1. I think of how dated it is before I think of the plant, which ruins it for me. The only way I could see it more modern is if its paired with an equally modern nature name so that people think of it as the plant and not as a dated name. For example,
Heather Wren, etc. But it still doesn't work because most people would just go by
Heather and not both so you still run into the dated issue.
2. I hate
Heaven. To me, its tacky and given to kids who are expected to die after birth. I can't even think of a way to modernize it. People tried
Nevaeh but we know how that went over.
3. Yes!