There’s Scarlet and Violet, Ruby and Jade. But if you seek a truly daring color name for a daughter, this could be one option.
Thanks to Imogen for suggesting Fuchsia as Name of the Day.
Plenty of color names have become commonplace. Others, like Indigo or Lilac, are less expected, but not eye-poppingly unusual.
Fuchsia crosses the line from the surprising to the downright dramatic.
Maybe it is because fuchsia is a relatively new color. As a hue, the word first appears in English late in the nineteenth century. It wasn’t until 1990 that Crayola added a fuchsia crayon to the roster. (It’s #25 in their Box of 64 – check out fuchsia’s coloring page on their official site.)
Before it was a color, it was a plant. Still is, actually. Named in honor of Leonhard Fuchs, the sixteenth century botanist, the plant produces vivid pinkish-purplish-reddish blooms.
It’s the botanical angle that just might make Fuchsia wearable. With parents looking to expand the Garden of Girls from Rose and Lily to Azalea and Juniper, it is possible that Fuchsia could make the cut.
In fact, Fuchsia was chosen by musician Sting all the way back in 1982, for his firstborn daughter. I’m not sure if dad regretted his daring pick, or if his darling daughter didn’t care for her outlandish moniker, but Fuchsia Catherine prefers to be called Kate.
Word is that Dad borrowed the name from a fictional Fuchsia. Back in 1946, Mervyn Peake penned Titus Groan, the first book in a series about the inhabitants of Gormenghast, a remote, desolate kingdom. Lady Fuchsia is big sis to Titus, the heir to the Earldom of Gormenghast. There have been multiple adaptations, including two by the BBC – radio in the 1980s, a mini-series in 2000. Sting himself voiced the scheming servant Steerpike in the radio version, just a few years after his daughter’s birth. In the 1970s, a short-lived progressive rock band named themselves Fuchsia in her honor; a 1981 song by The Cure references Fuchsia, too.
There’s also at least one real-life Fuchsia – English food writer, Fuchsia Dunlop. You’ll find her work in Gourmet and Saveur, as well as anywhere an expert’s opinion is need on Chinese cuisine.
But even if you’re all about extreme baby naming, there’s one hitch that might steer you away from Fuchsia towards Azure or Gardenia. The flowers’ fan club – the American Fuchsia Society – readily admits that their cherished bloom is among most misspelled of all flowers.
It leads me to think that Fuchsia’s flaws might outweigh her charms, even for the boldest babynamer, the kind who can shrug off accusations that their child’s name is better reserved for a drag queen. That’s not to say that color names aren’t possible options. In fact, Nameberry posted on appellations inspired by Crayola just a few months ago.
And yet, wait a few years. No so long ago, Violet and Scarlet were edgy and Indigo was extreme. Fuschia might make it into the wearable category yet.
I am reading back posts and stumbled upon this one. The first thought I had was “Oh no, not Mervyn Peake’s Fuchsia!”
Not many people have read the books, and while Fuchsia is not an evil or bad character, she is prone to hysterical fits of rage and sulking. Not good associations. The series as a whole is fantastic, but it’s put otherwise great names – Titus, Keda – out of the question. Fuchsia is definitely included.
i like fuchsia
I quite like the plant, but am not a huge fan of the color. First thought was “Little Bill” too. Still, I can definitely see the point about the f-word and flushing. As a name, Fuchsia’s not doing it for me. Maybe in the middle spot?
As a side: Viridian makes me instantly think of Veridian Dynamics, the fictional mega-company in “Better Off Ted.” It is also not doing it for me as a name.
But generally, I do like color names and wouldn’t really bat an eye at either Fuchsia or Viridian if they appeared on my kid’s class list, for example. I worked with an Azure, went to college with a Peaches (which granted is more fruit than color), and am a Jade, so I don’t find this type of name too far “out there,” really.
I love this name. Fuchsia is such a gorgeous colour, and the name has such a fresh sound to it. However, whenever I see it written on paper, my mind immediately jumps to a certain word beginning with F (which is, incidentally, quite possibly the most useful and versatile word in the English language, but not one I would want associated with my wee bairns). But ignoring that, seriously, how can this name not bring a smile to ones face?
The flower is mediocre. I think visually the word isn’t pleasant. Sound wise, I’m not liking it either. Actually, a previous poster hit the nail on the head with toilet flushing although I’d go with “pretentious vomit” myself. I will stick with the medieval fabric and later colour name, Scarlet, thanks. 😉
I like Indigo for a boy but it’s one of those names I’d rather see on “someone else’s child”.
I adore Fuchsia. I’d never use her because I’d fear that the spelling is too similar to a certain 4-letter English swear word. However, I adore the sound, the colour and the flower is very pretty. Its a cool name for someone else braver than me.
Meh.
Fuchsia is the name of Little Bill’s cousin on said show… Always struck me as odd. Guess I’m not a big Crayola namer – and of course that’s all I can think of, flower or not.
But viridian is lovely!
Interesting history, less appealing name. Of course, that’s just my opinion, and I’m biased since Fuchsia is probably one of my least favourite colours. And the word? Well, to me it sounds like flushing the toilet.
Interesting one… I probably wouldn’t pick it because I’m not really a “pink” kind of girl. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see it catch on. The sound reminds me of the name Marsha so I don’t think it is too far out there.
My favorite color name is Viridian!