The first nameFlorence
A girl’s name from Latin meaning “flowering”, “flourishing”, “flower”.
Pronounced /ˈfloɹəns/ 2 syllables Female Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Latin origin
Florence means “flowering”, “flourishing”, “flower” in Latin.
Borrowed from French Florence f, from Latin Flōrentia (as a given name, a feminine form of Flōrentius), from flōrens (“flowering, flourishing”), from flōs (“flower”), connected with English bloom and blossom. Doublet of Firenze. The female given name gained popularity from Florence Nightingale who was born in the Tuscan city.
More names that mean flower.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 1,924 girls were named Florence, making it the 5th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2021, with 2,180 births (#8).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Florence with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Florence at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 796 girls born in the United States were named Florence, the 391st most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1918, when 11,318 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Florence in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Florence in French, Dutch and Latvian too.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Florence
123 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Florence NightingaleEnglish social reformer, statistician, and founder of modern nursing (1820–1910)
- Florence PughBritish actress (born 1996)
- Florence Griffith JoynerAmerican track and field athlete (1959-1998)
- Florence DevouardFrench open knowledge advocate, Chair of the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees, co-fo, born 1968
- Florence WelchBritish singer (born 1986)
- Florence Foster JenkinsAmerican soprano, renowned for her lack of musical skill and singing ability (1868–1944)
- Florence HardingFirst Lady of the United States from 1921 to 1923
- Florence LawrenceCanadian-American actress (1886-1938)
- Florence R. SabinAmerican medical scientist (1871–1953)
- Florence HendersonAmerican actress and singer (1934-2016)
- Florence ArthaudFrench sailor (1957–2015)
- Florence BascomAmerican geologist (1862–1945)
More Latin girls’ names
Questions
- What does the name Florence mean?
- Florence means “flowering”, “flourishing”, “flower” in Latin.
- What is the origin of the name Florence?
- Borrowed from French Florence f, from Latin Flōrentia (as a given name, a feminine form of Flōrentius), from flōrens (“flowering, flourishing”), from flōs (“flower”), connected with English bloom and blossom. Doublet of Firenze. The female given name gained popularity from Florence Nightingale who…
- How popular is the name Florence?
- In 2025, 1,924 girls born in England and Wales were named Florence, ranking 5th. Its peak was 2021, with 2,180 births.
- What are nicknames for Florence?
- Common nicknames for Florence include Flossy, Flossie, Floy.