View Message

Very interesting column!

---

It also confirms my theory that most common English flower and/or nature names were initially coined because they sounded similar to previously existing given names. Heather sounds natural in English due of its phonetic similarity to Hester/Hesther/Hettie.

---

(There are other categories: Lily, Rose, Violet, and Olive were inspired by older (nick) names: Lilian/Elizabeth, Rohese/Rosamund/Rosalind, Violante/Viola/Yolande, Olyff/Oliver/Olivia.)

---

May/Mary
Daisy/Maisy (Margaret)
Pansy/Tansy (Constance)
Poppy/Polly (also short for Penelope)
Ivy/Iris/Ivan/Ivor/Iva/Eva
Hazel/Mabel
Ginger/Gin/Ginny
Holly/Molly
Jade/Jane
Scarlett/Charlotte
Amber/Ambrose

---

less common...
Juniper/June/Jane/Jennifer
Dahlia/Delia/Dolly
Magnolia/Maggie/Margaret
Marigold/Mary
Amaryllis/Amara/Amy/Amphelise
Cataleya/Catherine
Myrtle/Martha?/Mabel?
Ruby/Rosy

---

This might explain why other names like Hyacinth, Tulip, Lilac, and Bluebell never quite became as popular (though Bluebell could have become popular as part of the Isabel/Annabel/Amabel/Dulcibel/Christabel group) - their sounds were less familiar to English speakers :)