Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Florence
GirlLatin· “blossoming, flourishing”
- Meaning
- blossoming, flourishing
- Origin
- Latin
- Pronunciation
- FLAW-ruhns
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #391
- US babies 2025
- 796
- Best rank
- #6 (1890)
- Peak year
- 1918
Meaning and origin of Florence
Florence is a Latin name that means “blossoming, flourishing”.
Florence comes from the Latin Florentius and Florentia, based on florens, meaning "blossoming" or "flourishing." It is also the English name of Firenze, the Italian city at the heart of the Renaissance. The name became widely used for girls after Florence Nightingale, the pioneering British nurse, who was named for the city where she was born in 1820. In the Middle Ages, Florence was used for both sexes. Today it is enjoying a vintage revival, especially in Britain, and Flo, Flora, and Florrie are traditional nicknames.
Other spellings with the same sound: Florance.
Popularity over time
Florence has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 111 different years. Its best national rank was #6 in 1890, and the most babies received it in 1918, when 11,318 were named Florence. In 2025, 796 babies were named Florence, and it ranked #391 nationally. That is 272% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #16 in 1920, #190 in 1950, #978 in 1980, #2,520 in 2000, #2,461 in 2010, and #391 in 2025. Of the 339,093 US girls named Florence since records began, 26% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 81,465 babies. Since 2010, 5,158 more have been named Florence.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Rose, Edna, Josephine, Ethel, and Edith.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Florence ranked highest in Oregon, Utah, and Minnesota.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Florence is usually pronounced FLAW-ruhns, with two syllables. It has eight letters, starts with F and ends in “-ce”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Florance.
Middle names for Florence
A few middle names that flow with Florence: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Florence
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Lists that include Florence
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Florence mean?
Florence is a Latin name that means “blossoming, flourishing”.
What is the origin of the name Florence?
Florence has Latin roots. Florence comes from the Latin Florentius and Florentia, based on florens, meaning "blossoming" or "flourishing." It is also the English name of Firenze, the Italian city at the heart of the Renaissance.
Is Florence a popular name?
Yes. Florence ranked #391 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Florence a boy or girl name?
Florence is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Florence?
Florence is usually pronounced FLAW-ruhns. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings