The nameAmelia
Amelia is a girl's name of Germanic origin meaning "work" or "industrious". It was the top girls' name in England and Wales from 2011 to 2015.
- Girl's name
- Germanic
Meaning
Amelia comes from the Germanic element amal, "work, effort", found in names such as Amalberga. It is often understood as "industrious" or "hard-working".
Origin
Germanic, through the royal houses of Germany and Britain. It mixes Amalia, the older Germanic form, and Emilia, a Latin name of different origin.
History
The Hanoverian kings brought the name to Britain: Princess Amelia, daughter of George II, and Princess Amelia, youngest daughter of George III, both bore it. The aviator Amelia Earhart, first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1932, made it famous in America. Amelia was the most popular girls' name in England and Wales from 2011 to 2015, and in the United States it reached third place in 2024.
Did you know?
- Amelia Earhart disappeared over the Pacific in 1937 during an attempt to fly around the world. Her plane has never been found.
Famous people named Amelia
- Amelia Earhart, aviator
- Princess Amelia of Great Britain
- Amelia Bedelia, children's book character
Popularity of the name Amelia
Amelia in the United States
Amelia was most popular in the United States in the 2010s, with 93,900 births over the decade, 35% of all recorded babies named Amelia. Its rise began around 1990, and it peaked in 2021. Half of all babies named Amelia in the United States were born before 2013, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 12,675 births a year.
Amelia in the United Kingdom
Amelia was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 53,487 births over the decade, 52% of all recorded babies named Amelia. Half of all babies named Amelia in the United Kingdom were born before 2013, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 2,970 births a year on average, against 4,454 in the five years before.
Amelia in Ireland
Amelia in France
Amelia in Belgium
Amelia in Switzerland
Amelia in Austria
Amelia in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Amelia
Names from the same generation as Amelia, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Amelia? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Amelia with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Amelia side by side with the name of your choice.
Amelia in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Amelia mean?
Amelia comes from the Germanic element amal, "work, effort", found in names such as Amalberga. It is often understood as "industrious" or "hard-working".
What is the origin of the name Amelia?
Germanic, through the royal houses of Germany and Britain. It mixes Amalia, the older Germanic form, and Emilia, a Latin name of different origin.
Is Amelia a girl's or a boy's name?
Amelia is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Amelia?
In 2024, Amelia was the 3rd most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 12,740 births.
What are the variants of the name Amelia?
Variants and related names of Amelia include Amélya and Melia.
What are good sibling names for Amelia?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Charlotte, Alice, Ellie and Camila for a sister, Henry, Liam, Roman and Levi for a brother.
Who are famous people named Amelia?
Amelia Earhart, aviator; Princess Amelia of Great Britain; Amelia Bedelia, children's book character.