Flower Names for Women

Updated March 2023 

Heralds frequently are asked to document names for women based on flowers.  While the name Rose and its variants are easily documentable to the Middle Ages and Renaissance, other flower- and plant-based names are more difficult to find.  

I.    English and Scottish Examples

All of the cites below are from FamilySearch Historical Records.  They are formatted for citing in OSCAR with all of the necessary information.

Amaryllis Flamson; Female; Marriage; 14 Apr 1632; Nailstone, Leicester, England; Batch: M09633-1 ((https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N26P-TQJ)

Angelica Goossen or Gosan; Female; Christening; 18 Dec 1578; Saint Paul, Canterbury, Kent, England; Batch: P01654-1 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5LY-4MX) [yes, angelica is an herb, not a flower, but it's close enough and frequently requested]

Aster Hewett; Female; Death; 25 Aug 1618; St. Bride's Parish, London, England; Batch: B05192-7 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JZL8-BY2)  [NOTE: This may be a variant spelling of Hester rather than a reference to the flower.]

Camelia Shawe; Female; Christening; 16 Jan 1602; St Giles Cripplegate, London, London, England; Batch: C02243-2 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NLNR-9QJ)

Daisy Hart; Female; Christening; 31 Aug 1620; Tattershall, Lincoln, England; Batch: C03202-4 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NYD8-M8M)

Flora Prinkeard; Female; Marriage; 28 Jan 1599; Buckland Monachorum, Devon, England; Batch: M05006-1 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NKYQ-34Y)

Flora Noltman; Female; Marriage; 02 Sep 1641; Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; Batch: M11982-3 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYMV-82F)

Flower Dewe; Female; Marriage; 26 Jul 1599; South Huish, Devon, England; Batch: M05201-1 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N2L5-423)

Heather Arnole; Female; Christening; 16 Nov 1612; Saint Nicholas, Colchester, Essex, England; Batch: K13795-3 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N15P-QTL)

Iris [no surname]; Female; Burial; 04 Aug 1592; Goxhill, Lincoln, England; Batch: B02860-3 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J85D-9MD)

Irys Gulsun; Female; Marriage; 12 Oct 1544; St Modwen'S, Burton Upon Trent, Staffordshire, England; Batch: M02017-4 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NV9C-H4D)

Ivie Barrington; Female; Christening; 22 Dec 1594; Linstead, Kent, England; Batch: C04299-5 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NLQF-S9F)

Lilly Griffine; Female; Christening; Jan 1582; Saint Margaret, Westminster, London, England; Batch: P00160-1 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N5W6-HJW)

Lylly Rogers; Female; Marriage; 24 Dec 1581; Saint Margaret, Westminster, London, England; Batch: M00160-1 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V526-XG3)

Lylie Hamner; Female; Marriage; 28 Jun 1584; Saint Margaret, Westminster, London, England; Batch: M00160-1 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V52X-9M1)

Primrose Reve; Female; Christening; 12 Dec 1628; Saint Mary Somerset, London, London, England; Batch: P00149-1 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NY19-XF4)

Violet Charnould; Female; Christening; 26 Sep 1596; MIstley, Essex, England; Batch: C04699-1 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JQT5-3J3)

Violett Byde; Female; Marriage; 26 Jul 1640; Jarrow, Durham, England; Batch: M00048-1 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NLZL-14P)

Violetta Bell; Female; Marriage; 15 Sep 1642; Corby, Lincoln, England; Batch: M02766-3 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NXW3-151)

Violette [no surname]; Female; Christening; 20 Mar 1648; Aslackby, Lincoln, England; Batch: C02676-3 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J3T9-TM5)

Violet Jaksoune; Female; Marriage; 07 Sep 1570; Perth, Perth, Scotland; Batch: M11387-4 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XY32-P28)

Yarrow Rommett; Female; Marriage; 19 Nov 1610; Bodmin, Cornwall, England; Batch: M00275-1 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NVRT-XXH)

II.    French Examples

Angelique (a type of clematis) is dated to 1606 in "Late Period French Feminine Names" by Aryanhwy merch Catmael  (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/french/latefrench.html) .

Eglantina (meaning "wild rose") is an Occitan name found in "Names from Fourteenth Century Foix" by Cateline de la Mor (https://www.s-gabriel.org/names/cateline/foix.html).

Fleur de Lys is found in "Late Period French Feminine Names" by Aryanhwy merch Catmael  (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/french/latefrench.html) dated to 1478, 1537, 1575.

Fleurance (meaning "blooming, flowery") is found in "Late Period French Feminine Names" by Aryanhwy merch Catmael  (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/french/latefrench.html)  dated to 1507.

Laurencia (meaning "lavender") is found in the Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources s.n. Laurencia (http://dmnes.org/name/Laurencia), dated to 1273, 1300.  The French vernacular forms Lorence and Laurence are found in the same entry.

Marguerite (meaning "daisy") in "Late Period French Feminine Names" by Aryanhwy merch Catmael  (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/french/latefrench.html) dated from 1395 onwards.

Olive (meaning "olive tree") is found in several forms in French in the Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources s.n. Olive (http://dmnes.org/name/Olive).  Forms include the Latinized Oliva (c. 823, 1311) and the vernacular Olive  (1565-1568) and Olyve (1567).

Rose is found in "Late Period French Feminine Names" by Aryanhwy merch Catmael  (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/french/latefrench.html) dated to 1569.

Yolent (meaning "flower") is found in the Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources s.n. Yolanda (http://dmnes.org/name/Yolanda) dated to 1292 and 1302.  The alternate French spelling Hyolent is found in the same entry, dated to 1292.

III.    German Examples

Florina (no surname); Female; Death; 26 Jan 1639; Herrnsheim, Hessen, Germany; Batch: B96645-1 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4S9-H3L)

Lili (no surname); Female; Marriage; 1582; Sankt Johann, Schwaebisch Hall, Jagstkreis, Wuerttemberg; Germany; Batch: M92340-1 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JHNM-2L4)

Rosa Wetzel; Female; Death; 15 May 1615; Großbettlingen, Württemberg, Germany; Batch: B39440-2 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J498-NWR)

Rosina Schwartz; Female; Death; 17 Aug 1597; Löchgau, Besigheim, Württemberg, Germany; Batch: B00076-0 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4WT-94F)