Spring has sprung in the Northern hemisphere and my garden is filled with bright blossoms, so there’s never been a better time to talk about flower names. This list comprises some of the most common floral and plant-related names for girls in the Spanish-speaking world. They range from the classic Rosa and Margarita to the lyrical Azucena and Amapola.
Please note that some names may have more than one meaning. E.g. margarita means “daisy” in Spanish, but Margarita is also a medieval saint’s name derived from the Greek margarites “pearl”. The flower was named after the saint.
The number in parentheses after each name represents the number of women living in Spain who have this name, as of 2019. Thanks go to Spain’s INE for providing the statistical data.
- Acacia (189) – acacia
- Adelfa (122) – oleander
- Alhelí, Alelí (<20) – wallflower
- Amapola (132) – poppy
- Amaranta (220) – from amaranto “amaranth”
- Amarilis (131) – amaryllis
- Angélica (6,648) – angelica
- Azahar (224) – orange blossom; similar names include Azahara (6,580)
- Azalea (34) – azalea
- Azucena (8,197) – Madonna lily
- Begonia (79) – begonia; the similar Begoña (38,133) is a Basque name derived from a Marian devotion
- Brezo (64) – heather
- Cala (105) – calla lily
- Camelia (1,674) – camellia
- Dalia (1,901) – dahlia
- Flor (722) – flower; similar names include Florentina (11,846), Flora (7,586), Florencia (6,523), Florinda (2,759), Florina (1,252) and Floriana (251)
- Gardenia (102) – gardenia
- Henar (3,227) – hayfield
- Hiedra (51) – ivy
- Hortensia (8,456) – hydrangea
- Iris (12,164) – iris
- Jacinta (5,021) – from jacinto “hyacinth”
- Jara (3,002) – rock rose
- Jazmín (622) – jasmine
- Lila (545) – lilac
- Lirio (26) – lily; similar names include Liria (474) and Lirios (122), as well as Liliana (6,304) and Lilia (1,321)
- Lis (384) – lily
- Magnolia (471) – magnolia
- Malva (102) – mallow
- Maravilla (469) – marigold (also means “marvel, wonder”); similar names include Maravillas (3,397)
- Margarita (88,806) – daisy
- Melisa (2,939) – lemon balm
- Mirta (489) – from mirto “myrtle”
- Orquídea (86) – orchid
- Rosa (101,404) – rose; similar names include Rosalía (18,919), Rosana (6,006), Rosalina (2,003), Rosaura (1,984), Rosalba (1,026), Rosina (765), Rosalinda (606) and Rosita (290)
- Valeriana (1,719) – valerian
- Vega (11,384) – meadow
- Violeta (10,085) – violet
- Verónica (71,620) – speedwell
References
- Faure, R. (2008) Diccionario de nombres propios. 3rd edn. Madrid: Espasa.
- Heptagrama, “Glossary of flower names in English and Spanish”, https://heptagrama.com/flowers-glossary.htm
- Significado de Nombres, “Nombres de flores”, https://significadodenombres.com.es/nombres-de-flores/
What are your favourite Spanish flower names? Are there any you would add to this list?
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