Florence

Florence bears the name of a city, a Latin root, and a nurse who changed medicine. From florens, blooming or prosperous, it was the city of the Medicis before it was the name of Nightingale, and it was Nightingale who gave it to a generation of Victorian girls. After decades of quiet, Florence has returned with full vigor, now near 435 in the U.S. and booming in the U.K., boosted by Florence Welch's cathedral-sized vocals and a general revival of botanical, city, and vintage names. Two syllables, soft and stately. Nicknames include Flo, Flora, Florrie. A name blooming on cue.