Meaning: Its source is Florentia, a Latin name meaning "Flourishing."

Popularity: The name Florance ranked 2399th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.

Narrative: The most famous bearer of this name was the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale (1810-1890). This Englishwoman received her name from the city of her birth, Florence, Italy.

Known as ''the lady with the lamp,'' she led the first team of nurses to the battlefields of the Crimea in 1854. She survived a bout of fever and continued her work until the war's end. Her reputation established, she was consulted by governments all over the world, and showered with honors and accolades.