Acacia ticks many boxes: a floral name, with -ia ending, and rich vowel sounds.
And yet, she's still to be discovered by most.
|
Origin: |
Acacia is the genus name for wattle shrubs and trees. The tree was originally named Akakia by the Ancient Greek botanist Dioscorides, a name that derives from the Greek ακις (akis) "thorn, sharp point," as many acacias are thorny. In Ancient Egyptian mythology it was associated with the Tree of Life, and some believe that the burning bush that Moses saw was an acacia. In the Old Testament acacia is mentioned as the wood that made the Ark of the Covenant (Exod 25:10-22). In many different cultures the plant has traditionally been used in medicines and incense, and is still widely used in perfume. The Victorians used the acacia in floriography as a symbol for "friendship" or "platonic love". White or pink acacia flowers specifically symbolised "elegance", while yellow ones meant "secret love." |
|
Usage: |
Acacia is first found as a personal name in the late 19th century — a time when many floral names came into fashion — however, it was very rare in usage. In the 1911 census the name is listed six times (in three instances it is as a middle name). It was not used at all from from the 30s through to the 70s (there is one sole example of an Acaciar), but did start to see usage again in the 80s and 90s. The name's popularity in the last few decades has certainly been rare, but it has seen consistent usage every year since 1996. Since 2002, the name has had a count that fluctuates between 17 and 27 births. In 2010 the name #1294 with 24 births. The Acacia, or Golden Wattle, is the national flower of Australia and consequently, it has seen more usage as a name there. |
|
Pronunciation: |
ə-KAY-see-ə, ə-KAY-shə [key] |
|
Possible |
Acee, Asa, Aysha, Case, Casey, Cay, Cici |
|
Sibling Names: |
Livia Alessa Cassia Bryony Sidonie Betony |
|
Name Lists: |
|
If you like Acacia you may also like: |
