Poppy

♀ Girl

Pronounced POP-ee /ˈpɒpi/High

Meaning: The poppy flower; from Latin papaverHigh

In 30 seconds: A vivid English flower name meaning 'poppy.' Bright, bold, and endearingly cheerful, Poppy has become one of the most beloved girls' names in the United Kingdom — a name full of energy, colour, and a touch of wild beauty.

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Origin HighEnglish, Latin

MeaningThe poppy flower; from Latin papaver

U.S. rank (2025)#292 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births1,054 girls (0.06% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2023

Total births (all-time)≈ 9,531

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Poppy is an English botanical name from the Old English popæg and ultimately from the Latin papaver (poppy). The poppy flower has been cultivated since antiquity — it appears in ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art — and became associated with sleep, dreams, and remembrance. Red poppies became a worldwide symbol of Remembrance after World War I.

As a given name, Poppy is strongly associated with the United Kingdom, where it entered the top 5 girls' names in the 2010s. In the United States it has been growing rapidly, driven by British cultural influence and the broader botanical name revival.

Did you know? The poppy became a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers after World War I, inspired by John McCrae's poem In Flanders Fields (1915) — giving Poppy a layer of poignant meaning beneath its cheerful surface.

Overall data confidence 97%

Behind the Name — Poppy — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

Poppi

Nicknames

Pop

Famous Bearers

★Poppy Montgomery (1972–present)
Australian-American actress known for the TV series Without a Trace and Unforgettable.

If you like Poppy…

Daisy— English flower name with the same bright, joyful, British botanical charm

Rosie— warm English flower diminutive in the same beloved top-tier U.K. floral category

Violet— botanical name in the same vintage-revival wave with the same vivid colour character

Flossie— bubbly vintage English nickname with the same playful, irresistible energy

Frequently Asked

What does the name Poppy mean?

Poppy is an English botanical name from the poppy flower, ultimately from Latin papaver. It also carries symbolic meanings of sleep, dreams, and remembrance.

How do you pronounce Poppy?

It is said POP-ee /ˈpɒpi/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Poppy a boy or girl name?

Poppy is used almost exclusively as a girls' name.

How popular is Poppy?

Poppy is in the U.K. top 10 for girls and has been rising steadily in the U.S. top 300.