Rising since 1987, #566 for girls today.
Popularity of Amalia since 1880
Babies named Amalia per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 140 |
| 1890s | 203 |
| 1900s | 209 |
| 1910s | 559 |
| 1920s | 905 |
| 1930s | 543 |
| 1940s | 514 |
| 1950s | 659 |
| 1960s | 711 |
| 1970s | 866 |
| 1980s | 1,057 |
| 1990s | 1,367 |
| 2000s | 1,977 |
| 2010s | 3,523 |
| 2020s | 3,245 |
Meaning & origin
Amalia has been in use since at least 1880, when it first appeared in U.S. records. It experienced a resurgence beginning in 1987 and has been rising ever since, reaching its peak rank in 2023 at 566th. As of 2025, about 1 in 3,033 girls are named Amalia. The name is particularly popular in Rhode Island, New York, and Massachusetts. Its Germanic root meaning 'work' connects it to a long lineage of royal and saintly bearers, while its use as a variant of Amelia or Naomi gives it additional historical depth. The name's soft, melodic sound fits well with other popular names like Emilia and Zara.
Amalia derives from the Germanic root *amal- 'work', with cognates in Old Norse Amleth (later Hamlet). It was a royal name in medieval Europe, borne by saints and nobility. In some uses, it is also used as a variant of Amelia or as a form of the Hebrew name Naomi, meaning 'pleasantness' or 'bitter', especially via the Spanish and Portuguese Amalia (from Amalía).
Where Amalia is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Amalia” around the world
Where Amalia lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
305
babies in 2024
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
Quebec
8
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Amy, Malia, Molly, Mia, Lia
Sibling names for Amalia
Names that share Amalia's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Amalia
Names whose popularity has moved with Amalia's over the last 50 years.
