Camillia

Meaning & origin

Camillia is a double-L variation of Camilla, a name with ancient Roman roots. It first appeared on U.S. birth certificates in 1932 but has never been widely used. Its peak came in 1987, when it reached its highest rank, 13,208. Since 1988, its popularity has been steadily falling, and in 2025 it was given to roughly 1 in every 267,878 newborn girls nationwide. The name's spelling may be influenced by the flowering shrub camellia, though the botanical name itself is unrelated to the Latin source. Camillia remains a rare choice, appealing to parents who prefer a more ornate version of the classic Camilla.

Camillia is a respelled variant of Camilla, which derives from the Latin 'camillus', a term for a young acolyte or temple servant in ancient Roman religious rites. The name entered English usage through literary influence, notably in Virgil's Aeneid. The double-L spelling, while less common, follows a pattern of feminine name elaboration seen in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States.