Orchid Genus Names

General Name Discussion
1

I was doing some research on orchids and was pleasantly surprised when I came across some of the genus names. There are a lot of them, but here are some of the more wearable ones (some more than others!) I included pronunciations where I could. So if you want lesser-known floral names, here you go:

Acineta (a-sin-EE-ta)- from the Greek word ‘akinetos’ (immobile)
Aerangis-from the Greek words ‘aer’ (air) and ‘angos’ (urn)
Aerides ([name]AIR[/name]-i-deez) (ah-ER-i-deez)
From latinized Greek “aer” air; “eidos” similar. From the “airy” epiphytic growth habit
Aganisia- named after the Greek word ‘agnos’ (gratitude),
[name]Arethusa[/name] (a-reh-THEW-za)-named after a naiad of Greek mythology, also called the Dragon’s Mouth [name]Orchid[/name]
Barlia
Caladenia (kal-a-[name]DEE[/name]-nee-a)-from the Greek words calos (meaning beautiful) and aden (meaning glands)
[name]Calanthe[/name] (kal-AN-thee)
Caleana
Coelia
[name]Calypso[/name]-takes its name from the Greek signifying concealment. I always thought this was a beautiful name!
Clowesia
Coryanthes
Disa (DYE-sa)-named after Disa, the heroine of a Swedish legend, by the botanist [name]Carl[/name] [name]Peter[/name] Thunberg.
Encyclia-name comes from Greek enkykleomai (“to encircle”)
Eria (EAR-ee-a)
Evotella
Eulophia (yew-LOH-fee-a)-derived from the Greek words “eu” (well) and “lophos” (plume)
Gavilea
Habenaria
Isabelia (iz-a-[name]BELL[/name]-ee-a)
[name]Laelia[/name] ([name]LAY[/name]-lee-ah )-probably named after [name]Laelia[/name], one of the Vestal Virgins. Another possibility is the name borne by female members of the [name]Roman[/name] patrician family of Laelius. [name]LOVE[/name] this one!
Ludisia
Luisia-named by [name]Charles[/name] Gaudichaud-Beaupré in 1829 for [name]Luis[/name] de Torres, a Portuguese botanist.
Lycaste (lye-[name]KASS[/name]-tee)
Maxillaria-from the Latin word maxilla, meaning jawbone. Perfect for honoring a [name]Max[/name], without using [name]Maxine[/name]!
Miltonia (mil-TOH-nee-a)-They are named after [name]Lord[/name] [name]Fitzwilliam[/name] [name]Milton[/name], an English orchid enthusiast
Peristeria-from the Greek word peristerion meaning “from dove”
Serapias-named after Serapis, a syncretic Hellenistic-Egyptian god in [name]Antiquity[/name]
Stelis-Greek word for ‘mistletoe’
Stolzia
Sutrina
Thaia
Trevoria-name is in honor of Sir [name]Trevor[/name] [name]Lawrence[/name], a former president of The [name]Royal[/name] Horticultural Society.
[name]Vanda[/name] ([name]VAN[/name]-da)
Yoania
Zeuxine

[name]Ida[/name] and [name]Ada[/name] are also included, but I thought they may be too normal for this list.

2

Thanks for this! It’s quite interesting!

Eria stands out to me the most. It reminds me of another favorite, [name]Aria[/name].

3

Here are the one’s I could go for:

Barlia - nn could be barley!!
Caladenia - Might go for [name]Cala[/name] instead of the whole word here.
Disa -[name]Lovely[/name] sounding name. I might start crushing on it.
Encyclia - Very close to encyclopedia but I’m geeky enough to consider it for a mn.
Eria - Looks passable as a real name even if one would have to correct the pronunciation all the time.
Evotella - Sounds like a name out of a book. Can’t decide if it would be on a good guy or a bad guy!
Isabelia - With all the other [name]Isabel[/name] variations out there this one would fit right in!
[name]Laelia[/name] - Would fit in well with all the double L sound names.
Ludisia - also has a literary feel to it. Definitely a good guy.
Miltonia - could we pass it off as a female version of [name]Milton[/name]?
Serapias - Has a masculine feel to it to me for some reason.
Stelis -Sounds like a stellar name with a down to earth botanical meaning.
Sutrina - Sounds like a name to me! Might be my favorite of the bunch.
Thaia - I like the look of it but how would this be pronounced? I want to say it like [name]Gaia[/name] with a “th.”
Trevoria - If I had a [name]Trevor[/name] to honor I might consider this name.
[name]Vanda[/name] - seems familiar. Like [name]Vanna[/name] or [name]Velma[/name].

4

I’m glad you enjoyed it!

I’m actually intrigued by Disa (but the DYE-sa pronunciation is what I like…unfortunately everyone would probably pronounce it like [name]Lisa[/name]) and Stelis, but both would sound awful with my last name. I would totally use [name]Laelia[/name], and I agree that Evotella sounds like a name from a book!

5

I like [name]Laelia[/name] and Evotella!

6

I adore Aerides!

7

Some lovely names here! Thanks for sharing, [name]Villette[/name]!

I like…

Acineta
Aerides
[name]Arethusa[/name]
[name]Calanthe[/name]
Disa
Eria
[name]Laelia[/name]
Stelis
Thaia