Does the name "Flora" sound Mexican to you?

Question

We want to call our newborn girl Flora, but some people have commented to us that it's a Mexican name. I have researched this and all I can find in spanish is "flor" or "flores" but the addition of an "a" makes it latin in orgin, NOT Hispanic. So I don't understand why people tell us this. Your thoughts?

Answer 1

Number 1: names and words that are of Hispanic origin are by definition also of Latin origin, since Spanish originates from Latin.

Number 2:(a) I have been working and living with Spanish and Latin American people for 35 years and have Peruvians in my extended family - I have never met a Spanish-speaking person called Flora, so the next time someone comments that "Flora" sounds Mexican you will be able to tell them (i) they are wrong and (ii) to get a life; and (b) what is wrong with a Hispanic/Mexican name anyway?

Number 3: The most famous Flora of all was a Scottish heroine: Flora MacDonald, born on the Scottish Isle of South Uist, helped "Bonny Prince Charlie" (Charles Stuart, the exiled claimant to the thrones of Scotland, England and Ireland) to escape from Benbecula to Skye (2 more Scottish Islands) during the summer of 1746.

Answer 2

Flora can be a Mexican (although it would be proper to say Spanish-language name)...but, if you like it, use it. Well, Spanish is a Latin-based language, so I don't understand your theory on it being a Latin name and not a Hispanic name. What do people care if you want to give a Spanish-language name to your daughter? My cousins are Mexican, and there twins have Italian names, I have Italian friends that have Spanish and English names, ....and so on.

Answer 3

People don't know the difference between mexican, latin spanish or hispanic. I like the name Flora it sounds like Flower and invokes a picture of a beautiful baby. Stick to your guns and keep the name.

Answer 4

What's wrong with a Spanish name? Just because you're not Hispanic, doesn't mean you can't name your baby Flora. If you really like the name, then use it. Don't let ethnicity get in the way. I like the name Flora too. Lots of names have crazy origins, so who knows how sure we're on that. If Flora sounds good to you, then use it. Don't hate it because it's from a different ethnicity.

Answer 5

In Roman mythology, Flora was a goddess of flowers and the season of spring. While she was otherwise a relatively minor figure in Roman mythology, being one among several fertility goddesses, her association with the spring gave her particular importance at the coming of springtime. Her festival, the Floralia, was held in April or early May and symbolized the renewal of the cycle of life, marked with dancing, drinking, and flowers. Her Greek equivalent was Chloris. Flora was married to Favonius, the wind god, and her companion was Hercules. Due to her association with plants, her name in modern English also means plant life.


Flora or Hebe, by Marie Louise Élisabeth Vigée-LebrunFlora achieved more prominence in the neo-pagan revival of Antiquity among Renaissance humanists than she had ever enjoyed in ancient Rome.

One of the fairies in the Sleeping Beauty (1959 film) is named Flora after this goddess.

***One other thing...Spanish is a Latin based language and I have found there are Hispanic women named Flora.

Answer 6

Spanish, English, and many other languages derive from the Latin language so if you want to get technical Spanish sounds Latin not the other way around so put that towards your argument and use what ever name you feel is right for your newborn daughter.

Answer 7

I don't see why it matters whether it sounds Mexican or Irish or Japanese.... if you like it, then name your little girl Flora. It's a very pretty name, and to me (I am Latina) it doesn't sound "Mexican" at all. Why do these "people" commenting care if your child has a name that sounds like it could be Mexican? If people said, 'don't name your child Tony, it sounds Italian' would you think twice???? I think these people ur referring to need to mind their own business and let you choose whatever name you want!

Answer 8

"Flora" is a Latin name, especially Italian, Portuguese or Romanian. In Spanish it's "Flor" only.

Answer 9

In academic Spanish, flora refers to the plants that form an ecosystem (it's said FLORA Y FAUNA - plants and animals). This meaning won't appear in regular dictionaries, you need a College/unabridged one.

Flora is also a variation used to name girls, as well as Flor is.

Answer 10

I have found the name Flora both in Peru (my neighbour) and in the Netherlands (one of my wedding witnesses). I think it is a very nice name.

FLORA

Latin

Meaning: Flowering

http://www.babynames.com/Names/name_display.php?id=1367