Given name & surname
Amelia
“one who is industrious and hardworking”
Amelia has a literary landmark in Henry Fielding’s novel of 1751, whose heroine bears the name. Its formation is less definite: one explanation brings together the Latin-rooted Emilia and the Germanic Amalia families.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Amelia has a related form in Amalia. One German interpretation is “one who is industrious and hardworking.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Amelia is an English name with a proposed blended origin, joining Emilia with the Latinized Germanic name Amalia. That account remains a hypothesis rather than a settled single-language derivation.
How it developed
One explanation treats Amelia as a cross between Emilia and Amalia. The resemblance to both names is part of the proposal, but the precise stages by which the spelling developed remain uncertain.
The story
Henry Fielding used Amelia for the heroine and title of his 1751 novel, giving the name a clear eighteenth-century literary association. Its earlier development is less certain.
Amelia through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 281,414
- 284 boys · 281,130 girls
- Most popular year
- 2021
- 13,049 babies
- 2025
- 12,705
- #4 for girls · #10,771 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +4%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 12,699 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 4.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 6 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (1,370). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 176,472 as a first name in 2020; 180 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Amelia’s family of names
In English usage, Amelia has a diminutive in Amy. In English usage, Amelia shares a linguistic root with the Latvian form Amālija. In German usage, Amelia has a related form in Amalia.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Amelia has relatives in 17 languages.
19 related names in 17 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Milliediminutive · English
- Amydiminutive · English, German
- Emmydiminutive · English
- Amaliavariant · English, German
- Melinadiminutive · Asturian
- Amelievariant · German, übersetzungen umleiten
- Meliadiminutive · Asturian, English
- Amalievariant · German, Danish
Show 3 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 4
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 19
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 6
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Amelia
- Amelia EarhartAmerican aviation pioneer and author (1897–1939)
- Amelia BloomerWomen's rights activist (1818–1894)
- Amelia VegaDominican model and Miss Universe 2003born 1984
- Princess Amelia of Great BritainPrincess of Great Britain (1711-1786)
- Princess Amelia of the United Kingdomdaughter of King George III of the United Kingdom (1783–1810)
- Amelia EdwardsEnglish novelist, journalist, traveller and egyptologist (1831–1892)
- Amelia WarnerBritish composer and former actressborn 1982
- Amelia BenceArgentine film actress (1914–2016)
- Amelia OpieEnglish writer, novelist, abolitionist (1769-1853)
Characters named Amelia: Amelia Watson (English-language virtual YouTuber), Amelia Shepherd (fictional character on the ABC American television medical drama Private Practice), Amelia Bedelia (the Amelia Bedelia children's picture book series).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Amelia, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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