Linnea

Twinflower, through the botanical name Linnaea.

Linnea is a feminine name of Swedish origin, referring to the twinflower. This woodland plant bears small, paired, bell-shaped flowers. Its botanical name honours Carl Linnaeus, giving the name both a floral image and a place in the history of natural science. The sometimes-given meaning “linden tree” belongs further back in that history: Linnaeus’s family name was formed from the Swedish word lind. The flower is the immediate link for the given name. Linnea and Linnéa are spelling forms of the same name. In Swedish, the middle syllable carries the stress and a long, steady e vowel; the final a is heard separately. The l and n sounds give it a gentle flow, and the open ending lets it linger. The flower connection adds a quiet layer to a name that does not announce its meaning in English.

Etymology: A Swedish flower name linked to Linnaea borealis, named in honour of the botanist Carl Linnaeus, also known as Carl von Linné.