Amilcar

Meaning & origin

Amilcar is a rare masculine name with ancient Phoenician roots, most famously associated with the Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca. In the United States, it first appeared on the Social Security rolls in 1957 and has remained a low-frequency choice ever since. Its peak rank occurred in 2006, when it reached position 4,539, and as of 2025 it maintains a similar standing, with about 1 in 77,640 boys receiving the name. The name's trajectory has been stable over recent decades, never experiencing a dramatic surge or decline. While it is not concentrated in any particular state, its usage is most common among families with Iberian or Latin American heritage, where the variant Amílcar is more familiar. Despite its obscurity in the Anglophone world, Amilcar carries the weight of classical history and a distinctive, resonant sound.

Amilcar is the Latinized form of the Punic name 𐤇𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤓𐤕 (Ḥmilkart), meaning 'brother of Melqart' or 'friend of Melqart', Melqart being the chief god of Tyre. The name was borne by several Carthaginian generals and statesmen, most famously Hamilcar Barca, father of Hannibal. In modern usage, the name is particularly common in Portuguese and Spanish-speaking countries, often spelled Amílcar.