Ivy

A stone wall in late October, the leaves turning glossy and stubborn as winter sets in — ivy is the plant that refuses to quit, and in medieval symbolism it stood for fidelity and enduring love. The name stayed quiet in English use until the Victorian nature-name revival, then disappeared again for most of the twentieth century before returning with a gothic, cottagecore glamour. It now sits at rank 36 in the United States. Two syllables, spare and a little witchy, with a long opening vowel that feels almost sung. A short name that reads tall on the page, suited to a child with serious eyes.