)
New Zealand-British poet.

Educators, Scholar, and Social Workers:
Flora Adams Darling (1840-1910)
American historian.

Miscellaneous:
Flora Macdonald (1722-1790)
Scottish heronine. She helped Bonnie Prince Charlie to escape.

Religious Figures:
Flora
The Roman goddess of flowers.

Singers and Entertainers:
Dame Flora Robson (1902-1984)
British actress.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census, for females:
0.049 % named Flora
0.006 % named Flor
0.002 % named Flo
0.001 % named Florrie
0.001 % named Floria

Popularity of Flora:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 90th most popular.
1875: 59th most popular.
1900-1910: 110th most popular.
1910-1920: 130th most popular.
1920-1930: 161st most popular.
1930-1940: 211th most popular.
1940-1950: 277th most popular.
1950-1960: 422nd most popular.
1960-1970: 599th most popular.
1970-2000: N/A

In France...
1900-1980: N/A
1984: 178th most popular.
1990: 147th most popular.
2000: 141st most popular.