Girl, earlier also a man's name · Latin · International

Florence

Say it FLOR-unss

Meaning: Flourishing, blooming (Latin Florentia, from florens, floreo) Lewis & Short, s.v. floreo
Say it: FLOR-unss
Other spellings: Florencia, Florentia

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Florence

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Florence meaning

Florence is an international girl's name of Latin origin.

Flourishing, blooming (Latin Florentia, from florens, floreo)

Florence comes from Latin Florentia, built on florens, "blooming", from the verb floreo. Lewis and Short's dictionary gives floreo as to bloom, blossom and flower, and figuratively to prosper and flourish. Florentia was also the Roman name of the city we call Florence. Its best-known bearer is Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of modern nursing, who was named after the Italian city where she was born in 1820; she later became the leading campaigner for better sanitation and public health in India. It shortens to Flo or Florrie.

Source: Lewis & Short, A Latin Dictionary (1879), s.v. floreo · entry flōrĕo · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Lewis & Short, floreo (alatius.com) · Wikipedia, Florence Nightingale