75 Romantic Rose Names for Girls That Put a Twist on the Perennial Favorite

If you love the name Rose but think it’s too ubiquitous, there are so many Rose name alternatives out there for you to choose from. In the US, Rose is one of the most popular flower baby names ever. It was most popular at the beginning of the 20th century when it peaked as the 14th most popular baby name for girls. It hasn’t traveled too far since then, remaining near the top for the majority of decades. In the most recent data, Rose ranked as the 116th most popular name for girls.

Rose is also a very popular middle name choice today, becoming a go-to for celebrity parents like Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Garner. Any excuse is a good one to choose a Rose name but if you are expecting a baby girl in June, the rose would be her birth flower, making the name even more appropriate. Now, let’s discover some Rose alternatives for you to fall in love with!

Most Popular Rose Name Alternatives in the US

• Rosa – A top 60 name in the US at the turn of the last century, Rosa is a Latinate form of Rose meaning that it is very popular in countries where Romance languages are spoken.
• Rosalie – Rosalie is the French form of Rosalia (put a pin in this name). The name peaked in popularity in the late 1930s but it could best that position in the next year or so as it is on an upward trend.
• Rosemary – Rosemary is an attractive herb name that means “dew of the sea.” The name was most popular in the US in 1946 but it still remains firmly in the top 500 today.

More Popular Rose Alternatives

• Rosie – An English nickname for Rose, Rosie was a highly favored option as a given name until the 1960s. It’s quietly making a comeback today landing in the top 500 once more for the first time in almost 60 years.
• Roselyn – Roselyn was frequently found in the US top 1000 in the early twentieth century until it dropped off the charts in 1954. It didn’t return until 2003. The name means “pretty rose.”
• Rosalia – A name commonly used in Spain and Italy, Rosalia refers to the annual Roman ceremony of hanging garlands of roses on tombs. This name is currently catching fire thanks to the popularity of the Spanish recording artist Rosalía.

Unique and (Mostly) Uncommon Rose Alternatives

• Bellerose – A name of French and English origin that means “beautiful rose.”
• Larose – A name of French and English origin that means “the rose.”
• Melrose – A name of Scottish origin that means “bald promontory.”

More Unique Alternatives

• Primrose. – An English flower name that means “first rose.”
• Rosabel – An English name that means “beautiful rose.”
• Rosalba – A name of Latin origin from the phrase “rosa alba,” meaning “white rose.”

Uncommon Rose Name Alternatives

• Rosalind – A name of Spanish origin that means “beautiful rose.”
• Rosalita – A name of Spanish origin that means “little rose.”
• Rosamel – A unisex name of Spanish and French origin that means “rose and honey.”

More Offbeat Alternatives

• Rosamund – A name of German origin that means “horse protector.”
• Rosanna – A combination name from Rose + Anna, meaning “rose + grace.”
• Rosaura – A name of Spanish/Latin origin that means “golden rose.”

Even More Unique Options

• Rosanne – A combination name of Rose + Anne, meaning “rose + grace.”
• Rosella – A diminutive form of Rosa or an Australian flower name.
• Rosemonde – An alternative form of Rosamund, from German, meaning “horse protector.”

More Underused Names

• Rosenwyn – A name of Cornish origin that means “white rose.”
• Rosetta – A name of Persian origin that means “splendid.”
• Rosina – A name of Latin origin that refers to the flower.”

Distinctive Alternatives

• Rosita – A Spanish diminutive form of Rosa.
• Rosmerta – Rosmerta is a Gallo-Roman goddess of fertility, abundance, and prosperity.
• Tearose – An English plant name.

International Rose Names to Consider

• Bara – A name of Japanese origin that refers to the flower.
• Briallen – A name of Welsh origin that means “primrose.”
• Bryluen – A name of Cornish origin that refers to the flower.

More International Picks

• Garance – A unisex French color and botanical name. Rose madder is a pigment taken from the madder plant that Garance describes.
• Golnar – A name of Persian origin that means “pomegranate flower.”
• Laksha – A Hindi name that means “white rose.”

Rose Names from Around the World

• Mawar – A name of Bahasa and Urdu origin found in Indonesia today, meaning “rose.”
• Meilin – A name of Chinese origin that means “beautiful rose” or “beautiful gem.”
• Nasrin – A name of Persian origin, meaning “wild rose.”

Even More Rose Names from Foreign Languages

• Raisa – A name of Yiddish origin that refers to the flower.
• Raizel – Another Yiddish name that refers to the flower.
• Rhoda – A name of Greek origin that refers to the flower.

Even More Names of Foreign Origin

• Rhosyn – A name of Welsh origin that refers to the flower.
• Rhoswen – A name of Welsh origin that means “white rose.”
• Roisin – A name of Irish origin that means “little rose.”

RELATED: 25 Flowery Names for Girls Inspired by Nature’s Little Beauties

More Names from Other Languages

• Ros – A name of Latin origin that means “pretty rose.”
• Roza – A Polish and Russian form of the name Rosa.
• Rozenn – A Breton Name that refers to the flower.

Even More Internation Names

• Sarnai – A name of Mongolian origin that refers to the flower.
• Vered – A Hebrew name that refers to the flower.
• Zahra – An Arabic name that means “flower.”

Names of Rose Varieties

• Albertine – A French, female form of Albert, meaning “noble.”
• Alexandra – A name of Greek origin that means “defender of men.”
• Amber – An English word and color name.

More Rose Varietal Names

• Belle – A name of French origin, meaning “beauty.”
• Beverly – An English habitational name that means “dweller near the beaver stream.”
• Cecile – A French, feminine form of Cecil, meaning “blind.”

Even More Names for Varieties

• Charlie – An English diminutive form of Charles, meaning “free man.”
• Diamond – A gem name.
• Dorothy – An English form of the Greek name Dorothea, meaning “gift of God.”

There Are So Many Varieties

• Elina – A multilingual short form of Helen, meaning “shining one.”
• Elizabeth – A name of Hebrew origin that means “pledged to God.”
• Elle – A name of French origin, meaning “she.”

Names Inspired by Varieties

• Emerald – A gem and color name of Persian origin that means “green.”
• Gemma – An Italian name, meaning “gem.”
• Ginger – An English diminutive form of Virginia, meaning “pure.”

More Special Names

• Gloriana – A name of Latin origin that means “glory.”
• Honey – A sweet, English word name.
• Ingrid – A name of Norse origin that means “fair” and “Ing is beautiful.”

Even More Varietal Names

• Joy – An English word name.
• Julia – A name of Latin origin that means “youthful.”
• Lara – A Russian short form of Larissa, meaning “citadel.”

Names for a Hint of Flower Connection

• Lucy – An English form of Lucia, meaning “light.”
• Pearl – A gem name of Latin origin.
• Roxanne – A name of Persian origin that means “dawn.”

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Final Varietal Names

• Susie – A diminutive form of Susan, from Hebrew, meaning “lily.”
• Sylvia – A name of Latin origin, meaning “of the forest.”
• Victoria – A name of Latin origin, meaning “victory.”

Now you know all of the best Rose names for girls out there. There are just so many excellent alternatives to Rose that it might be hard to choose just one. Well, we’re here with even more flower names to share with you for even more baby name inspiration. Check out some chic French flower names worth considering below.

French Flower Names for Girls

Anémone

Anémone is a French name that is derived from an ancient Greek myth. The myth centers around the love story of Aphrodite and Adonis. Aphrodite transforms her wounded lover’s blood into a flower, the crimson anemone, whose soft blooms are blown open by the wind, giving the flower its other name: windflower. The myth also gives the name its meaning, “daughter of the wind.” You will want to pronounce this one as the French do: ah-NEM-oh-nee.

Fleur

One of the most straightforward French flower names, Fleur is simply the French word for “flower.” It’s been in use as a given name since the 1970s but it has never ranked in the US top-1000 names for girls. Despite it lacking popularity here, Fleur is one of the most popular baby names for girls in Belgium and The Netherlands today. You will also encounter the name in England much more often than you do stateside.

Daphné

Daphné with the accent is the French form of a Greek name that means “laurel tree.” The name takes its meaning from Greek mythology. Daphne was a nymph who was saved from her creepy father, Apollo, a river god, transforming her into a laurel tree. Laurel trees or Bay trees are prized for their small white or pink blooms. Without the accent, the appellation is a top-500 choice in the US and it is an evergreen favorite in France.

Garance

Garance is a unisex French name that we love equally for girls and boys. The name describes the “madder flower” which is an intense shade of red. The flower itself is small and rounded and the color of the blooms is so vivid that Garance also names its unique shade of red. The name is a trendy one in France today but it has gone virtually unused in the US. You can change that!

Reine

Pronounced the same as “ren,” Reine names the reine-des-prés which is a wildflower commonly known as meadowsweet in English. Despite it being a name for a wildflower, this name actually has an orderly meaning in “queen.” The name was popular in France in the first half of the 20th century but it has since fallen from favor. Rescue this gorgeous appellation from the brink and introduce it to American ears.

Marguerite

The French form of Margaret, Marguerite means “pearl”. It is a classic  French name for a variety of daisies. That makes this flower name one of the most subtle on this list. It’s a very chic and posh choice in France today but it was given to fewer than 100 girls in the US last year. We think this charmer deserves more from new parents today in the US. 

Rose

Rose is a hugely popular name for girls in France today. Rose is derived from the Latin rosa, which referred to the flower. The French put their spin on it to give us the name and word, Rose, today. The name has always been a top-500 name in the US but its popularity in France is a new phenomenon. While Marguerite offers subtlety, Rose is very much straightforward.

Rosalie

Pretty Rosalie harkens back to the Rosalia festivals, the annual Roman ceremony of hanging garlands of roses on burial sites. Rosalia comes from Latin but the Rosalie spin is a French invention. Rosalie has long been popular in France and that’s pretty much true for the US as well. Today, it’s a top-200 option for baby girls. If Rose does not smell sweet enough for you, Rosalie will do the trick.

Liana

Liana has been quietly on the rise in the US since the 1970s. Today, it’s a top-500 choice for girls. Liana refers to a tropical, flowering vine. Thus, Liana means “to climb like a vine.” This delicate-sounding name with its gentle meaning could prove a winning combination for your baby girl.

Bettany

Bettany is a name of French and English origin that means “betony.” Betony is an herb, a flowering shrub that often features purple blooms. Bettany is the perfect alternative to the dated Bethany or the overly-used appellation Brittany. We love the idea of the nickname Bett for this one.

Rue

You can slice the name Rue in a couple of different ways. As a Latin name, it belongs to an herb that was prized by the Ancient Romans. In French, the name means “street” or “path.” It also is a word that means “regret” in English (from Latin as well). The appellation is one of the flower names that has an attractive single syllable that so many new parents are after today.

Lilou

Lilou is a charming, scarcely heard import. It is derived from Occitan, a language spoken in Provence, in the south of France, in which the suffix “ou” denotes a pet form — thus, Lilou is a short form of Liliane or its Occitan form Liliana or Liliano. Each of those longer names as well as the shorter one refer to the “lily.” This name is pronounced lee-loo, which is just adorable. The French think so too. It’s a top-20 name in the country today.

Iolanthe

Pronounced yo-lan-thuh, Iolanthe is a French flower name for girls that comes from Greek, meaning “violet flower.” It’s actually the French answer to Yolanda. Mildly popular in Europe today, Iolanthe has gone virtually unused in the US. We think it deserves a better shake!

Violette

If Iolanthe was too much of a mouthful to you, consider Violette, another French name that was derived from Greek that refers to the color and flower, “violet.” The name is pronounced with a long E-sound as vee-oh-let. Surprisingly, the name was popular in the US through the 1920s but fell out of the top 1000 by the 1930s. It finally staged a return here in 2020 landing back on the list for the first time in almost 100 years. With Violet also on the rise today, Violette would be a great alternative.

Suzanne

Suzanne is a French name from Hebrew, meaning “lily.” Suzanne is viewed as a retro pick along with its sister name, Susan. The name fell out of favor by the 1990s in the US. It’s been on the opposite trajectory in France where it is now seen as one of the most fashionable choices for baby girls today.

Capucine

Pronounced cap-oo-SEEN, Capucine is a chic French flower name that means”nasturtium.” It is one of the most stylish names in France and Belgium today. Although it is highly familiar to French speakers, most Americans have likely never encountered this treasured appellation.

 Liliane

We mentioned this name in passing when discussing Lilou but we think it deserves some attention as well. This name means “lily” and is the French form of Lillian. Liliane is not as popular as Lilou is in France today and it has never been widely used in the US. It’s a more established choice than Lilou and makes up for the sophistication that Lilou lacks.

RELATED: 25 Flowery Names for Girls Inspired by Nature’s Little Beauties

French Flower Names for Boys

Lupin

Now, French flower names for boys. As we mentioned, Garance is a unisex name and we just wanted to put that here in case you scrolled past it to get to the boy names. Lupin is a French name from the Latin root, lupus, meaning “wolf.” Lupins, as plants, reward gardeners with candy-colored blooms.

Florimond

Florimond is another French name from Latin and its components translate to “flowery mountain.” The name was a mildly popular choice in the US in the earliest part of the 20th century but it goes unused these days. If you’d like to bring back this vintage delight, go for it!

Ferréol

Ferréol is an undiscovered possibility in the US today. The name belongs to a grape varietal and contains elements from Latin that mean “iron” and “a grape variety.” The name belongs to a wine region in France but most Americans have never heard of it.

Hyacinthe

Hyacinthe is a French name of Greek origin that once referred to a purple gem but it is more commonly used today to name a bulbous flowering plant with fragrant blooms. This name is a unisex option in Europe. In fact, the name was traditionally only given to boys for decades before flipping to being almost exclusively to girls, to the consideration that it is gender-neutral today.

Anicet

Anicet is a French name that is derived from both Greek and Latin naming traditions. Depending on how you look at it, the name means “invincible” or “anise.” That second botanical meaning is the one we are after as it refers to an herbaceous plant that is used as a flavoring across the Middle East and beyond. Anicet is rare even in its homeland of France. That makes this one a really unique and distinguished option.

Florestanis

Florestanis might seem like a name we just made up but it is, indeed, an established appellation in France. For instance, its cousin name, Florestan, names Florestan I who was Prince of Monaco between 1841 and 1856. It’s an ancient French name that was derived from Latin and those roots mean “a garden of flowers.” This name is a rare choice in France and is virtually unknown by most Americans.

Saule

Saule looks and sounds a whole lot like the Hebrew name Saul, but it is derived from different roots. This French name is the word for a “willow tree.” Willow trees have long been associated with the moon and with magic. Those qualities give this name an inspired feel. Now, this name is undoubtedly going to get mixed up with Saul for parents in the US but if you are fine with correcting folks, it could be a great option for your family.

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Ambroise

Ambroise is a French name from the Greek word, ambrosia. Ambrosia was considered the food of the Olympic gods and it means “immortal.” According to myth, ambrosia offered eternal life to anyone who consumed it. Ambroise is given to about 200 boys each year in France but in the US it is very rare. The name also belongs to a flowering plant with showy purple-veined and white flowers. 

There you go! We hope you found a French flower name that is fitting for your baby. They are so wonderfully chic in every way. If you liked these names but want to discover even more nature-inspired names, keep reading for appellations that celebrate the great outdoors.