The nameHortense
Hortense is a French girl's name evoking the garden. Elegant and old-fashioned, it is back in fashion in France.
- Girl's name
- Latin
Meaning
Hortense comes from the Latin Hortensius, a Roman family name linked to hortus, "garden".
Origin
Latin. According to tradition the hydrangea, hortensia in French, was named in the 18th century in honour of a woman called Hortense.
History
Hortense de Beauharnais, daughter of Empress Joséphine and Queen of Holland, was the mother of Napoleon III. The name returned in France in the 2000s and keeps rising.
Did you know?
- Queen Hortense composed the song Partant pour la Syrie, which became the unofficial anthem of the Second Empire.
Famous people named Hortense
- Hortense de Beauharnais, Queen of Holland
- Hortense Schneider, opera singer
Popularity of the name Hortense
Hortense in the United States
Hortense was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 1,794 births over the decade, 28% of all recorded babies named Hortense. Its rise began around 1883, and it peaked in 1919. Half of all babies named Hortense in the United States were born before 1920, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name.
Hortense in France
Hortense was most popular in France in the 1900s, with 2,600 births over the decade, 17% of all recorded babies named Hortense. Half of all babies named Hortense in France were born before 1991. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 405 births a year on average, against 261 in the five years before.
How many people are named Hortense? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Hortense with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Hortense side by side with the name of your choice.
Hortense in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Hortense mean?
Hortense comes from the Latin Hortensius, a Roman family name linked to hortus, "garden".
What is the origin of the name Hortense?
Latin. According to tradition the hydrangea, hortensia in French, was named in the 18th century in honour of a woman called Hortense.
Is Hortense a girl's or a boy's name?
Hortense is a girl's name.
Who are famous people named Hortense?
Hortense de Beauharnais, Queen of Holland; Hortense Schneider, opera singer.