I’m wondering if people who love, say, [name_f]Zinnia[/name_f] or [name_f]Primrose[/name_f] as a girl’s name, love it in part because they love that specific flowering plant or for other reasons (they love nature and it’s a nature name, they love the sound of it, etc.).
For example, do parents choose [name_u]Elm[/name_u] or [name_u]Cedar[/name_u] or [name_u]Pine[/name_u] as names because they are trees or because of that specific tree?
Just curious.
Personally, I think of them separately. For example, I really like Primrose as a name, but they’re not my favourite flowers. But I’d still use it for my daughter if it were my favourite name! So for me, no, it’s not tied to the actual plant. I’m sure it is for some people, though.
I like them mostly just based on how they sound, but I suppose the imagery sometimes plays a small role.
Hmmm I think that I like it in part because of the sound and in part just because it is a flower. I like that they feel natural and typically lively. I don’t necessarily choose the flower first (love a good ranunculus but wouldn’t use the name).
There are some that I’ve picked the flower first and then thought of it as a name - every time we went to my grandmother’s house I just remember the yarrow everywhere and now I like it as a name.
So I like [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] and [name_u]Willow[/name_u] a lot. I think it’s a combination of things. I don’t actually love ivy or willow trees specifically but I do like nature and things that make me think about lush green foliage. [name_u]Willow[/name_u] trees are nice and unique and beautiful but my favorite tree is probably a maple (but I don’t like the name [name_f]Maple[/name_f]) or a ginkgo for their beautiful fall leaves. I do love the look of ivy but it’s more about the feeling of ivy and willow than just the plants. I also am really familiar with them both as names. [name_u]Elm[/name_u] just sounds like a tree to me. I also like [name_f]Wildflower[/name_f] as maybe a middle name because of the feeling of colors and freedom.
In contrast… I love roses but I do not love the name [name_f]Rose[/name_f] or any [name_f]Rose[/name_f] names. Maybe this is because roses feel too delicate, prickly, and requiring extra care. Roses aren’t very naturey plants for me.
So that’s my rambling facilitated by a margarita.
I also wonder how many plant and tree namers know what the plant or tree looks like.
Like two lilies: [name_f]Canna[/name_f] and [name_f]Calla[/name_f] lilies. Cannas are often large, flamboyant, brightly colored, some would say garish (I say astounding), but at least melodramatic plants whereas [name_f]Callas[/name_f] are traditionally white, elegant, quiet plants. So if I liked both, I’d wait until she was born and see if baby seemed dramatic or calm and go from there.
For me, it’s sound, but my mom gaveme a flower name because she’s a gardener and loves flowers.
Excellent question! For me, it depends/is a mixture. There are some names, like [name_f]Zinnia[/name_f], [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f], and [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], I love for the sound. Others, like [name_f]Lavender[/name_f], [name_f]Lilac[/name_f], and [name_u]Aspen[/name_u], I love because I love the plant. 
It’s a mixture of both. Some flower names I love more because I love the flower, e.g. [name_f]Heather[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f]. Some flower names I love like any other name, they just have an appealing sound and I’m not overly attached to the flower e.g. [name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_u]Yarrow[/name_u]. And in the case of [name_f]Lavender[/name_f], I adore the flower but I don’t really like it as a name.
It very much depends on the name for me?
Eg, I love [name_f]Calla[/name_f] for a girl, and I also love calla lilies, same goes for [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]. However, I adore [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] the name, but I really dislike the plant.
I think it does come down to what you said here about loving nature and it’s a nature name, because while I may not always love the exact part of nature a name represents, I do love the natural imagery/vibes that nature names in general give off, as well as the sound of the name.
This is true for me too at times.
One of my favorite plants is the rose, but [name_f]Rose[/name_f] does nothing for me (though I do love [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f] and [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f]). I like marigold and viola plants better than [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] and [name_f]Viola[/name_f] as names and I like the names [name_f]Ginger[/name_f] and Palm(er) better than the plants.
But underneath it all is, as people say, a love of nature and the outdoors and a valuing of it. I’ve read a number of times that the average American adult can only name a handful of trees and plants and more nature names may slowly change that.
Not a flower “lover,” but I would like to share my opinion.
I like flowery names based on their sound, and then based on their imagery. Sometimes I don’t even know what the flower looks like, I just like the sound of the name.