Camilla and Camila are feminine given names. They originate as the feminine of camillus, a term for a youth serving as acolyte in the ritual of ancient Roman religion, which may be of Etruscan origin.[1]

Camilla
Pronunciation/kəˈmlə/ kə-MEE-lə
/kəˈmɪlə/ kə-MIL
GenderFemale
Origin
Meaning"acolyte" (young cult officiant);[1] a Latin cognomen
Jamila, "Beauty" in Arabic
Queen Camilla at the coronation of King Charles III in 2023.
Singer Camila Cabello.

Hypocorisms of the name include Milly, Millie, and Milla.

History edit

The name Camillo is the Italian male version of Camilla. Camillus came to be used as a cognomen in Rome, and Camilla would be the feminine form of this cognomen from a period when cognomina had become hereditary clan names. The most notable bearer of this name in Roman history is Marcus Furius Camillus (c. 446 – 365 BC), who according to Livy and Plutarch, triumphed four times, was five times dictator, and was honoured with the title of "Second Founder of Rome". In the Aeneid, Camilla was the name of a queen of the Volsci who was given as a servant to the goddess Diana and raised as a "warrior virgin" of the Amazon type.

In the English-speaking world, the name was popularized by Fanny Burney's novel Camilla of 1796.

Popularity edit

The name, with the spelling Camila, has been particularly popular among Spanish speakers.[2] [3] Camila was among the five most popular names for Hispanic newborn girls in the American state of Virginia in 2022 and again in 2023.[4] [5]

People with the given name Camilla edit

People with the given name Camila edit

People with the given name Ćamila edit

People with the given name Kimila edit

Fictional characters edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Camilla". Online Etymology Dictionary.
  2. ^ https://nameberry.com/blog/spanish-names-trending-in-the-us
  3. ^ Evans, Cleveland Kent (22 May 2023). "Evans: A Look at the Top Baby Names of 2022". omaha.com. Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Virginia Department of Health's Office of Vital Records Announces Top Fifteen Baby Names of 2022, Other Interesting Virginia Birth Data".
  5. ^ "Virginia Department of Health's Office of Vital Records Announces Top Baby Names of 2023, Other Interesting Virginia Birth Data". 6 February 2024.