Find out how popular the first name Amalthea has been for the last 8 years (from 2016 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Amalthea by gender

Based on the last 8 years of data, Amalthea is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Amalthea.

The history of the first name Amalthea

The name Amalthea originates from Greek mythology and has its roots in the ancient Greek language. It is derived from the Greek word "amaltheia," which means "tender goddess" or "nourishing goddess." The name is associated with a mythological figure who nurtured the infant Zeus with her milk.

In Greek mythology, Amalthea was a goat-nymph or a goddess depicted as a goat. According to the legend, she nurtured the infant Zeus with her milk when his mother, Rhea, had to hide him from his father, Cronus, who was known to devour his children. Amalthea's horn was eventually transformed into the legendary Cornucopia, a symbol of abundance and nourishment.

The name Amalthea first appeared in ancient Greek texts and literature, including the works of Ovid and Callimachus. It was a popular name among the ancient Greeks, who revered the figure of Amalthea for her nurturing and maternal qualities.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Amalthea was a Sibyl, a prophetess in ancient Greek mythology. She was known as the Cumaean Sibyl and was believed to have lived in the 6th century BCE.

In the 5th century BCE, there was an Amalthea who was a historian and writer from the city of Cumae in ancient Greece. She wrote a work titled "On the Cumaean Cult," which unfortunately has been lost to history.

During the Hellenistic period, an Amalthea was a priestess of the goddess Artemis in the city of Ephesus, located in present-day Turkey. She lived around the 3rd century BCE and was known for her devotion to the goddess.

In the 1st century BCE, Amalthea was the name of a daughter of Melisseus, the king of Crete. According to Greek historian Diodorus Siculus, she was one of the nurses who cared for the infant Zeus on the island of Crete.

In the 2nd century CE, there was an Amalthea who was a Christian martyr from the city of Antioch. She was executed for her faith during the persecution of Christians under the Roman emperor Trajan.

Throughout history, the name Amalthea has been associated with nurturing, abundance, and maternal qualities, reflecting its mythological origins and connections to the nurturing figure of the same name in Greek mythology.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Amalthea was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Amalthea, please contact us.

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