Amelia first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Amelia has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Amelia

A feminine name of Germanic origin meaning "industrious" or "fertile".

Popularity of Amelia by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Amelia is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Amelia being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 12,311 female babies and 7 male babies born with the name Amelia.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 7 baby boys were named Amelia in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 7 12,311
2022 13 12,333
2021 8 13,007
2020 6 12,780
2019 14 12,932
2018 9 12,385
2017 12 11,858
2016 7 10,799
2015 0 9,870
2014 9 8,803
2013 8 8,044
2012 0 7,246
2011 7 6,372
2010 0 5,464
2009 5 4,702
2008 0 4,351
2007 7 4,194
2006 5 4,065
2005 6 3,909
2004 14 3,352
2003 0 3,096
2002 0 2,444
2001 0 1,635
2000 0 1,531
1999 0 1,421
1998 0 1,424
1997 0 1,317
1996 0 1,291
1995 0 1,207
1994 0 1,254
1993 5 1,248
1992 0 1,345
1991 5 1,536
1990 0 1,513
1989 8 1,265
1988 0 1,129
1987 5 1,006
1986 5 1,018
1985 0 1,014
1984 6 1,094
1983 6 762
1982 0 832
1981 0 849
1980 0 768
1979 5 702
1978 0 643
1977 0 601
1976 0 523
1975 0 524
1974 0 507

The history of the first name Amelia

The name Amelia has its origins in the Germanic language, derived from the ancient root "Amal," meaning "work" or "labor." It first emerged in the Middle Ages, appearing in various spellings such as Amalia, Amelia, and Emilia.

In the 8th century, the name gained prominence through St. Amelia, a Benedictine nun who founded a convent in Flanders. Her devotion to charitable works and her pious life contributed to the name's association with virtue and diligence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Amelia can be found in the 12th-century French epic poem "Song of Roland," where it was used to refer to a character known as Amielia, the daughter of a Saracen king.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Amelia. In the 16th century, Amelia of Cleves (1517-1589) was a German princess who played a significant role in the Reformation. She advocated for religious tolerance and supported the Protestant cause.

During the 18th century, Princess Amelia of Great Britain (1711-1786), the second daughter of King George II, was a prominent figure at the British court and a patron of the arts and sciences.

In the 19th century, Amelia Bloomer (1818-1894), an American women's rights activist, advocated for dress reform and introduced the garment known as the "bloomer," which allowed women greater freedom of movement.

Another notable Amelia was Amelia Earhart (1897-1937), the pioneering American aviator who became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932. Her disappearance during an attempted round-the-world flight in 1937 remains one of aviation's greatest mysteries.

Amelia Opie (1769-1853) was an English author and poet who wrote extensively on social issues and was a prominent figure in the literary circles of her time.

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Amelia, reflecting its enduring popularity and the diverse backgrounds of those who have carried it.

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 Amelia was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Amelia first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 14, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/amelia-meaning-and-history/.

"Amelia first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/amelia-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 14 December, 2024

Amelia first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/amelia-meaning-and-history/.

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