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Home › Baby Names Directory › Camellia

Camellia

♀ Girl

Pronounced kuh-MEEL-yuh /kəˈmiːl.jə/Medium

Meaning: from the camellia flower, which was named after the Moravian Jesuit botanist Georg Joseph Kamel (Latinized as Camellus)Medium

In 30 seconds: Camellia is a flower name, after the camellia bloom, which was named for the botanist Georg Joseph Kamel.
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Origin MediumLatin, English
Meaningfrom the camellia flower, which was named after the Moravian Jesuit botanist Georg Joseph Kamel (Latinized as Camellus)
U.S. rank (2025)#1676 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births123 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 3,347

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202419212025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Camellia comes from the flower of the same name, which honors the Moravian Jesuit botanist Georg Joseph Kamel, Latinized as Camellus. So the name's path runs from a person, to a plant named after him, to a girl's name. That makes it a botanical name with a genuine human story tucked behind the bloom.

The soft, three-syllable flow gives it a romantic, garden feel. Spellings like Camelia and the French Camélia trim or accent the same flower name.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Camellia is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Camellia — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

KameliyaCaméliaCamelia

Nicknames

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If you like Camellia…

Camille— shares the 'cam-' opening and a floral, French feel
Dahlia— another flower named after a botanist
Magnolia— a fellow blossom name with a soft, ornate sound
Silvia— the same nature feel
Sequoia— shares the -ia ending

Explore names like Camellia

By themeenglishnature
By meaningFlower

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Camellia mean?

Camellia is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Camellia?

It's commonly said kuh-MEEL-yuh /kəˈmiːl.jə/.

Is Camellia a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Camellia is used as a girl name.

How popular is Camellia?

In 2024, Camellia ranked #1539 in the U.S. for girls, with 138 births recorded.

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