The Baby Name Wizard

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Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Florence!

Comments and insights on the name Florence: | Edit

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Personal experiences with the name Florence: | Edit

My maternal great-grandmother was named Florence Belle. Her sisters were Edith, Nancy and Margaret. Her husband was Charles. Her children were Jesse, Roberta and Dale (girls) and Joseph, James, Harold, Herbert, and Keith (boys).
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What a coincidence! My maternal grandmother's name was Florence Belle as well! She was a beautiful woman with bright red hair, and a knack for linguistics (I loved it when she read Dr. Seuss's "Fox in Socks" to me as a child). She was a missionary in both China and Japan and lived a fruitful, godly life. She was well-loved by everyone who knew her. Her husband's name was Art and she had six children (Carol, Bob, Rick, Aileen, Joy, Loren).

Nicknames for Florence: | Edit

Flo, Flossie, Florrie, Flora, Ren

Meanings and history of the name Florence: | Edit

From the Italian city, heart of the Renaissance. This name became popular due to the fame of Florence Nightingale, who was born in Florence and named for the city of her birth. (She had a sister named Parthenope, the ancient name for the city of Naples, where she was born.)

It is also from the latin for "blooming".

Famous real-life people named Florence: | Edit

Florence Nightingale, English nurse and reformer
Florence Henderson, American actress and singer
Florence Ballard, American singer and member of the Supremes
Florence Kling Harding, First Lady and wife of Warren G. Harding
Florence King, American author
Florence Mills, American actress of the Harlem Renaissance period
Florence Welch, lead singer of Florence + The Machine
Florence Cameron, British Prime Minister David Cameron's daughter

Florence in song, story & screen: | Edit

Florence Johnson, maid from the TV series "The Jeffersons", played by Marla Gibbs
Florence + The Machine, British band