Naming a Sister for Flora: Vintage, Pretty, Rare

Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, one reader’s name questions will be discussed. We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight! To have your question considered, email appmtn (at) gmail. Looking for your own private #namehelp post? Order one here.

FLORA IS A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW

Molly writes:

We have a four year old daughter named Flora Elizabeth. I love that her name is old-fashioned and pretty, but very simple and straightforward. So far, we have not met another Flora and everyone loves her name. It is the only name we ever seriously considered once we found out we were having a girl.

Our second child, and second daughter, will be here in a few more weeks, and it is the opposite this time. We cannot agree on her name, even though we have narrowed down our list to a few choices. None of them feel anywhere near as right as Flora’s name felt.

Our list:

• Marnie – love it, but I definitely went through a no-one-takes-a-Molly-seriously phase, and still feel that sometimes, so how could I do that to my daughter?
• Beatrice – maybe my favorite, but Bea/Bee seems like not enough name and Beatrice seems like too much
• Petra – is this too much like Flora, or maybe it’s just too different? my husband is really not on board, but he might be coming around as time runs out
• Calla – another favorite, except no one seems to hear it right the first time, and is kind of twee to have Flora and Calla-like-the-lily?
• Vida, Vita – my great-aunt’s name, and I love all the old lady vibes, but I think it’s too weird for us to really use (I’d love it for someone else’s kid!)
  

I think part of the problem is that Flora comes with such a strong image. I hand-painted flowers in her nursery/bedroom, and while I’m sure she’ll outgrow them before I’m ready, I love the idea of Flora’s flowers.

Now I keep waiting for inspiration like that, though we do not have that kind of time!

If Flora had been a boy, her name would have been Benjamin called Benji. We’ve run through all the Ben girl names, and know that it’s not for us.

We know this will be our last child, so I think I feel more pressure to choose the right name.

Do we already have the right name on our list and just can’t see it, or can you help us think up something new?

Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.

VINTAGE NAMES FOR A DAUGHTER WITH A CLEAR IMAGE

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new daughter!

I know what you mean about Flora. The image of a garden or field of wildflowers is both subtle and obvious. The name balances perfectly on that feminine/strong midpoint. And it’s rare, but immediately familiar.

So yes, Flora will be a tough act to follow!

Let’s begin with your current list.

RANKING THE CURRENT SHORTLIST

VIDA, VITA

I feel like any name that seems “too weird for us to really use” is immediately out of the running. Also, I wonder if Vida-with-a-D or Vita-with-a-T is enough complexity for you to regret it.

CALLA

Such a lovely name, but there are two sticking points. First, it’s quite rare but also very similar to lots of other names. I would need you to say “Calla-like-the-lily” the first time before it clicked. Probably lots of people agree. And then it’s one flower … while Flora has them all. It feels a little unfair, right?

MARNIE

Normally I might say something reassuring here, about fitting in just fine with a generation of girls called Sadie and Millie. And that’s true! But because you have direct (negative) experience with a name that feels casual and nickname-y, I think I’d probably shy away from choosing something similar for your daughter.

PETRA

I love the name Petra. It can be a nature name, a feminine form of Peter, meaning rock. It’s a strong image, an unexpected sound, and a nicely antique choice, too. I think it’s absolutely perfect, if only it weren’t so uncommon. Like Calla, Petra might take a little more repetition. Not a deal-breaker, and this was thisclose to being my top recommendation for you. But unusual names often mean a little extra effort, so it’s worth considering whether that’s an issue for you.

BEATRICE

An obvious sister name for Flora, because it’s similar in vintage vibes and current popularity. But there’s also an obvious symbol: the honeybee for Bea. It’s longer than Flora, true, and can easily be shortened. But I think these names really work well together. Flora Elizabeth and Beatrice … Claire, maybe? A shorter middle would even out the overall syllable count.

FRESH SUGGESTIONS FOR FLORA’S SISTER

HAZEL

It’s popular – a Top 20 name for the last two years! – but nothing really sounds like Hazel. And while it’s a nature-adjacent name, it’s almost more of a color than a plant.

JUNE

Sweet, summery June pairs nicely with Flora.

LOUISE

A strong classic in the same category as Beatrice, but a little shorter.

PEARL

Gemstone names might be an entire category to consider. I feel like Pearl fits Flora’s vintage energy the best, but names like Ruby, Emerald, and Opal all have potential, too.

STELLA

My first thought was Esther or Estelle, both names that mean star. They’re less common than Top 100 Stella. But I feel like Flora and Stella are sisters – the garden and the night sky. Feminine, but lots of spirit.

VERA

The first name that came to mind? Absolutely Vera. Gently old-fashioned, like Flora. It means faith or truth, depending on your preferred language of origin. (Slavic for the former, Latin for the latter.) Is that as easy to paint on a nursery wall as Flora? Not at all! But it’s a clear, virtuous meaning. Plus Vera is easy to spell and pronounce, and it’s currently ranked in the 200s – more popular than Flora, but far from common. It came to mind as a logical alternative to Vida/Vita.

Overall, my favorite from your lst is definitely Beatrice. Beatrice Claire, maybe? From my new suggestions, I’m most drawn to Vera as a sister for Flora – though if you’re looking for a built-in symbol, you can’t do much better than Stella. Vera Eleanor or Stella Beatrice?

Readers, over to you! What would you name a sister for Flora Elizabeth?