The present city of Florence was initially founded by Julius Caesar, as a village for veterans of the roman army - way back in 59 B.C. The name was linked to goddess Flora, roman goddess of flowers in honour of whom the Roman festival of Floralia was celebrated during the spring. The name "Florentia" itself, common at the time, was a wish for good luck. Birthplace of the Renaissance, the city's dialect was established as the official Italian language… so you could say the name was just the perfect fit for a city like Florence!