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Florence Name Meaning, Origins & History

Florence

Pronunciation: FLOR-uhns

Meaning Blooming Origin Latin Gender Girl
GIRLS RANK
#391
TREND
44
Peak Years
1918, 1920, 1921
Lowest Years
2003, 2009, 2005
Energy Archetype
Caring & Devoted

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of girls named Florence in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Florence

  • Decades of popularity: Florence stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 61 consecutive years, from 1880 through 1940.
  • More than 340 thousand babies named Florence: U.S. records list 340,539 babies given the name Florence from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,454 boys received the name Florence - about 1 boy for every 233 girls.

What Does the Name Florence Mean?

Florence is an English feminine given name derived from the Latin Florentia, a feminine name and place name based on florens, the present participle of florēre, "to bloom" or "flourish." Its literal meaning is "flourishing" or "blooming," from the same root as flos, florem, "flower." The masculine Latin form was Florentius. The English name is usually connected both to the Latin personal name and to the Italian city of Florence, called Florentia in Latin and Firenze in Italian. The meaning is a direct translation of the Latin participle rather than a later symbolic interpretation.

Florence Name History & Origins

The Latin names Florentius (masculine) and Florentia (feminine) were used in the Roman and early Christian periods. The Roman colony of Florentia, in what is now Tuscany, became the Italian city of Florence; its English name came through Old French. In medieval England, Florence was used as a masculine given name, though it was uncommon; Florence of Worcester, a chronicler who died in 1118, is a documented example. The name was also used for women in the Middle Ages.

By the 19th century, Florence had become primarily a feminine name in English. Florence Nightingale, the English nurse and reformer, was born in Florence, Italy, in 1820 and was named for the city. The name also appears in literature, including Florence Dombey in Charles Dickens's Dombey and Son (1846 - 48). In French, Florence is a common feminine given name. In Italian, the city is Firenze, and the personal name is often Fiorenza.

How Popular is the Name Florence?

Florence remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1880 to 1940. Its highest annual birth count was in 1918, and people born that year turn 108 in 2026.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Explore Name Lists Featuring Florence

Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.

Longtime Favorite Girl Names

Longtime Favorite Girl Names Through the Years

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Most Popular Girl Names That Start with F

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How the Name Florence Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are kind, home-loving, hospitable and friendly. Since you take responsibility well, you are a good organizer of social affairs. Compassion for others is an outstanding trait. You are a great lover and a great flirt – an artist, musician, actor, teacher, nurse. Your character can be contradictory. You are practical, yet idealistic and intuitive; capable of selfless devotion to someone you love, yet look to receive payback. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.

You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.

✦ Florence's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Florence's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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