Baby girl names with a floral feel have been an absolute staple to the names of our daughters for decades, and some have become quite stylish as well. From Violet to Lily, flower names and nature names in general for girls represent a large portion of today’s top 100. But if you're looking for that same delicate beauty and immediately stunning imagery of a flower name with more of an exotic feel or without the sadly diluted beauty that often comes with fame and popularity, then you may want to take a look at this list. Today, I’ve composed a list of several rare flower names for girls. What is “rare,” you ask. Well, of course that differs based on the person. Some people consider top 100 favorites like Leonardo and Nevaeh rare, while others won’t think of a name as rare until it’s not even on the SSA list (under 5 children with the name). For this list, I think I’ll primarily be calling any names under 1200 or so rare, but it’s very much a matter of opinion. Hello dear readers, and let’s head on into the list!
Elestren- While this name is certainly unfamiliar, with less than five little girls and boys receiving it last year, Elestren feels completely usable. With nicknames like Ellie and Elsie that are totally appropriate in today’s schools and sports, yet an ethereal and dainty full form. As for her floral ties, Elestren is the Cornish word for an Iris flower, a gorgeous honor for an Iris if for some reason, Iris isn’t good for your family, or just a way to subtly embrace a floral girl name without obvious wordiness. Elestren is a whimsical and more easily pronounceable version of Celeste in my eyes, plus with accessible nicknames. I personally find Elestren positively darling.
Calla- In addition to Calla’s connection to Calla Lilies, she’s also a subtle and rare flower name with a simple spelling and cheerful and bright nickname Callie. With a built-in short form easy for a child born today to bear and a tried-and-true name format, Calla feels feminine and delicate, just like Lily. Again, if you wish to honor a Lily or someone born in May (the month in which the lily is the birth flower), Calla also makes a delightful name for paying tribute to a special person in your life. And the best part? Calla, although sounding slightly created, is a Greek name which means “the most beautiful.” Girly and elegant but with a 21st century feel, Calla is a lovely rare flower name at #1819.
Azami- Derived from Japanese and Persian origin, Azami has a bright and unique sound accompanying her floral style. A vibrant pink thistle flower, azamis are thought of as strong and stubborn, and give off a vibe of determination thanks to mythological influences. Azami means “thistle,” and while not the most beautiful or dainty flowers, Azami sure exudes strength and power, a lovely choice for your strong little girl. Azzie provides a spunky, playful nickname ideal for a toddler or younger child, although I can also see a teenager happily bearing this short for. While being incredibly unique, with neither boys nor girls receiving this name any more than five times last year, the sounds are familiar and the spelling isn’t too odd either.
Lilac- I really do not understand why this striking baby name only ranks at #7514. I mean, she has everything a flower name needs to make it big. She has the il sound and doubles as both a color name and a flower name like #36 Violet, the lilting double Ls and the fluidity parents adore in #34 Lily, and a very beautiful flower (and on trend color) as well as her own signature style. She’s simply spelled and easily pronounced, and has nickname Lila to fall back on in case your daughter doesn’t appreciate the attention to her name. But only 15 little girls had their parents write Lilac on the birth certificate, two less than those whose parents decided on Macarena or Jerusalem, for some context. However, I completely suggest choosing Lilac.
Bryony- A girl name that feels a bit surname-like, Bryony flowers are essentially flowering vines, not the most gorgeous plants of all time, but still bloom with sweet green flowers. A name pronounced Brian-ee, Bryony may have some spelling and pronunciation issues, particularly given that the not-so-floral spelling Briony is more popular, but nevertheless, is a wonderful way to honor Brian with a little girl. This spelling ranks at #12605, and the most popular spelling, Briony, ranks at #9172, making the name altogether, even considering the alternative spellings, quite rare. This name means “to sprout,” an adorable choice for a growing baby and toddler.
Clover- Cheerful and spunky, Clover feels like a lovely and more unique route to the perkiness of girl names like Harper and Parker with a botanical twist that brings yet more perfection to the table. Similarly to Lilac, I just can’t fathom why Clover has stayed so critically unpopular at #1145. She has that Cl- beginning of past favorite Chloe and the -er ending of Piper and Harper that are just so beloved today, and is essentially the image of luck and good fortune, all things that are wonderful gifts to bestow upon a child. While Hunger Games character Clove does taint the name slightly for me, the character is so miniscule that I don’t believe that would be a dominant association for anyone who hadn’t read the Hunger Games in the past few years (I have. Please do.)
Marigold- With the lengthy feminine Magnolia jumping up the charts, at #240 at the moment, her sister name Marigold is certain to follow. Although she currently sits at a relatively uncommon #1310, Marigold’s familiar Mar- beginning that was so incredibly popular with Mary, Marissa, and Maria gets a chance to shine, potentially opening up an honoring opportunity for any of the above names. And then there’s that gorgeous and unique -gold ending, sure to spark a generation of little Goldies if Marigold does manage to make it to the top 1000 next year (let me make a guess here and say she’ll soar into the top 1000 next year). Marigolds, in bright and vibrant colors, are beautiful flowers, making Marigold the full floral name package.
Peony- Posey and Poppy are in, adorable and sweet choices with the cutesiness maxed and the P___y format a recipe for spunky charm. So how about we add another adorable botanical choice that follows this format and has the right balance of sweetness and cheerfulness. Peony is very rare, at #15057, and I would agree that perhaps something with the nickname of Peony might be a wiser choice (Penelope, Philomena maybe?) due to her childlike nature, but as a toddlerhood short form, Peony is darling. Peony also means “healing,” a lovely tribute for a couple welcoming a rainbow baby or any child in general.
Thanks so much for taking a look, dear readers! Have a wonderful rest of your days, and I hope this list got you inspired or helped you find a new favorite.
Sincerely,
-Delphina Moon