Thistle

Joining the meadow of plant-inspired names is Thistle, which is favored for girls and has Old English origins. Known as the national emblem of Scotland, the thistle is more than a weed you can find in your garden or in the wild. This hardy plant is famed for its prickly, stinging leaves and symbolizes strength, courage, and endurance. It has long been associated with chivalry, even featuring in the name of the knighthood: The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. But the thistle’s symbolism also has a more cheeky side to it that once served as a warning. During the Victorian era, giving someone a thistle was a not-so-subtle way of telling them to mind their own business. With wit as sharp as its prickles, Thistle is as clever as it is whimsical.