Amber Overview
- Meaning: Amber is associated with the concepts of safety, confidence, and happiness, as well as the characteristics of sunshine and gold.
- Gender: Amber has traditionally been a feminine name.
- Origin: Amber originally comes from both the fossilized tree resin and the color of the same name.
- Pronunciation: Amber is pronounced “am-bur.” The name rhymes with the word “pander.”
- Popularity: Amber is a fairly popular name, currently sitting within the top 600 most popular names for girls in the United States.
- Nicknames: Ambear, Ambee, Amberly, Ambs, Amby, Amer, Ames, Bamber, Bams, Ember, Gem.
- Variations: Ámbar, Amberly, Amberlynn, Ambra, Ambre.
- Namesakes: Amber Benson,Amber Riley, Amber Ruffin.
What Does Amber Mean?
Amber is a classic “color name,” which is a name that originates from a color. Amber is a bright yellow-orange color and is closely associated with nature because of the fossilized tree resin known as amber, where the color’s name originates.
Amber is in the warm color spectrum and is associated with the concepts of safety, confidence, and happiness.
Amber is often compared to sunshine and gold, as it shares the same hue as both (1).
What Is the Origin of the Name Amber?
Amber originally comes from both the fossilized tree resin and the color of the same name (2).
Amber is a type of fossilized tree resin that has often been used as a gemstone in jewelry due to its natural beauty. Amber is yellow-orange, and the color is closely associated with nature.
The name became popular in many English-speaking countries because of the beautiful gemstone and color of amber.
The English word amber originally comes from the Arabic word “Anbar,” which shares the same meaning. The 1947 film “Forever Amber” made the name very popular in English-speaking countries, especially the United States. The protagonist of the film is named Amber (3).
How Popular Is the Name Amber?
Amber is a fairly recent popular name in the United States, though it has been popular in other countries such as England, Wales, and Belgium for much longer.
The name has jumped in and out of the top 1000 most popular names in the United States several times from 1880 to 1910 but stayed firmly with the 800s and 900s for ranking.
In 1945, Amber jumped back into the top 1000 and steadily grew in popularity until the late 2000s. Notably, Amber hit the rank of #13 on the list in 1986, its highest-ever placement.
Since 1986, the name’s popularity has steadily dropped, though it remains a fairly popular name and still sits in the top 600 (4).
How Do I Pronounce Amber?
Amber is pronounced, “am-bur.” The name rhymes with the words “answer” or “pander.”
Is Amber a Boy or Girl Name?
Amber has traditionally been a feminine name.
Variations of Amber
Amber has just a few variations in different languages.
- Ámbar (Spanish)
- Amberly (English)
- Amberlynn (English)
- Ambra (Italian)
- Ambre (French)
Nicknames for Amber
If you are looking for a catchy nickname for Amber that friends can use, these are some of the options people use most.
- Ambear
- Ambee
- Amberly
- Ambs
- Amby
- Amer
- Ames
- Bamber
- Bams
- Ember
- Gem
Similar Names to Amber
If Amber is inspiring to you, these other names should excite you, and many share the origin in color or gemstone.
- Amethyst
- Amy
- Hazel
- Indigo
- Jade
- Lavender
- Marigold
- Moss
- Poppy
- Rose
- Ruby
- Sapphire
- Sienna
- Violet
Middle Names for Amber
Amber works very well with classic and traditional or unique and rare middle names.
- Grace
- Harlow
- June
- Lee
- Mac
- Maeve
- Parker
- Ren
- Riley
- Rue
- Sage
- Sloane
- Venus
- Wren
Sibling Names for Amber
You can choose a sibling name that goes together well with Amber from these options we gathered.
- Amari
- Avery
- Blake
- Charlie
- Cherry
- Coral
- Dove
- Ebony
- Haden
- Hollis
- Raven
- Roan
- Ryan
- Scarlet
- Sterling
Famous People Named Amber
Many of the famous Ambers in the world come from the last century since the name did not become very popular until recently.
- Amber Benson: American actress well-known for her role in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
- Amber Heard: American actress well known for her role in “Aquaman.”
- Amber Hikes: American civil rights activist.
- Amber Riley: American actress well known for her role in “Glee.”
- Amber Ruffin: American comedian, writer, and talk-show personality/host.
- Amber Wadham: Australian video game streamer, also known as “Paladin Amber” on social media.
Amber in Popular Culture
Amber as a name for fictional characters is very common, although many would not consider it as commonplace as names like Sarah or Emily.
- Amber: a character in the video game “Genshin Impact.”
- Amber Atkins: a character in the 1999 American film “Drop Dead Gorgeous.”
- Amber Millington: a character from the American tv show “House of Anubis.”
- Amber St. Clare: the main character from the 1944 novel and 1947 film adaptation “Forever Amber.”
- Amber Volakis: a character from the American tv show “House.”
- Amber Von Tussle: a character from the stage production and 1988 film “Hairspray.”
Amber FAQs
There is always more to learn about interesting names such as Amber. So let’s look at some of the most frequently asked ones about this colorful name.
Is Amber an Old Name?
Unlike traditional names like Elizabeth or Mary, Amber was not a popular name until fairly recently. The name only rose in popularity in the late 1960s and steadily jumped in the ranking to become the #13 most popular girl’s name in the United States in 1986.
What Is the Personality of the Name Amber?
People named Amber are known to be persuasive, charming, and expressive. They are also joyful and have an outgoing nature.
What Is Another Word for Amber?
Several other words can describe the yellow-orange color of amber. Some examples are gold, sunshine, saffron, and blonde.
