JanuaryBirth Flower

Hello January! The month after all the sparkly festive celebrations of Christmas. The weather is cold, we’re kicking off our New Year resolutions and some are partaking in dry January. It’s no wonder we talk about the ‘January Blues’. But hold up, before we all start getting too glum, don’t forget there is still plenty to celebrate.

If you know someone celebrating their birthday in January, start off by letting them know that they’re pretty unique. Did you know that January, on average, is the second least likely month to be born? If you’re looking to bring a ray of sunshine to their January birthday, consider giving them a gorgeous bouquet of their birth month flower.

What is the birth flower for January?

OK, let’s start off with this whole birth flower thing. If you’ve not heard of it before, your birth month flower is a bit like your star sign. Every month of the year has two flowers which represents the month you were born (apart from November which for some reason only has one).

Your birth month flower is often the bloom found growing at the time of year when you were born. But hold on, not much is growing in January, right? Well, this is where you are wrong. Even in one of the coldest and darkest months, there are some pretty tough blooms making an appearance. That’s why the first birth month flower for January is the amazing snowdrop.

One of the first flowers to pop up in the new year, with their delicate white heads, snowdrops are an unmistakably welcoming sight. When they start peeking through the ground, it’s a clear sign that spring and warmer days will soon be with us. Although a common sight across the countryside in January, this flower isn’t a British native. In fact, it originally came from mainland Europe and didn’t head to our shores until the 16th Century.

For such a delicate flower, this one has some interesting stories behind its name. Although stories say that snowdrop is linked to the fact it can grow in the snow, its name has believed to have come from the German word to describe teardrop pearl earrings - Schneetropf. Taking it further, it’s scientific name is Galanthus Nivalis. Galanthus comes from two Greek words meaning ‘milk’ and ‘flower’ while Nivalis is from the Latin for ‘snow’.

Okay, so technically you won’t find carnations growing in the UK in January, but this flower does represent the warmth and affection of those born in this month. This beautiful flower has been around for more than 2,000 years and originally came from the Mediterranean.

It’s believed that the name for this flower came from the Latin ‘carnis’ which means flesh – probably a lot to do with the fact the first flowers were in a pink colour. Today, we have a lot more choice in colour with these flowers available from white all the way through to darkest red.

Meaning behind January birth flower

So, you know that this month has two birth flowers, but which one is the best one to choose as a birthday present for someone born in January?

One thing we do know is that anyone born in January is an incredibly hard worker. A bouquet of carnations would work well for this lot – the name of this flower does translate into ‘flower of the gods’!

You can’t forget the beauty of the stunning carnations either which makes them perfectly suited to anyone born in late January. With its wide availability of unusual colours, just like Aquarians it is all about being quirky, independent and free-spirited. This flower can also work well for our Capricorns who have a unique sense of style.

The classic carnation has been a firm favourite since the Victorians first started popping them in their vases. Go for this flower in red, and it’s all about love, and represents Capricorn's high standards when it comes to romance.

However, that’s no reason to forget the tenacious snowdrop. After all, as a flower that can grow in some of the coldest months, this one represents the ability to overcome challenges. Just like Capricorns, the snowdrop is a natural leader who likes to take on new beginnings but also has the independent side of Aquarians. Let’s be honest, snowdrops like to bloom when all the other flowers are still waiting for the warmer weather!

There’s one other snowdrop trait that perfectly suits anyone born later in January and that’s the fact it loves to be in amongst a group. You can’t miss the clusters of these flowers hanging out together in the woodlands.

January flower names

Are you expecting a baby in January? Fancy some floral inspiration for the name? You’re in luck because some beautiful flowers are growing in this month which have equally delicious names.

Why not start off with Pansy? This one is a traditional name that has unfortunately fallen out of favour in recent years. It’s a real shame, especially when you realise that the name Pansy one comes from the French word ‘pensee’. Directly translated it delivers the incredibly delicate meaning of ‘thought’. If you do choose this name, you’ll certainly be unique as there were no births recorded last year for this one. If you wanted something a bit more popular, you could go with Pandora.

Another old-fashioned favourite is Viola, a name which is slowly winning back our hearts. Not surprising when you realise that this flower means innocence, modesty and decency. The perfect sentiments for your newborn.

If you fancy something a little more popular, why not go with Rose? OK, so we know that these flowers are blooming in the summer months but this one comes from a winter favourite, Hellebores. Although not actually from the same family, is often known as Christmas Rose. Blooming throughout January they are simply beautiful and are associated with peace and tranquillity.