Purple Mountain Majesty

 

As February comes to a close, I’m reminded of the things the month means to me:  Valentine’s day, finding out that I was going to become a mother for the first time, and my own mother.  This is Mama’s birth month, and I’ve spent many hours trying to figure out how I might honor her in some way.  Her birthstone is Amethyst, her flower the violet (and sometimes Iris).  All of these things come in a purple hue.  So in remembrance of the color of passion, royalty, and my mom, I present purple names.  

 

Amaranth- Both a medicine and a poison

Amethyst- One of the funniest meanings I’ve yet to come across: in Greek this translates to “not drunk”; February’s birth stone

Aster- Rita’s daughter on Dexter may inspire a few?

Berry- Makes for darling middle if you have this in your family tree

Crocus- Crocodile meets locust?  Well, they come in purple anyway.

Dahlia- A name I like to champion; underused in my opinion

Daphne- means “laurel” in Greek

Freesia- Frigid or freeing?  You decide.

Fuchsia- Pleasing to the ear, but a devil to spell!

Glory- For morning glories

Hibiscus- This one would really need a workable nickname.  Try Ibby on for size.

Hyacinth- Anyone remember “Keeping Up Appearances”?  Hyacinth’s character may not be the best namesake, but she sure made us laugh.  Her sisters are the upper class Violet, the cartoonish down-and-out Daisy, and the sex-addicted Rose.

Indigo- So this leans a little bluish;  it’s making inroads on both sexes

Iolanthe- Greek for “violet”

Iris- Top of the pop amongst those in the know, also has the lovely meaning “rainbow” in Greek

Jacinda, Jacinta- From the Latin for “hyacinth”

Laurel- Who brings with her Laura, Laurence, Lawrence, Lauren

Lavandula- The genus for lavender

Lavender- I heard this on a real life girl and found it charming

Lilac- One with real potential, but few seem to consider it

Lydia- Said to be a “seller of purple”, which may mean that she sold cloth and other goods to royalty and the wealthy

Magenta- My favorite Rocky Horror Picture Show gal, and Blue’s cousin from Blue’s Clues

Mauve- A cross between Maeve and Maude

Myrtille- “Blueberry” in French

Orchid- Though this is one of the loveliest of flowers, take caution that its meaning derives from orchis, or ”testicle” in Latin

Periwinkle- My favorite Crayola, Perry makes this *almost* usable (but not quite)

Pansy- Due to connotations, this may be better left in the middle or on your kitten

Plum- Plum Sykes is the best known bearer, but this has real potential

Primrose- Too prim for most, it sets just the right sweet British-inflected tone for others

Primula- The primrose genus

Prune- Evidently quite chic in Paris, this is actually the French word for the ripe plum

Rose- Roses come in nearly every shade, my favorite perhaps being lavender 

Thistle- Reservations with this one as it rhymes with bristle

Uva- While Uva could be just a step away from Ava, know that it means “grape”

Verbena- The sweetest little flower

Violet, Violetta, Violette, Viola- Let’s not forget about Violet’s equally sweet and underappreciated companions

Wisteria- I once met child sisters Primrose, Wisteria, and Violet

This is Just to Say



I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast.

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold.
- William Carlos Williams