Given name & surname
Flo
“a flourishing woman; a blooming flower”·“resembling a flower; one who is flourishing”
In English use, Flo is a short form of Florence. One Latin interpretation is “a flourishing woman; a blooming flower.” In French use, Flo is a diminutive of Florent. One French interpretation is “resembling a flower; one who is flourishing.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Flo is a short form of Florence. One Latin interpretation is “a flourishing woman; a blooming flower.” In French use, Flo is a diminutive of Florent. One French interpretation is “resembling a flower; one who is flourishing.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Flo is a diminutive of Flora. An origin associated with Flora is Latin. In French use, Flo is a diminutive of Florent. An origin associated with Florent is French.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English use, Flo is used as a shortened form of Florence. In English use, Flo is used as a shortened form of Flora.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1881. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Flo is a diminutive of Flora. The history of Flora gives this family its wider story. In mythological stories, Flora is associated with the goddess of flowers.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Flo through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,094
- 0 boys · 2,094 girls
- Most popular year
- 1917
- 57 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 2024. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 57 in 1917. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,532 as a first name in 2020; 272 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Flo’s family of names
In French usage, Flo is a diminutive of Florence. Flo has a related form in Flora. Flo is a short form of Florence.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Flo has relatives in 3 languages.
4 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Flo
- Flo HymanAmerican volleyball player (1954-1986)
- Flo AnkahFrench Voice Chanteuse/Actress Floanne in NYCborn 1983
- Flo Steinbergpublisher1939–2017
- Flo MorrisseyEnglish recording artist; singer-songwriterborn 1994
- Flo MounierFrench drummerborn 1974
- Flo Gennarofashion modelborn 1991
- Flo FoxAmerican street photographer1945–2025
- Flo BojajFootballer (born 1996)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Flo, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ione
“resembling the violet flower”
>99% girls
Florrie
“a flourishing woman; a blooming flower”
>99% girls
Oleta
“of the olive tree; one who is peaceful” · “resembling a winged creature”
>99% girls
Floris
“resembling a flower; one who is flourishing” · “a flourishing woman; a blooming flower”
3% boys · 97% girls
Pansy
“as delicate as a flower; a thoughtful girl”
>99% girls
Antonette
Antonette is a variant of Antonia. In Latin use, Antonia carries the interpretation “priceless and highly praiseworthy; a flourishing flower.”
>99% girls
Lilla
Lilla is a variant of Lily. One English interpretation is “resembling the flower; one who is innocent and beautiful.”
>99% girls
Lorene
“crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree”
>99% girls