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Florence
So I read "Jude the Obscure" not that long ago, and Sue Bridehead's full name was Susanna Florence Mary. It got me thinking about Florence, and how much I used to hate it, but now I'm kind of liking it. WDYT of Florence? What type of person do you see, what would you pair it with, and if you see names in colors, what color is it? I'm seeing a mild forest green. "What matters most is how well you walk through the fire." -Charles Bukowski
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I don't always see colors for names but, for me, Florence is always green and the first thing I think of is lush leafy green foliage. Second to come to mind are pictures of the city I've seen. I imagine a kind, helpful, healing sort of person. Florence Helena is currently my favorite Florence combo, but I haven't played with the name all that much. Generally, I avoid pairing names that are "red" to me with "green" ones. Weird glitch I have for some reason.

This message was edited 1/2/2014, 12:57 PM

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Along with Nightingale, Henderson, + the Machine, and the Progressive ad lady, I picture my fourth grade Sunday school teacher, who just died, she was in in her 90's. I also named a character in a story Florence, nn Flor. She introduced herself as Flor, but needed a full name, since she wasn't Hispanic and her parents were more conventional, but she isn't.
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I see Florence Nightengale and the city
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Toothpaste blue-green.
I think it no longer brings to mind a little old lady, and is ready to be used on kids, fashion-wise. I'm not sure I like it, though. As a name for an American it seems vaguely to evoke Europe, like Milan or Geneva or Paris, or even Laurence or Clemence - which is kinda not my style.I think it sounds fairly demure like Edith but also a little hard like Mabel or Thelma. Um, floor. The sound of it in my mind fires the "linoleum" neurons faster and louder than it fires the "bouquet" neurons. There's something about the feeling of FL-R sounds together ... it feels funny, loud and goofy like a raspberry. Maybe because of the Toy Dolls song I listened to growing up, "Florence is Deaf," where he hollers "Florence!" over and over.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJDR-SHisJQBut I think if I met someone named Florence I'd think it was a nice sturdy feminine name, along the lines of Edith or Helen.

This message was edited 1/1/2014, 7:52 PM

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You think you see toothpaste colors because of "fluoride"?
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Maybe! Weird. I thought it was the -ence part that felt the most aqua blue, but you never can tell. I imagine the fluor in fluoride sounding slightly different... flu-ur-ide rather than flawr-ide, but I think I actually say it flawr- like Florence. And the word fluoride to me is more transparent green, not pastey blue like Florence. But, maybe it's related, I can't deny it.
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I think Florence is a lovely name, but I do prefer it for a mn, as I don't like the idea of the nn Flo being used. My maternal great-great grandmothers name was Ada Florence, which I find ridiculously beautiful!
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I know of a baby named Florence, age about 6 months.Pronounciation is French, though. I don't much like it in English, but it's quite nice in French.
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I dislike it. It sounds old fogey. I think of Flo from the Progressive commercials mostly. Trying to get her out of my mind, I think of an old woman who has a knitting addiction and a pair of rhinestone cat eye glasses that she refuses to part with. She wears bright red lipstick that gets on her teeth. For colors, Florence is a murky aqua color with a brown edgey swirliness to it. Not unpleasant but just sort of... off.
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I've never liked Florence. I don't like the sound or the look. It reminds me of Florence Nightingale and Florence Henderson, neither of which are bad associations, so that doesn't factor in to my dislike. It's sky blue, since you asked.Florence Mary
Florence Catherine
Florence GeorginaThomasina Florence
Hermione Florence
Sarah Florence
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Florence is a green name for me too, all F names are green for me :) It's not a favourite of mine, but I do like it. I actually associate it with the Italian city, which is somewhere I'd love to visit.Florence Emily
Florence Isobel
Florence Hannah
Florence Maria
Florence Emma
Florence Agnes
Florence Vera
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I like it, though I prefer Flora, and I think I might use that on a future child to honour my sister.
I do think of Florence + the Machine, but that's not a bad association. I see a very friendly person, open-minded and creative, funny and with a kind of hidden beauty. Colour: I see a very rich red-violet colour.
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I like Florence. I used to dislike it. It's growing on me and becoming quite popular here and I'm sure it'll rise much higher.I'd probably put it with something like Florence Isabella, Florence Evelyn, Florence Eva, Florence Rose (I know Rose is overused as a mn!), Florence Rosa, Florence Lily or Florence Lydia.I see a gentle but strong-minded person. I don't see really names in colours but I get the green thing.
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Florence Lily and Florence Evelyn are cool. :)
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I like Florence. I feel like it needs some kind of nickname though, but I have no idea of what that would be...
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Flor
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Ren, maybe? I hate Flo. Reminds me of periods.
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I want to like Florence, but I don't. I think it's spunky and smart, but I just don't think it rolls off the tongue well.Florence Anneliese
Florence Angelie
Florence Morrigan
Florence Averill
Florence Josephine
Florence Olivine
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Olivine is interesting. I like the way it flows. :)Florence Averill is also pretty.

This message was edited 1/1/2014, 9:37 AM

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For me it's yellow. Kind of a "greying yolk" yellow. It's ok as a MN but I'm just not that crazy about it. I love Flossie but Florence feels so lumbering but sickly weak.
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Really? It's the opposite with me. Flossie seems weaker than Florence, but that's JMO.

This message was edited 1/1/2014, 9:37 AM

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Flossie is weak, but self-admittedly so. It's a nn so I don't mind the flimsiness of it, in fact I expect it. With Florence there's more of an expectation of it to be complete and sturdy in and of itself, but to me it's just not, so its "weakness" is less forgivable
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I wouldn't use it, and I wouldn't want to be named Florence but I think it is a pretty name. I think of an elegant older lady with very good taste and a warm, genuine personality.Jessica Florence?Florence Diana?
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I like the modern-yet-dated Jessica paired with the hopelessly-old-fashioned Florence. Kind of works.
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