Gender Feminine
Usage English, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Medieval French
Pronounced Pron. /ə.ˈmiː.li.ə/(English) /ə.ˈmiːl.jə/(English) /a.ˈme.lja/(Spanish) /a.ˈmɛː.lja/(Italian) /a.ˈmɛ.lja/(Polish)
Meaning & History
Variant of Amalia, though it is sometimes confused with Emilia, which has a different origin. The name became popular in England after the German House of Hanover came to the British throne in the 18th century — it was borne by daughters of both George II and George III. The author Henry Fielding used it for the title character in his novel Amelia (1751). Another famous bearer was Amelia Earhart (1897-1937), the first woman to make a solo flight over the Atlantic Ocean.This name experienced a rise in popularity at the end of the 20th century. It was the most popular name for girls in England and Wales from 2011 to 2015.