Florence (given name)

Florence
Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) inspired the use of the name, especially in English-speaking countries.
Pronunciation/ˈflɒrəns/
French: [flɔ.ʁɑ̃s]
Genderusually Female rarely Male
Origin
Word/nameEnglish < French < Latin
Meaningblossoming in faith, in belief (mystic name)
Other names
DerivedLatin, verbs florere and florens, and masculine Roman name Florentius
Related namesFiorenza, Flo, Florance, Florencia, Florencita, Florentia, Florrie, Floss, Flossie, Flossy, Flora, Florella, Florentina, Florentine, Florian, Florina, Floria, Florinda

Florence is usually a feminine given name. It is derived from the French version of (Saint) Florentia, a Roman martyr under Diocletian.[1] The Latin florens, florentius means "blossoming", verb floreo, meaning "I blossom / I flower / I flourish". Florence was in the past also used as a translation of the Latin version Florentius, and may be used in this context as a masculine given name.

  1. ^ Albert Dauzat, Noms et prénoms de France, Librairie Larousse 1980, édition revue et commentée par Marie-Thérèse Morlet. pp. 259b–260a.