Girl · #13,441 in 2026

Amarillis

Amaryllis is the only genus in the subtribe Amaryllidinae. It is a small genus of flowering bulbs, with two species. The better known of the two, Amaryllis belladonna, is a native of the Western Cape region of South Africa, particularly the rocky southwest area between the Olifants River Valley and Knysna.

Current Rank
#13,441
Peak Rank
#10,393 (1980)
Total Babies
10
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1980
First Year
1993
Last Year
1980
Peak Year
#10393
Peak Rank
10
Total Count
2
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Amarillis

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Amaryllis is the only genus in the subtribe Amaryllidinae. It is a small genus of flowering bulbs, with two species. The better known of the two, Amaryllis belladonna, is a native of the Western Cape region of South Africa, particularly the rocky southwest area between the Olifants River Valley and Knysna.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
The name Amaryllis is taken from a shepherdess in Virgil 's pastoral Eclogues , (from the Greek ἀμαρύσσω , amarysso , ' to sparkle ' ). Although the 1987 decision settled the question of the scientific name of the genus, the common name 'amaryllis' continues to be used differently. Bulbs sold as amaryllis and described as "ready to bloom for the holidays" belong to the allied genus Hippeastrum . The common name "naked lady" comes from the plant's pattern of flowering when the foliage has died down. This name is also used for other bulbs with a similar growth and flowering pattern; some of thes

The Story of Amarillis

Amarillis first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1980, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1980, when 5 Amarilliss were born — ranking #10,393 that year. As of 2026, Amarillis ranks #13,441 for baby girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 10 Amarilliss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
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MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
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IL
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OH
PA
NJ
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RI
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MD
DE
DC
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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Amarillis

Phonetically similar names — useful when Amarillis is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Amarillis

What does the name Amarillis mean?
Amaryllis is the only genus in the subtribe Amaryllidinae. It is a small genus of flowering bulbs, with two species. The better known of the two, Amaryllis belladonna, is a native of the Western Cape region of South Africa, particularly the rocky southwest area between the Olifants River Valley and Knysna.
How popular is Amarillis in 2026?
In 2026, Amarillis ranks #13,441 among girls' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Amarillis most popular?
Amarillis reached its peak popularity in 1980, ranking #10,393 that year with 5 babies given the name.
Is Amarillis a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Amarillis is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Amarillis?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Amarillis include Aelisa, Andonia, Antonica. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Aelisa
Peak #10393
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Andonia
Peak #10393
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Antonica
Peak #10393
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Aracel
Peak #10393
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Arnica
Peak #10393
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Ashunta
Peak #10393
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Beranda
Peak #10393
👧
Binita
Peak #10393

About the name Amarillis

Amarillis is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1980 and has accumulated 10 births in the dataset. Amarillis's peak popularity came in 1980 when it ranked #10,393. Use the chart and map above to compare Amarillis's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.