Origin: |
Amelia is a form of the Old German name Amalia, derived from amal "work", or a diminutive of Germanic names containing amal, such as Amalburg. Over the centuries it has been much conflated and confused with (and perhaps even influenced by) the Latin Aemilia (Emilia), the source Emily. Though the two have the same sound, the Latin Aemilia is the feminine form of Aemilius, the name of a notable Roman gens. It has often been connected with the Latin aemulus "rival." However, the Roman gens traced it to their 'ancestor' Aemylos — from the Greek aimulos "wily, persuasive, flattering." Though the two have separate origins, Emily was often used as an anglicised or familiar form of Amelia in the 18th century. |
Usage: |
An early example of Amelia in use is Saint Amelia of Maubeuge (or Amalburga), a 7th century Merovingian saint. From then on it was in some use in Germany, and German-speaking countries**, and was brought to Britain in the Middle Ages. Its use was uncommon but it no doubt became confused with Emilia. Both forms can be found in some use in the 16th and 17th century, particularly in the South West of England. The name was sparked into popular use in Britain thanks to the Hanovarians in the 18th century when two British princesses were given the name. The first of these was Princess Amelia Sophia Eleanor (1711-1786), daughter of George II, who was the main reason for the initial revival. She was born in Hanover as a German princess, but moved to Britain when she was three years old when her grandfather George I was crowned King of Great Britain and she became HRH Princess Amelia. Amelia (known as Emily by her family) was, by all accounts, not a typical princess of her age, though she was regarded as the prettiest of her sisters. She loved music, was a bit of a tomboy, liking to ride and hunt (scandalously attending chapel in riding clothes); was highly intelligent and outspoken*; she never married (though she is said to have been the mother of composer Samuel Arnold from an affair with a commoner), and Lady Pomeroy described thus:
This Amelia was followed by her great-niece Princess Amelia (1783-1810), daughter of George III, also called Emily, who added to the name's popularity, alongside the publication of Henry Fielding's novel Amelia in 1751. By the beginning of the 19th century, Amelia had rocketed up into the top 100 in England and Wales, and, as with almost all popular names, gradually declined in use by the end of the century: 1850: #25 The name fell out of the top 100 in the 1920s, until it returned again in the 1990s. This corresponds to Leslie Dunkling's sample for girls named Amelia in every 10,000 births:
Amelia's popularity grew again in the 1980s, returning back to the top 100 in England and Wales in 1994 at #75. From that point on, it steadily marched up the top 100, reaching #10 in 2007, #5 in 2010, and #1 the following year in 2011, where it has ranked ever since. It peaked in 2012, when it went 5054 in 2011 births to 7061 births in 2012 and back down to 5570 births the following year. This corresponds to both the popularity of the character Amelia "Amy" Pond on Doctor Who and contestant Amelia Lily on The X Factor in 2011. In Scotland, Amelia was much later to catch on, ranking below the top 200 through the 1970s to the end of the 1990s. It first reached the top 100 in 2005 at #88. It quickly rose in the ranks and saw a significant leap from #29 in 2011 to #9 in 2012. It has been in the top 10 ever since. In 2015, Amelia ranked #1 in England (4,877 births), #1 in Wales (281 births) and #7 in Scotland (352 births). |
Famous Bearers: |
History: * Saint Amelia of Maubeuge (d. 690), Belgian saint. Contemporary: * Amelia Lily (born 1994), British singer. Literature and Other Media: * Amelia, title character in Henry Fielding's novel Amelia (1751). |
Variants: |
Amélie (French), Amalia (Spanish, Italian, Romanian, Dutch, German), Amálie (Czech), Amalija (Lithuanian, Slovene, Croatian) |
Pronunciation: |
ə-MEE-lee-ə [key] |
Possible diminutives: |
Amy, Ammy, Emmy, Millie, Meelie, Mia |
Sibling Names: |
Charlotte Alice Isabella Eleanor Grace Sophia |
Name Lists: |
British Royalty Gorgeously Georgian Victorian Darlings Jane Austen Names Bronte Names |
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