Home › Baby Names Directory › Aurelia

Aurelia

♀ Girl

Pronounced aw-REE-lee-uh /ɔːˈriːliə/High

Meaning: Golden; the golden oneHigh

In 30 seconds: A luminous Roman name meaning 'golden.' Aurelia is the golden standard of vintage revival — stately, radiant, and deeply beautiful, worn by empresses and now by a new generation of parents who want a name to match the sun.
💕 Browse more names
Origin HighLatin
MeaningGolden; the golden one
U.S. rank (2025)#290 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births1,056 girls (0.06% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 18,429

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202518802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Aurelia is the feminine form of the Roman family name Aurelius, derived from the Latin aurum (gold). The gens Aurelia was a patrician Roman family. The name was borne by Aurelia Cotta, mother of Julius Caesar, and by various Roman imperial women. Emperor Marcus Aurelius took his cognomen from this same golden root.

After centuries of limited use outside scholarly circles, Aurelia has emerged as one of the most celebrated vintage revivals of the 2020s. It entered the U.S. top 200 for girls and is climbing rapidly, appealing to parents who want a name with genuine Roman grandeur.

Did you know? Aurelia was the name of Julius Caesar's mother — her influence on Caesar's upbringing and education is considered by ancient writers to have been profound, making Aurelia one of the great maternal names of antiquity.
Overall data confidence 97%
Behind the Name — Aurelia — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

AuroraAurélieOrelia

Nicknames

AuraLiaEllieRea

Famous Bearers

  • ★Aurelia Cotta (c. 120–54 BCE)
    Mother of Julius Caesar, renowned in ancient sources for her intelligence and role in her son's education.

If you like Aurelia…

Aurora— luminous Latin name with the same golden Roman light-and-sky family
Seraphina— four-syllable angelic name with the same stately, Renaissance-revival grandeur
Valentina— four-syllable Latin feminine name with the same rich, flowing elegance
Cordelia— literary four-syllable name with the same noble vintage-revival beauty

Frequently Asked

What does the name Aurelia mean?

Aurelia is a Latin name meaning 'golden' or 'the golden one,' from the Roman aurum (gold).

How do you pronounce Aurelia?

It is said aw-REE-lee-uh /ɔːˈriːliə/ — four syllables, stress on the second.

Is Aurelia a boy or girl name?

Aurelia is used almost exclusively as a girls' name.

How popular is Aurelia?

Aurelia entered the U.S. top 200 for girls in the mid-2020s and is one of the fastest-rising vintage revivals.