Ambra
A feminine name of Italian origin meaning "ambergris", a fragrant substance.
Name Census estimates that about 851 living Americans carry the first name Ambra. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ambra today is around 39 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ambra births was 1981 (63 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ambra. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
851
~ 1 in 402,767 Americans
Peak year
1981
63 babies that year
Average age
39
years old
2020 SSA rank
#12,228
Tracked since 1952
Popularity
Ambra: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ambra from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 408 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ambra by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ambra during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ambras live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Texas, California, Arkansas recorded the most babies named Ambra, while Washington, Ohio, Arkansas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 26 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ambra
The name Ambra is derived from the Italian and Latin word "ambra," which means "amber." It is a feminine name that has its origins in the Mediterranean region, particularly in Italy. The earliest recorded use of the name Ambra dates back to the Renaissance period in Italy.
Amber, the fossilized tree resin, has been a prized gemstone since ancient times and has been associated with various cultural and religious traditions. The name Ambra may have been given to newborn girls in Italy as a symbol of beauty, warmth, and radiance, much like the glowing qualities of the amber gemstone.
In medieval and Renaissance Italy, the name Ambra was occasionally used by noble families and members of the aristocracy. One notable figure bearing this name was Ambra Battista da Genova, an Italian painter and miniaturist who lived in the 16th century. She was renowned for her intricate and delicate works of art.
Another historical figure with the name Ambra was Ambra Tornielli, an Italian noblewoman who lived in the 15th century. She was the daughter of Gian Giacomo Tornielli, a prominent noble from Novara, Italy.
In the 17th century, Ambra Amore was an Italian composer and singer who gained recognition for her vocal works and compositions. She was active in the musical circles of Naples and Rome during her lifetime.
Moving into the 19th century, Ambra Sommariva was an Italian writer and poet who published several collections of poetry and literary works. She was born in Milan in 1830 and her works reflected the cultural and political climate of her time.
In more recent history, Ambra Angiolini is an Italian actress, singer, and television personality who rose to fame in the late 20th century. Born in 1977, she has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and theater productions, earning critical acclaim for her versatile performances.
While the name Ambra has its roots in Italy and the Italian language, it has also been adopted and used in other cultures and regions around the world, reflecting the universal appeal and beauty associated with the amber gemstone.
People
Ambra + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ambra as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ambra: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ambra?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 851 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ambra going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 402,767 US residents.
Is Ambra a common name?
We classify Ambra as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 906 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ambra most popular?
The single biggest year for Ambra was 1981, when 63 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ambra is about 39 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ambra a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ambra in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.