New Plant Names On the Rise

The nineteenth century marked significant changes in the naming world. Words connecting to plants became given names, especially for girls. In 1900, Rose, Hazel, Myrtle, Daisy, and Olive all ranked within the girls' top 100. 

Today, while old-fashioned plant names come back, new plant names are on the rise for boys and girls alike. One of them, Willow, entered the top 100 this past decade. Perhaps some of these contemporary plant names are unisex. Here are some examples:

Briar

Briar isn't just the name of a thorny bush, but it's also known as the original sleeping beauty. 

Rowan

This unisex Irish name is also a tree name. 

Sage

Sage is the name of a spice. That's similar to a plant name, right.   

While plenty of rising nature names are unisex, many others are gendered. Yet, they're still tailored. Here are some feminine plant names on the rise:

Aspen

Aspen has been gradually rising since the 1990s. It's not only a new tree name, but it's also a ski resort in Colorado. That association gives Aspen a rustic vibe. 

Juniper

Juniper sounds like an update to Jennifer and an elaboration of June at once. 

Meadow

A rising name since the early 2000s and connecting to a grassland, Meadow makes a great less-popular alternative to Willow. 

Willow

Willow is the most popular of all the tree names for girls. Perhaps it sounds like a modern feminization of William. 

For boys, few plant names rank exclusively for that sex. Forest ranks on the fringes, but it has history expanding at least a century. However, other new nature names are rising for that sex. I will cover these names in another post. 

Anyway, what are your favorite contemporary plant names?

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