Amelia Overview
- Meaning: Amelia means ‘work’. The name also has connotations such as ‘fertile’ and ‘diligent’.
- Gender: Amelia is traditionally given to girls.
- Origin: The English take on the classic name ‘Amalia’ is Amelia. Amelia means ‘work’ and is from Germanic etymology. It doesn’t have widely spread religious connotations.
- Pronunciation: Amelia is said “uh-MEE-lee-uh” with the emphasis on the second syllable.
- Popularity: Amelia is a very popular name, and is in the USA and Australia’s top ten names for girls.
- Nicknames: Amy, Ames, Emma, Lia, Mia, Milly, Millie, and Mel.
- Variations: Amalia, Amalie, Amelie, Amelita, Ama.
- Namesakes: Amelia Earhardt is the first person that comes to mind when we say Amelia. She was a feminist, aviator, and explorer.
What Does the Name Amelia Mean?
The English take on the classic name ‘Amalia’ is Amelia. Amelia means ‘work’ and is from Germanic etymology. It is traditionally assigned to girls, though there are popular male variations.
The name has many connotations to go along with it, such as fertile, diligent, and knowledge-seeking (1).
What Is the Origin of the Name Amelia?
The name Amelia derives from the Germanic word Amal, meaning ‘work.’ Evidence shows that Amelia is not related to Aemelia, the Latin genesis for “Emily” instead. Emily has its offshoots of names and variations.
But Amelia did transition over to Latin culture to make a mark, it can be found as a common name in countries like Spain and Romania.
How Popular Is the Name Amelia?
The name Amelia is a very popular one and has been for many years. It has been consistently popular in Australia, and placed second in 2021’s top names for girls (2). It has been equally as popular in the United States and Britain.
How Do I Pronounce Amelia?
With so many vowels, it might be hard to know how to pronounce Amelia. It is said “uh-MEE-lee-uh” with the emphasis on the second syllable. The first and last A are pronounced the same way.
The most common mispronunciation would have the emphasis on the third syllable, which is “LEE.”
Is Amelia a Boy’s or Girl’s Name?
Amelia is traditionally a name for girls. However, since there are so many iterations, it also has versions that work well for boys. And hey, all names work. It just depends on what you feel fits your kid.
Variations of Amelia
Amelia has only a few variations for being so popular. Nonetheless, they get a lot of mileage. One of the most popular is Amélie due to the success of the French film—more on that later.
Other variations of Amelia include:
- Amalia
- Amalie
- Amelie
- Amelita
- Ama
Though these names are recognizable, none are quite as popular as the original Amelia.
Nicknames for Amelia
Along with the variations of Amelia are countless nicknames that come with as many syllables as Amelia has.
Some of the many include (but certainly aren’t limited to):
- Amy
- Ames
- Emma
- Lia
- Mia
- Milly (Millie)
- Mel
Similar Names to Amelia
There are also a handful of names that sound similar to Amelia or play on the original while still giving it a new spin.
Some of those similar names include:
- Adelaide
- Alexandra
- Alice
- Amanda
- Charlotte
- Clara
- Georgina
- Grace
- Eleanor
- Katherine
- Margaret
- Olivia
- Penelope
- Victoria
Middle Names for Amelia
If you don’t know how or what to pair with the name Amelia, we’ve got you covered.
Some fun, classic, and new pairings for it include:
- Avery
- Claire
- Drew
- Francis
- George
- Joe
- Michele
- Paige
- Paisley
- Penelope
- Phoebe
Sibling Names for Amelia
Similar to middle names, many names go great alongside Amelia, despite the gender.
For a brother:
- Brian
- Charlie
- Colton
- Cooper
- Eli
- Jackson
- Nicholas
- Sawyer
- Tom
For a sister:
- Charlotte
- Eve
- Isabella
- Isobel
- Joey
- Julie
- Shelly
- Sophia
Famous People Named Amelia
There have been plenty of famous people named Amelia. Perhaps the most historically significant was the First Lady of aviation exploration: Amelia Earhardt (3). But there are plenty of others.
Some of the most famous Amelias include:
- Amelia Adamo: Swedish magazine founder and editor.
- Amelia Bloomer: American feminist, founder of the newspaper “The Lily,” and popularizer of bloomers.
- Amelia Lily: A singer from England.
- Amelia Minerva Starkweather: Ateacher and writer.
- Amelia Boynton Robinson: Activist and civil rights leader from the USA.
Amelia in Popular Culture
On top of the long list of famous Amelias, are the fictional characters who don the name.
You might recognize:
- Amelia: Main character from Henry Fielding’s novel with the same name.
- Amelia: Main protagonist from the film series, Underworld. Amelia is the sole female Vampire Elder in the film series.
- Amelia Bones: Character from Harry Potter film and book series.
- Amelia Brand: Anne Hathaway’s character in Christopher Nolan’s 2014 film, Interstellar.
- Amélie Poulain: Though this one is a variation, it’s too popular not to mention from Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s film Amélie.
Amelia FAQs
There might be some other questions in your mind about the name Amelia. Let’s take a look at some.
What Is the Common Personality Type for the Name Amelia?
As the name implies, a worker, and one who sets about tasks intelligently. Problem-solving and nature are traits of Amelia. Someone who watches and takes notes before acting.
Amelia wants to know things, and they often work alone. They seek information and truth to pull back the layers of the world while remaining free-spirited.
What Is the Boy Version of Amelia?
Some male versions of the name Amelia include:
- Emil
- Emile
- Emmet
- Emery
Is Amy Short for Amelia?
It can be. But also, Amy can be a shortened version of names such as Amanda, Amelia, Amélie, or Amita.
Amy has a French spelling too: Aimée.
Is Amelia an Old-Fashioned Name?
It may be an old-fashioned name, but it’s never really gone out of style. With its beautiful rhythm, it has ranked in the top ten name spots for a long time.
So though it is old-fashioned, it never really feels outdated.
