I found this name in a book today and couldn’t really get it out of my head after, haha. I like both [name_f]Flora[/name_f] and [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] but sometimes [name_f]Flora[/name_f] strikes me as a little plain, whereas [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] is kind of dated where I live, so this’d be a perfect “compromise” I think.
I can’t really find too much information on it though… One site said it was of Italian origin (I believe “fiore” means flower in Italian) while another listed it as Gaelic… another one said it was just a medieval variation spelling of [name_f]Flora[/name_f]? Apparently it was used a lot as well in 19th century [name_f]England[/name_f] and [name_f]Scotland[/name_f].
One blogger said that they liked it because despite its floral meaning it sounds fiery and spunky instead of overly sweet, and I think I agree with that. I like the nn Fi or [name_f]Fia[/name_f] for it too.
Any thoughts / opinions on it?
I love [name_f]Fiora[/name_f]! I was majorly crushing on it a while ago, too, and I loved all the same things about it that you do. I still like it, but I think right now I slightly prefer [name_f]Fiorella[/name_f] and Fiala (which is not Italian, but feels similar to [name_f]Fiora[/name_f] to me). I nearly added it to my list as [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] [name_f]Fiora[/name_f], which I still like a lot (although not as much as my current combo. :)).
I think it’s a pretty cool name. I like the sound and how it isn’t very common.
Thank you!
@ ashthedreamer: ooh I like Fiala too, I’ve never heard it before though. -ala names are so lovely but rare, the only others I know are [name_f]Nala[/name_f] (gp) and Aiala / [name_f]Ayala[/name_f] (first one is Basque, second is Israeli, I’m still wondering if they’re from the same root or not). And [name_f]Vala[/name_f], but that’s too similar to my own name…
I’m not sure it’s technically a name–it’s the Czech word for “violet”. Which is probably why I love it so much–I’m obsessed with Prague, and the color purple. haha.
I think it sounds really pretty. I think I still prefer [name_f]Flora[/name_f] though 
I love [name_f]Fiora[/name_f]. I came across it last year & have been crushing on it ever since. It’s so much spunkier than [name_f]Flora[/name_f] & not as common as [name_f]Fiona[/name_f].