Amelia is a feminine given name. Its English form was likely influenced by the names Amalia, derived from the Germanic root ''amal'', with meanings "vigorous, active, work", and Emilia, derived from the name of the

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...

Aemilia gens The gens Aemilia, originally written Aimilia, was one of the greatest patrician families at ancient Rome. The gens was of great antiquity, and claimed descent from Numa Pompilius, the second King of Rome. Its members held the highest offices ...

. The name of the gens is likely derived from the

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

word ''aemulus'', meaning ''

rival A rivalry is the state of two people or Social group, groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship. Rivalry is the "against each other" spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called "a rivalry", and each ...

''. The name Amelia has been associated with both names, as well as with the name Emily, also derived from Emilia.

Popularity

The name has been popular in the

Anglosphere The Anglosphere, also known as the Anglo-American world, is a Western-led sphere of influence among the Anglophone countries. The core group of this sphere of influence comprises five developed countries that maintain close social, cultura ...

and throughout Europe in the 21st century, as well as in other countries. Its increase in popularity has been attributed to an

elegant Elegance is beauty that shows unusual effectiveness and simplicity. Elegance is frequently used as a standard of tastefulness, particularly in visual design, decorative arts, literature, science, and the aesthetics of mathematics. Elegant t ...

image and associations with American aviator

Amelia Earhart Amelia Mary Earhart ( ; July 24, 1897 – January 5, 1939) was an American aviation pioneer. On July 2, 1937, she disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to become the first female pilot to circumnavigate the world. During her li ...

, as well as a similarity in sound to previously popular names such as

Amanda Amanda is a Latin feminine gerundive (i.e. verbal adjective) name meaning, literally, "she who must (or is fit to) be loved". Other translations, with similar meaning, could be "deserving to be loved," "worthy of love," or "loved very much by ev ...

, Amy, and Emily, and to having the fashionable ''ia'' ending of other popular names Sophia and Olivia. All make the name seem "different but not too different." In 2022, in the United States, the name Amelia was given to 12,333 girls, making it the fourth most popular name. It was also the fourth most popular name given to girls in Canada that year.

Notable people

Amalberga of Maubeuge Saint Amalberga of Maubeuge (also Amalia, or Amelia of Lobbes or Binche) was a Merovingian nun and saint who lived in the 7th century. Narrative Amalberga's father was Saint Geremarus. She was born in Brabant. She is said to have been the ni ...

(died 690), Saint Amelia, early medieval saint *

Princess Amelia of Great Britain Princess Amelia of Great Britain (Amelia Sophia Eleonore; 10 June 1711 (Old Style and New Style dates, New Style) – 31 October 1786) was the second daughter of King George II of Great Britain and Caroline of Ansbach, Queen Caroline. Born in ...

(1711–1786) *

Princess Amelia of the United Kingdom Princess Amelia (7 August 1783 – 2 November 1810) was the fifteenth and last child and sixth daughter of King George III the United Kingdom and his wife, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. She was their third child to die before them. Early ...

(1783–1810) *

Amelia Adamo Amelia Adamo (born 24 February 1947) is a Swedish journalist. She established several women's magazines and worked as an editor-in-chief. Biography She was born in Rome, Italy, and went to Sweden soon after her birth. She received a degree in so ...

(born 1947), Swedish magazine founder and editor * Amelia Adams, Australian journalist, news presenter, producer and reporter * Amelia Andersdotter (born 1987), Swedish politician * Amelia Barbieri (1918–2016), Italian nurse, midwife, and lay missionary * Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr (1831–1911), English novelist * Amelia Bauerle (1873–1916), British painter, illustrator, and etcher * Amelia Beauclerc (1790–1820), British Gothic novelist *

Amelia Bloomer Amelia Jenks Bloomer (May 27, 1818 – December 30, 1894) was an American newspaper editor, women's rights and temperance advocate. Even though she did not create the women's clothing reform style known as bloomers, her name became associa ...

(1818–1894), American feminist, started the newspaper ''The Lily'', popularized

bloomers Bloomers, also called the bloomer, the Turkish dress, the American dress, or simply Victorian dress reform, reform dress, are divided women's garments for the lower body. They were developed in the 19th century as a healthful and comfortable a ...

Amelia Bullmore Amelia Mary Bullmore (born 31 January 1964) is an English actress, screenwriter and playwright. She is known for her roles in ''Coronation Street'' (1990–1992, 1995), '' I'm Alan Partridge'' (2002), '' Ashes to Ashes'' (2008–2009), '' Twenty ...

(born 1964), English actress * Amelia Cass (born 1999), British para-cyclist * Amelia R. Coats (1877–1967), American printmaker *

Amelia Crowley Amelia Crowley is an Irish actress and stand-up comedian. She is known for playing Fiona Piggott on RTÉ's ''Fair City'', Deirdre Mallon in ''Derry Girls'', and for her theatre work in the UK and Ireland. Career Crowley has made film appeara ...

(fl. 1995-), Irish actress * Amelia Dimoldenberg (born 1994), English journalist and comedian *

Minnie Driver Amelia Fiona Jessica "Minnie" Driver (born 31 January 1970) is a British and American actress and singer. She rose to prominence with her break-out role in the 1995 film ''Circle of Friends (1995 film), Circle of Friends''. She went on to star i ...

(born Amelia Fiona J. Driver, 1970), English actress *

Amelia Dyer Amelia Elizabeth Hobley (1837 – 10 June 1896), popularly dubbed the Ogress of Reading, was an English serial killer who murdered infants in her care over a thirty-year period during the Victorian era.

(1837–1896), English serial killer *

(1897–1937), American aviator and feminist * Amelia Robles Ávila, known as Amelio Robles Ávila (1889–1984), colonel during the Mexican Revolution * Amelia Rose Earhart (born 1983), American pilot and news anchor *

Amelia Edwards Amelia Ann Blanford Edwards (7 June 1831 – 15 April 1892), also known as Amelia B. Edwards, was an English novelist, journalist, traveller and Egyptologist. Her literary successes included the ghost story ''The Phantom Coach'' (1864), the nov ...

(1831–1892), English novelist, journalist, traveler and Egyptologist *

Amelia Gentleman Amelia Sophie Gentleman (born 1972) is a British journalist. She is a reporter for ''The Guardian'', and won the Paul Foot Award in 2018 for reporting the Windrush scandal. Early life and education Born in London in 1972, Gentleman is the da ...

(born 1972), British journalist * Amelia Gething (born 1999), English actress and writer * Amelia S. Givin (1845–1915), American businesswoman, philanthropist * Amelia Elizabeth Roe Gordon (1852–1932), British-born Canadian social reformer * Amelia Gray Hamlin (born 2001), American actress, daughter of Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin *

Amelia Henderson Amelia Thripura Henderson (born 20 October 1995 in Selangor) is a Malaysian-British actress, television presenter, YouTuber and model. Early life Amelia Thripura Henderson was born in Klang, Selangor, Malaysia, and she is the daughter of a Mala ...

(born 1995), Malaysian-British actress, presenter, YouTuber and model * Amelia Hertzówna (1879–1942), Polish writer and cultural historian * Amelia Horne (1839–1921), British memoir writer * Amelia Mary Irvine (1866–1950), Irish author who wrote as A. M. Irvine * Amelia Meath (born 1988), American musician, songwriter, producer, and dancer * Amelia Keane, American politician * Amelia Kemp, English footballer * Amelia Kyambadde (born 1955), Ugandan politician, philanthropist and Women's activist * Amelia Lambrick (1864–1956), Australian public servant * Amelia Lewsham (c. 1748 – after 1797), Jamaican woman with albinism, enslaved and exhibited as the "White Negress" in London, subjected to examination * Amelia Lily (born 1994), English singer * Amelia Heinle Luckinbill (born 1973), American actress * Amelia Okoli (1941–2017), Nigerian high jumper * Amelia Opie (1769–1853), English author and abolitionist * Amelia Peláez (1897–1968), Cuban painter * Amelia Perrier (1841–1875), Irish novelist and travel writer * Amelia Piper (1796–1856), American former slave and abolitionist * Amelia Rajecki (born 2002), British tennis player *

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes Amelia Holt Atwater-Rhodes (born April 16, 1984), known professionally as Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, is an American author of fantasy and young adult literature and a Language Arts/Literature teacher at Learning Prep School in West Newton, MA. She wa ...

(born 1984), American author *

Amelia Boynton Robinson Amelia Isadora Platts Boynton Robinson (August 18, 1905 – August 26, 2015) was an American activist and supercentenarian who was a leader of the American Civil Rights Movement in Selma, Alabama, and a key figure in the 1965 Selma to Montgom ...

(1911–2015), American activist and civil rights leader * Amelia Solar de Claro (1836–1915), Chilean poet, playwright and essayist * Amelia M. Starkweather (1840–1926), American educator and author * Amelia Peabody Tileston (1872-1920), American Red Cross worker * Amelia Warren Tyagi (born 1971), American businesswoman, management consultant, and author * Amelia Walsh (born 1992), Canadian cyclist *

Amelia Vega Amelia Vega Polanco (; born 7 November 1984) is a List of people from the Dominican Republic, Dominican actress, model, author, singer and beauty queen. At the age of 18, she won the Miss Universe 2003 pageant, becoming the first ever Miss Univ ...

(born 1984), Miss Universe 2003, from the Dominican Republic * Amelia Warner (born 1982), English actress * Amelia B. Coppuck Welby (1819–1852), American poet * Lady Amelia Windsor (born 1995), English model * Amelia Kempshall Wing (1837–1927), American author and philanthropist

Fictional characters

*Title character in Henry Fielding's novel ''Amelia'' (novel) * Amelia Jones, one of the main characters in ''

Power Rangers Dino Fury ''Power Rangers Dino Fury'' are the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth seasons of the American television series ''Power Rangers''. The first season premiered on Nickelodeon in the United States on February 20, 2021, and concluded on December 18, 20 ...

'' and '' Power Rangers Cosmic Fury'' *Title character in '' Amelia's Notebooks,'' a series of books by Marissa Moss *Naughty Amelia Jane, doll antiheroine of a children's book series by

Enid Blyton Enid Mary Blyton (11 August 1897 – 28 November 1968) was an English children's writer, whose books have been worldwide bestsellers since the 1930s, selling more than 600 million copies. Her books are still enormously popular and have been tra ...

* Amelia (Underworld), the only female Vampire Elder in the ''Underworld'' film series * Amelia Bedelia, title character in books by Peggy Parish * Amelia Bones, in the ''Harry Potter'' series *Amelia Bonetti, character portrayed by

Giulietta Masina Giulia Anna "Giulietta" Masina (; 22 February 1921 – 23 March 1994) was an Italian film actress best known for her performances as Gelsomina in ''La Strada'' (1954) and Cabiria in '' Nights of Cabiria'' (1957), for which she won the Cannes Fi ...

in the 1986 film '' Ginger and Fred'' by

Federico Fellini Federico Fellini (; 20 January 1920 – 31 October 1993) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He is known for his distinctive style, which blends fantasy and baroque images with earthiness. He is recognized as one of the greatest and ...

*Amelia Brand, in the 2014 film ''Interstellar'', played by

Anne Hathaway Anne Jacqueline Hathaway (born November 12, 1982) is an American actress. List of awards and nominations received by Anne Hathaway, Her accolades include an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime ...

*Amelia Gabble, an English goose in the 1970 animated film ''

The Aristocats ''The Aristocats'' is a 1970 American Animated film, animated comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution. It is directed by Wolfgang Reitherman and written by Ken Anderson (animator), Ken Ander ...

'' *Amelia Louise McBride, title character in the graphic novel series ''

Amelia Rules! ''Amelia Rules!'' is the title of a comic book series written and drawn by Jimmy Gownley. ''Amelia Rules!'' follows the life of Amelia Louise McBride as she adjusts to life in a new town after her parents' divorce causes her to leave life in Man ...

'' by Jimmy Gownley *Amelia "Milly" Michaelson, a character in 1986 American fantasy drama film '' The Boy Who Could Fly'' *Amelia Murgatroyd (nicknamed Amy), minor character in the 1950 novel ''

A Murder Is Announced ''A Murder Is Announced'' is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie, first published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club in June 1950 and in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in the same month. The UK edition sold for eight shillings an ...

'' by Agatha Christie *

Amelia Peabody Amelia Peabody Emerson is the protagonist of the Amelia Peabody series, a series of historical mystery novels written by author Elizabeth Peters (a pseudonym of Egyptologist Barbara Mertz, 1927–2013). Peabody is married to Egyptologist Radcli ...

, the main character in a series of mystery novels by Elizabeth Peters * Amelia "Amy" Pond, companion of the Eleventh Doctor in the television series ''Doctor Who'' *Amélie Poulain from

Jean-Pierre Jeunet Jean-Pierre Jeunet (; born 3 September 1953) is a French film director and screenwriter. His films combine fantasy, realism, and science fiction to create idealized realities or to give relevance to mundane situations. Jeunet debuted as a direc ...

's French comedy film ''

Amélie ''Amélie'' (, , ) is a 2001 French-language romantic comedy film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Written by Jeunet with Guillaume Laurant, the film is a whimsical depiction of contemporary Parisian life, set in Montmartre. It tells the story ...

'' *Amelia Sachs in the Lincoln Rhyme Series, written by Jeffrey Deaver, played by Angelina Jolie in the movie version of '' The Bone Collector'' *Amelia Sedley, in the novel ''Vanity Fair'' by William Thackeray *

Amelia Wil Tesla Seyruun The ''Slayers'' light novel series features a cast of characters created by Hajime Kanzaka and illustrated by Rui Araizumi. It follows the adventures of teenage sorceress Lina Inverse and her companions as they journey through their world. Using ...

, in the anime ''Slayers'' * Amelia Shepherd, a neurosurgeon in the TV medical dramas ''

Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series focusing on the personal and professional lives of surgical internship (medicine), interns, residency (medicine), residents, and attending physician, attendings at the fictional ...

'' and '' Private Practice '' * Princess Amelia Thermopolis, commonly called "Mia", main character in '' The Princess Diaries'' book series by Meg Cabot * Amelia Voght, a Marvel Comics character in the X-Men franchise *Amelia Von Butch, a treasure hunter and main antagonist in the 2005 animated film '' Scooby-Doo! in Where's My Mummy?'' *Amelia, in the TV series ''

Rubbadubbers ''Rubbadubbers'' is a British stop-motion children's television series produced by HIT Entertainment, with animation production by Hot Animation. The series was broadcast in the UK on BBC2 and CBeebies from 2 September 2002 to 14 February 2005. ...

'' *Amelia Hughes, the first season antagonist of the 2019 animated series ''

Infinity Train ''Infinity Train'' is an American animated television series created by Owen Dennis. , four seasons totalling forty episodes have aired, plus an additional series of ten short webisodes. The series is set on a gigantic, mysterious and seemingl ...

'' *Captain Amelia, in the 2002 film ''

Treasure Planet ''Treasure Planet'' is a 2002 American animated science fiction film, science fiction adventure film directed by John Musker and Ron Clements and written by Musker, Clements and Rob Edwards (screenwriter), Rob Edwards. Produced by Walt Disney ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amelia (Given Name) English feminine given names German feminine given names Italian feminine given names Feminine given names Czech feminine given names Slovak feminine given names Scandinavian feminine given names English-language feminine given names

Popularity

Notable people

Fictional characters

See also

References